Gerry and Jez chat while Jane walks by. Seconds later she spots Tannerman!

[John]

Is this what Jane Tanner saw the night Madeleine disappeared.

Please remember that the actual event took place at around 9.10pm with the orange glow of the sodium street lights providing the only lighting.

Pulling all the statements together we can now establish what Jane observed as she left the Ocean Club reception on her way to check on her children.  Jane had just exited the Club reception and was making her way up the hill when she observed Gerry McCann and Jeremy Wilkins (Jez) chatting on the opposite side of the road.  Gerry had his back to Jane and was facing Jez.  Jez for his part did not know Jane so took no notice of her.

In the distance marked by a red arrow is where a few moments later Jane saw what she describes as a non touristy type man carrying a child in pyjamas with bare feet.


Gerry McCann's version as to where the chat with Jez Wilkins occurred.



The version according to Jane Tanner and Jez Wilkins.


1513

[icabodcrane]

Well it's not what she told the police she saw Jonn

...  and when she accompanied Gerry McCann to Portugal  (  where he was advising on the TV reconstruction/documentary the McCanns commissioned )  She was adament that she had not see it that way  ... although she finally agreed to go with Gerry's version of events

I know you have made a point of not reading the Tapas group statements,  in order to stay  'objective   (  although I really do not understand the logic of that  )

But in this case,  you really  must   ...   that picture  is  NOT  what Jane Tanner says she witnessed that night

Or  must we accept that what Gerry McCann says Jane Tanner saw that night over-rules what she herself claims to have seen   (  Gerry and Jez Wilkins on the other side of the street  ...  where she passed them within inches  ? )

* edited to add*  ....  in the McCann  documentary/reconstruction  there were no parked cars  ...  the street  was clear of vehicles

[John]

There is no other way she could have passed Gerry and Jez without at least one of them clocking her.  Had she invented the story it would have been so much easier to have got their stories straight but that is not what occurred.

Witnesses will always make identification errors irrespective of the best will in the world and she acknowledges this herself in her rogatory interview.  You only need to look at Martin Smith and his failed identification of the mystery man.

[icabodcrane]

There is no other way she could have passed Gerry and Jez without at least one of them clocking her .  Had she invented the story it would have been so much easier to have got their stories straight but that is not what occurred.

Witnesses will always make identification errors irrespective of the best will in the world and she acknowledges this herself in her rogatory interview.  You only need to look at Martin Smith and his failed identification of the mystery man.

( bit in bold )  I couldn't agree more  ...  there is no way is there ?

Here's the thing though  ...  it's not just Jane Tanner who told the police that Gerry McCann and Jez Wilkins  were on the opposite side of the street  ...  Jez Wilkins told the police the very same thing

It is just Gerry McCann   ( alone )  who says  he and Jez were positioned where  you suggest they were in that picture

There were three witnesses to that moment  ...  why not go with the majority and post a picture of what both Jane Tanner  and  Jeremy Wilkins told the police  about where they all were positioned that night  ?

[Meadow]

Statement taken in England, in English.  Handwritten, then typed:

''I met him near the stairs of a ground floor. There was a gate leading up to some stairs. I was pretty certain that he had left the apartment. We spoke for a few minutes. He said you're on walking duty. I said I was staying in and pros and cons and what to do with the children.''
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/JEREMY-WILKINS.htm

Same link as above, you will also find the detailed drawing where X marks the spot
or full page link:
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/9of8-ecf89375.gif

[Meadow]

From Jane Tanners statement, translated verbally from English to Portuguese, then written in Portuguese. Then subsequently translated for the files to English.  But a drawing, surely can be accepted without question:

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P1/01_VOLUME_Ia_Page_50.jpg

Above from Jane Tanners statement 11.30 4th May 2007
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/JANE-TANNER.htm

If  you were doing a quickie check in the middle of a meal, would you actually cross the road to engage in trivial conversation, politeness however would dictate that if someone was in your path (literally & otherwise) it would be rude to pass without comment.

[peter claridge]

What is really alarming about the drawing supplied by Jane Tanner is that she is somehow aware of where the person she claims to have seen has just come from.

[sadie]

Is this what Jane Tanner saw the night Madeleine disappeared.

Please remember that the actual event took place at around 9.10pm with the orange glow of the sodium street lights providing the only lighting.

Pulling all the statements together we can now establish what Jane observed as she left the Ocean Club reception on her way to check on her children.  Jane had just exited the Club reception and was making her way up the hill when she observed Gerry McCann and Jeremy

Wilkins (Jez) chatting on the opposite side of the road.  Gerry had his back to Jane and was facing Jez.  Jez for his part did not know Jane so took no notice of her.

