"The question is whether the McCanns can tackle this in a different manner, and personally, I think they can. Whether they choose to is another matter."
I would be interested in what you are getting at. What different manner?
In the PJ Files, the statements are from those identified directly i.e. 'hunted' down as being of interest. Then the line of questioning is whether they noticed anything abnormal. Not what they noticed was normal, such as pedestrians or car traffic, but only the abnormal.
Personally, I would try to reconstruct where everyone was in Luz that night, what they were doing, who they saw or talked to, what phone service they were using, whether they made or received calls (to whom/topic). I would cover from around 5pm to, say 11pm.
This would refine out a vast amount of dross, leaving the rest as more valuable material.
There is no way of doing this on a one-to-one basis. So the method would be by a public appeal, asking such people to enter details in a form on the Internet.
Let me give you a couple of examples it might clear up.
If Tractorman was in Luz that night, my guess is that he was in Fernando's socialising with his buddies. Since Tractorman is dead, he is not going supply any further information, but the buddies might, just might, confirm his alibi.
Or take The Cave Bar at 3, Primeiro de Maio. It had a habit on a Thursday night of being frequented by the 'German club'. Was the German club in the Cave Bar that night? Can they provide each other with alibis? Did they make phone calls that night that can be scored off the phone list? Were the lady and gentlemen who ran the Cave Bar both working that night?
I cannot see why someone who can provide himself/herself with an alibi, ditto for buddies, not coming forward. PROVIDED such an appeal reaches them AND a very easy response mechanism is used.
Although this sounds complex, in reality it is a simple survey of the type carried out often, just in a rather unique manner.
Should the private money run out, providing this data to OG and asking for a further review is another potential option.
I have attempted to map all the establishments in operation on 3 May 2007 between 8:30 to 10:30pm and the list is long. Lots of places where people could provide alibis for each other.
There is one heck of a lot of potential information still to be gleaned, provided one does not get fixated by Tannerman or Smithman, or tackling this in a traditional police manner.
Oh, and I'd have the survey in several languages, and make sure the media in various countries, including Portugal, are spoon fed a tasty story to maximise awareness of it.
And frankly, I'd release details of progress at various stages, to keep awareness high. Who knows, I may yet find out what was on at the cinema that evening, when it shut down for the night, and how many people headed off into the night at closing time.
