If The GNR Search & Rescue Dogs Were Not Tracking MM Who Were They Tracking?

[G-Unit]

These are the S & R dogs who came from Queluz near Lisbon.
Arriving at 8am
Sargeant Silva - Dog: Timmy
Officer Cortez - Dog: Sacha
Officer Sousa - Dog: Kolly/Cookie
Arriving at 23:00
Officer Rosa - Dog: Oscar
Officer Martins - Dog: Fusco
Officer Fernandes - Dog: Rex/ Zarus

They are all S & R dogs, but the dogs brought by Fernandez are 'from the tracking team'. It was these two who followed the trail around block 5.
https://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GNR_SNIFFER.htm

[jassi]

These are the S & R dogs who came from Queluz near Lisbon.
Arriving at 8am
Sargeant Silva - Dog: Timmy
Officer Cortez - Dog: Sacha
Officer Sousa - Dog: Kolly/Cookie
Arriving at 23:00
Officer Rosa - Dog: Oscar
Officer Martins - Dog: Fusco
Officer Fernandes - Dog: Rex/ Zarus

They are all S & R dogs, but the dogs brought by Fernandez are 'from the tracking team'. It was these two who followed the trail around block 5.
https://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GNR_SNIFFER.htm

If I understand that report correctly, when the dogs were presented with Madeleine's clothing, they showed interest in block 5, particularly 5J, whereas previously when presented with the towel, they ignored block 5 and dashed off to the pathway between 4 & 5.

This suggests, to me, that they dogs were probably following different scents.

[Robittybob1]

There is a knob on the inside which you turn to close... It makes it quieter... Outside no knob so just pull shut

That is the $64,000 question.  Was it the only way to close it from the inside or was it just to done just to keep it quiet?

[jassi]

Surely the primary function of the knob is to disengage the snib from the inside.

[Robittybob1]

Afaik you have posted two vids connected with locks.  One shows Amaral opening the front door of 5A from inside.  The other shows the cleaner opening the door inside her own home and the lock is completely different from 5A.

I'm sorry to say you are wrong on both accounts.
There are two videos of interviews with cleaning staff and restaurant staff and the locks in both videos are exactly the same as that in 5A.

The other one Alexandre Simas knocks on the door of 5A and GA opens the door from the inside.  We never see them use the key.

Surely the primary function of the knob is to disengage the snib from the inside.

We are talking about a knob, but in fact it is only a type of knob.  In fact it was a type of hook that you can pull to "to disengage the snib from the inside".

To describe the parts of a lock is rather difficult for each component has its own technical term, that I'm not particularly familiar with.
But "snib" I think is termed the "latch bolt" but it might also be spring loaded bevelled latch bolt.

But what is also important is to understand the function of the latch bolt locking device.  Did they move together or were they moving separately?  Obviously pulling the latch bolt hook this withdrew both the latch bolt and the latch bolt locking device so the door can be opened or closed from the inside.

What has never been demonstrated is that the door would just shut without a key or without pulling on the hook.

[Mr Gray]

I'm sorry to say you are wrong on both accounts.
There are two videos of interviews with cleaning staff and restaurant staff and the locks in both videos are exactly the same as that in 5A.

The other one Alexandre Simas knocks on the door of 5A and GA opens the door from the inside.  We never see them use the key.
We are talking about a knob, but in fact it is only a type of knob.  In fact it was a type of hook that you can pull to "to disengage the snib from the inside".

To describe the parts of a lock is rather difficult for each component has its own technical term, that I'm not particularly familiar with.
But "snib" I think is termed the "latch bolt" but it might also be spring loaded bevelled latch bolt.

But what is also important is to understand the function of the latch bolt locking device.  Did they move together or were they moving separately?  Obviously pulling the latch bolt hook this withdrew both the latch bolt and the latch bolt locking device so the door can be closed from the inside.

What has never been demonstrated is that the door would just shut without a key or without pulling on the hook.

might not have been demonstrated but you are claiming its impossible....i agree with angelo that you are mistaken

[G-Unit]

If I understand that report correctly, when the dogs were presented with Madeleine's clothing, they showed interest in block 5, particularly 5J, whereas previously when presented with the towel, they ignored block 5 and dashed off to the pathway between 4 & 5.

This suggests, to me, that they dogs were probably following different scents.