In the distance marked by a red arrow is where a few moments later Jane saw what she describes as a non touristy type man carrying a child in pyjamas with bare feet.

Thank you, John.  That is brilliant.

You do have Gerry and Jez shown lower down the street than seems they were, from Jezes statement.  The steps, which Jez refers to are the steps to 5A, which Gerry came down - and they are higher up the photograph.

[peter claridge]

Is this what Jane Tanner saw the night Madeleine disappeared.

Please remember that the actual event took place at around 9.10pm with the orange glow of the sodium street lights providing the only lighting.

Pulling all the statements together we can now establish what Jane observed as she left the Ocean Club reception on her way to check on her children.  Jane had just exited the Club reception and was making her way up the hill when she observed Gerry McCann and Jeremy

Wilkins (Jez) chatting on the opposite side of the road.  Gerry had his back to Jane and was facing Jez.  Jez for his part did not know Jane so took no notice of her.

In the distance marked by a red arrow is where a few moments later Jane saw what she describes as a non touristy type man carrying a child in pyjamas with bare feet.

Thank you, John.  That is brilliant.

You do have Gerry and Jez shown lower down the street than seems they were, from Jezes statement.  The steps, which Jez refers to are the steps to 5A, which Gerry came down - and they are higher up the photograph.

Jes stated that he was on the opposite side of the road and that Tanner didn't walk past... but hey, I'm sure that these minor points can be explained away by John.

[faithlilly]

@ sadie

Jez's statement says they were on the other side of the road.

[C.Edwards]

Oh stop nit-picking you two. Didn't one of their own high-powered tame detectives tell Jane Tanner it doesn't matter where you are standing, it's what you saw that counts!  As long as you were standing somewhere in Praia da Luz at some point during the holiday it's obvious you saw the abductor at some point - along with the hanging gardens of babylon and a herd of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain.

Can't help but think of the fawlty towers scene complaining about the view out of a torquay hotel window now...

[sadie]

Is this what Jane Tanner saw the night Madeleine disappeared.

Please remember that the actual event took place at around 9.10pm with the orange glow of the sodium street lights providing the only lighting.

Pulling all the statements together we can now establish what Jane observed as she left the Ocean Club reception on her way to check on her children.  Jane had just exited the Club reception and was making her way up the hill when she observed Gerry McCann and Jeremy

Wilkins (Jez) chatting on the opposite side of the road.  Gerry had his back to Jane and was facing Jez.  Jez for his part did not know Jane so took no notice of her.

In the distance marked by a red arrow is where a few moments later Jane saw what she describes as a non touristy type man carrying a child in pyjamas with bare feet.

Thank you, John.  That is brilliant.

You do have Gerry and Jez shown lower down the street than seems they were, from Jezes statement.  The steps, which Jez refers to are the steps to 5A, which Gerry came down - and they are higher up the photograph.

Looking at it again, now that i have more time.  Seems you have positioned them almost opposite the reception to the garden/Tapas area.  They were quite  lot higher up from reports.  You see the Mercedes?  Well the small grey area to the left of the roof of that car, is the entrance to the alleyway.

The wall behind the alleyway is 5A garden wall with the hedge above.   That hedge went as far as the steps up.  However, because it is bushy and sticking out, you cant take the RH edge of that as an accurate guide to the edge of the steps.   

But, just about there you will see a very faint vertical line on 5A wall.  That must be the position of the gate up to the steps.


I seem to remember that Jane positioned them close to the entrance to the alleyway.

So anywhere between the alleyway and the steps up could be right.  And on either side of the road, cos there are conflicting memories ... or even in the middle


However, I think Gerrys memory is likely to be the correct one, because he was the man who had to walk across the road.   He would remember that.   

With a reluctant sleeper in the pushchair there could have been some rocking and pushing of the pushchair.  In other words they may not have stayed in exactly the same spot


The place was virtually bereft of traffic in Jun/July 2010 when we were there.  A few parked cars but no movement of cars
 

[sadie]

Oh stop bickering , you detracters

At least some of us are trying to find what happened

[C.Edwards]

However, I think Gerrys memory is likely to be the correct one, because he was the man who had to walk across the road.   He would remember that.   

Oh he'd remember that but not whether he entered his flat with a key through the front door or without a key through the patio door?

And you're now calling Jez Wilkins a liar ;-)

[faithlilly]

@ sadie

Jez Wilkins also claims to have crossed the road. From his statement :

'As he approached the corner of the McCanns apartment, he saw Gerry appear from the area of the gate. He crossed the road and engaged in general conversation with Gerry'

So bang goes another theory huh !