Eleven years on, has Maddie been given up for dead?

[Brietta]

I'm sure the PJ would have been most interested. They could have pretty much eliminated Jane Tanner's sighting just as OG did in 2013. Jane would have been relieved that she didn't see the abductor. Gerry would have been reassured that no abductor was in the apartment moving doors. (I wonder who did that?)

Hmmmm ... I had the impression given by Amaral in his book that Tannerman already had a zero rating and Jane's non recognition of him as the then suspect added a few minuses to the zero.

[jassi]

Hmmmm ... I had the impression given by Amaral in his book that Tannerman already had a zero rating and Jane's non recognition of him as the then suspect added a few minuses to the zero.

Quite rightly in my opinion.

[slartibartfast]

Precisely.
Who knew about Tannerman in May 2007? 
Was Dr Totman interviewed along with the other crechedads/mums?
Or did he volunteer his information.

I wouldn’t have thought he would be interviewed by the GNR?

[Robittybob1]

But was Amaral's Tannerman in the same place as Totman?

[pathfinder73]

THE WEAKNESSES IN JANE'S WITNESS STATEMENT

Friday May 4th, at 8pm, we criss-cross Praia da Luz to take note of the activity in the village at dinner time and to check the street lighting. We stay there until 10pm while the forensic team from the police laboratory get on with their investigation.

Certainly, today there are people who wouldn't normally have been here: police officers and journalists. But, even so, it is noticeable that there is very little movement. The place where the abductor happened to be is dimly lit: how did Jane manage to describe him so accurately? Witnesses confirm that the streets were also deserted yesterday.

Why did the potential abductor choose to walk around like that, in the open, running the risk - in spite of the darkness - of being recognised by a passer-by? If he had planned the abduction, he would have taken the time to study, not only the habits of the family, but also the topography of the place. If he wasn't from the village, he would probably have come by car, and he would have sought to conceal it in a dark corner. But the darkest area is situated in exactly the opposite direction to that indicated by Jane Tanner. Did she actually see that man going towards the east? Wouldn't he rather be going towards the west? Leaving by car, he would inevitably have had to go towards the centre of the village, in which case, he would have to go either past the entrance to the restaurant where Madeleine's parents were dining, or by the main road that leads to EN125*

(*The road running west out of the village towards Sagres and east towards Lagos.)

We walk around Vila da Luz, covering all the roads, trying to imagine the options that presented themselves to the abductor. Without a car, and not knowing the place, the safest approach to the village is the beach. In the few bars, restaurants and cafes open at this time of year, no one noticed anything at all strange during the evening of May 3rd, no suspicious behaviour, nothing out of the ordinary. Most of the establishments had closed at around 9pm.

TOTL by Goncalo Amaral

Streets deserted. Smithman seen at around 10pm heading towards the beach.

[Brietta]

THE WEAKNESSES IN JANE'S WITNESS STATEMENT

Friday May 4th, at 8pm, we criss-cross Praia da Luz to take note of the activity in the village at dinner time and to check the street lighting. We stay there until 10pm while the forensic team from the police laboratory get on with their investigation.

Certainly, today there are people who wouldn't normally have been here: police officers and journalists. But, even so, it is noticeable that there is very little movement. The place where the abductor happened to be is dimly lit: how did Jane manage to describe him so accurately? Witnesses confirm that the streets were also deserted yesterday.

Why did the potential abductor choose to walk around like that, in the open, running the risk - in spite of the darkness - of being recognised by a passer-by? If he had planned the abduction, he would have taken the time to study, not only the habits of the family, but also the topography of the place. If he wasn't from the village, he would probably have come by car, and he would have sought to conceal it in a dark corner. But the darkest area is situated in exactly the opposite direction to that indicated by Jane Tanner. Did she actually see that man going towards the east? Wouldn't he rather be going towards the west? Leaving by car, he would inevitably have had to go towards the centre of the village, in which case, he would have to go either past the entrance to the restaurant where Madeleine's parents were dining, or by the main road that leads to EN125*

(*The road running west out of the village towards Sagres and east towards Lagos.)

We walk around Vila da Luz, covering all the roads, trying to imagine the options that presented themselves to the abductor. Without a car, and not knowing the place, the safest approach to the village is the beach. In the few bars, restaurants and cafes open at this time of year, no one noticed anything at all strange during the evening of May 3rd, no suspicious behaviour, nothing out of the ordinary. Most of the establishments had closed at around 9pm.

TOTL by Goncalo Amaral

Streets deserted. Smithman seen at around 10pm heading towards the beach.

Amazingly prescient considering that it was almost a fortnight later before anyone knew Smithman had acted almost as described.

[jassi]

Amazingly prescient considering that it was almost a fortnight later before anyone knew Smithman had acted almost as described.

Except Smithman, of course.

[Robittybob1]

Amazingly prescient considering that it was almost a fortnight later before anyone knew Smithman had acted almost as described.

Anything is possible after the event.

[Brietta]

Except Smithman, of course.

As far as we know, Smithman hasn't written a book justifying his actions or with any intention of determining the fate of the child he was carrying.


Back on topic now please ... "Eleven years on, has Maddie been given up for dead?"

[slartibartfast]

As far as we know, Smithman hasn't written a book justifying his actions or with any intention of determining the fate of the child he was carrying.


Back on topic now please ... "Eleven years on, has Maddie been given up for dead?"

What has writing a book got to do with anything?

[Venturi Swirl]

What has writing a book got to do with anything?

Pathfinder quoted a lengthy chunk from Amaral's epic tome which triggered this latest discussion - that's probably what it's got to do with it. 

[Brietta]

What has writing a book got to do with anything?

The point of the post was actually to indicate the thread was straying off topic yet again which is why I included the request ...

" Back on topic now please ... "Eleven years on, has Maddie been given up for dead?" "

[slartibartfast]

The point of the post was actually to indicate the thread was straying off topic yet again which is why I included the request ...

" Back on topic now please ... "Eleven years on, has Maddie been given up for dead?" "

Agreed, the rest was superfluous.

[Angelo222]

Any regular follower of the Maddie case will have noticed a small but discernible change over the last twelve months.  IMO the McCanns are now attempting a low profile lifestyle for the sake of their two remaining children. Very sensible imo and a long time coming.  No doubt the last ruling by the Portuguese Supreme Court put pay to any future ambitious they might have had in Portugal.

[Brietta]

Any regular follower of the Maddie case will have noticed a small but discernible change over the last twelve months.  IMO the McCanns are now attempting a low profile lifestyle for the sake of their two remaining children. Very sensible imo and a long time coming.  No doubt the last ruling by the Portuguese Supreme Court put pay to any future ambitious they might have had in Portugal.

Kate and Gerry have never given up on Madeleine and I don't think they ever will.

Hopefully the present Portuguese and British investigation will resolve the situation and dispense with any future necessity for them to seek publicity or do anything proactive on Madeleine's behalf.

I think they began to retire from active campaigning long prior to twelve months ago.  There was no longer the necessity for them to do so when Madeleine's case became an active one again.
In my opinion they have been keeping a low profile since late 2013 when that was brought about.