Could Madeleine have slid open the unlocked patio door?

[Innominate]

Well does that make it a fact then?  Fact: "The patio door was left with a small gap so it can be opened from the outside".

There is no handle on the outside AFAIK, so it would be helpful to leave a small gap to facilitate opening the patio door from the outside.

[Lace]

https://youtu.be/na4aBr5PTYY?t=263

GMcC is opening the patio door; it is not ultra smooth, but the door moves easily.

IMO a 4 year old would be able to open the patio door.

Would a child of four close it after them?   I think not.   Neither do I think a child of four would climb over a gate at the top of steps in the dark.  IMO

[G-Unit]

Would a child of four close it after them?   I think not.   Neither do I think a child of four would climb over a gate at the top of steps in the dark.  IMO

It seems to me that Madeleine could have slid open the unlocked patio door. Whether she did is another question altogether.

[John]

It seems to me that Madeleine could have slid open the unlocked patio door. Whether she did is another question altogether.

She could have closed the door behind her in order to protect her siblings.  As you say, it is a possibility in the midst of other possibilities.  At the end of the day it is the hard evidence which counts and not what witnesses claim to have done or seen because witnesses in such a situation are unreliable.

[Brietta]

She could have closed the door behind her in order to protect her siblings.  As you say, it is a possibility in the midst of other possibilities.  At the end of the day it is the hard evidence which counts and not what witnesses claim to have done or seen because witnesses in such a situation are unreliable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3bfO1rE7Yg

Until witness statements are checked and co-ordinated each one is only a small part of the whole as seen from one point of view.  In my opinion it takes a competent investigation taking in the overall picture to work out what might have happened.
As we know the PJ in the final report concluded that the woke and wandered scenario was the least likely to have happened ... they must have had their reasons for determining that.

[Robittybob1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3bfO1rE7Yg

Until witness statements are checked and co-ordinated each one is only a small part of the whole as seen from one point of view.  In my opinion it takes a competent investigation taking in the overall picture to work out what might have happened.
As we know the PJ in the final report concluded that the woke and wandered scenario was the least likely to have happened ... they must have had their reasons for determining that.

" they must have had their reasons for determining that."  Could be true but until we see the whole picture we don't understand what is going on. 
They have never given their reasons for that conclusion.