There's disagreement between the GNR as to what the dogs were given to sniff. That's why I stuck with the handler's testimony.
On 4th;
"None of the dogs used in this search operation, after having smelled the towel, tried to get inside of block 5."
On 8th, after being asked to search block 5;
"Initiating the operation, the first sniffer dog, after having smelled the same towel that was used in the previous operation"
https://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/PEDRO_ESTEVES.htm

[Robittybob1]

might not have been demonstrated but you are claiming its impossible....i agree with angelo that you are mistaken

Both you and Angelo have no additional evidence.  I'd like to clear it up.  We have Simas saying a screw head prevented someone using a card to open the door.  Look, that means the latch is not standard.  For that latch may have originally been a snib type latch at one stage.  If it was in the standard format  a card is blocked by the deadlatch locking mechanism  not be some cunningly positioned screw head.

Look at this video. https://youtu.be/jM7i9u0VwkY

[jassi]

Both you and Angelo have no additional evidence.  I'd like to clear it up.  We haveSimas saying a screw head prevent someone using acard to open the door.  Look that means the latch is not standard.  For that latch may have been a snib type latch at one stage.  If it was in the standard format  a card is blocked by the deadlatch locking mechanism 
Look at this video. https://youtu.be/jM7i9u0VwkY

It is possible that the screw was inserted in the frame to prevent a credit card being used.
I have read of cases where an incorrectly fitted faceplace prevents the snib lock bolt from functioning , in which case a strategically placed screw would do the job nicely

[Robittybob1]

It is possible that the screw was inserted in the frame to prevent a credit card being used.
I have read of cases where an incorrectly fitted faceplace prevents the snib lock bolt from functioning , in which case a strategically placed screw would do the job nicely

But was it like that on all the doors throughout the Ocean Club complex?   Were none of the latches working as they were originally designed?

One would hope they had a maintenance department that should have been able to install a strike plate correctly.  But no they depended on that screw.   The way he describes it, Simas is confident the screw would work.  How did he know about it?  Why did he not explain why the original components to the latch were not functioning as they were designed to do?

[Holly Goodhead]

I'm sorry to say you are wrong on both accounts.
There are two videos of interviews with cleaning staff and restaurant staff and the locks in both videos are exactly the same as that in 5A.

The other one Alexandre Simas knocks on the door of 5A and GA opens the door from the inside.  We never see them use the key.
We are talking about a knob, but in fact it is only a type of knob.  In fact it was a type of hook that you can pull to "to disengage the snib from the inside".

To describe the parts of a lock is rather difficult for each component has its own technical term, that I'm not particularly familiar with.
But "snib" I think is termed the "latch bolt" but it might also be spring loaded bevelled latch bolt.

But what is also important is to understand the function of the latch bolt locking device.  Did they move together or were they moving separately?  Obviously pulling the latch bolt hook this withdrew both the latch bolt and the latch bolt locking device so the door can be opened or closed from the inside.

What has never been demonstrated is that the door would just shut without a key or without pulling on the hook.

Your belief that I'm wrong is just that your belief not a fact.

The lock on the door of the cleaners home as illustrated in the vid is clearly different from the lock at 5A @ 50 seconds in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pUKiuugYUI&feature=youtu.be&t=50

[Holly Goodhead]

Your belief that I'm wrong is just that your belief not a fact.

The lock on the door of the cleaners home as illustrated in the vid is clearly different from the lock at 5A @ 50 seconds in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pUKiuugYUI&feature=youtu.be&t=50

In fact if you look at the cleaner's lock at 45 secs in it provides a better view:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pUKiuugYUI&feature=youtu.be&t=45

[alphonse]

Is there anything to grip on the outside of the Mc Cann door to slam it?  The video of the cleaner´s house reminds me a bit of the lock I have here in Spain. It is possible to slam the door but you need to grip a sort of door knocker and it does not always slam shut. We tend to use the key. Even when you are lucky and it slams it makes a hell of a lot of noise so our cleaner for example always tends to use the key to close the door.

[alphonse]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/what-happened-praia-da-luz-10256470

 My eyesight is not the best. Is that a door knocker on the left or is it the lock?

[The General]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/what-happened-praia-da-luz-10256470

 My eyesight is not the best. Is that a door knocker on the left or is it the lock?

Knob / handle.
I reckon you just pull the door to and it closes like a traditional Yale lock. But there's a safety catch, as in 'put the snib on, Gerry, before you go out to fetch the rotting meat from the boot'.