SY claim the man Tanner saw had collected his child from the night creche ?

[AnneGuedes]

But  Scotland  Yard have virtually eliminated bundleman,  whilst simultaneously stressing  the importance of identifying Smithman

Yes, I think this elimination is more a study hypothesis than a definitive elimination. Logically they should now interview the Smith family. I wonder why they exhibited those inexpressive e-fits instead of trying to get new properly made e-fits. Of course it would be difficult for Mr Smith to discriminate between a probably indistinct memory and Mr McCann's face.

[Sherlock Holmes]

But  Scotland  Yard have virtually eliminated bundleman,  whilst simultaneously stressing  the importance of identifying Smithman

Do you believe Redwood and his investigation are so inept they failed to establish that bundleman and Smithman  were one and the same   ?

Until Smithman decides to identify himself it is hard to say. Perhaps bundleman was up to something that night that he didn't want to share with the police and only gave them half a story.

The other possibilities, as we have been over, are that Smithman is another innocent father or carer - who just so happens to look very like bundleman and shares his recalcitrance about talking to police, despite the fact that six years in an tragic and high-profile case have gone by, and SY have now angled  the lens of the world's media towards him. Strange behaviour to say the least.

And Smithman could of course be the abductor - who just happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to an innocent man walking around PdL that evening. 

[Sherlock Holmes]

Yes, I think this elimination is more a study hypothesis than a definitive elimination. Logically they should now interview the Smith family. I wonder why they exhibited those inexpressive e-fits instead of trying to get new properly made e-fits. Of course it would be difficult for Mr Smith to discriminate between a probably indistinct memory and Mr McCann's face.

Considering that Gerry McCann looks like Mr Nobody.

[icabodcrane]

Until Smithman decides to identify himself it is hard to say. Perhaps bundleman was up to something that night that he didn't want to share with the police and only gave them half a story.

The other possibilities, as we have been over, are that Smithman is another innocent father or carer - who just so happens to look very like bundleman and shares his recalcitrance about talking to police, despite the fact that six years in an tragic and high-profile case have gone by, and SY have now angled  the lens of the world's media towards him. Strange behaviour to say the least.

And Smithman could of course be the abductor - who just happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to an innocent man walking around PdL that evening.

I feel that allowing for the possibility that innocent man was  'up to something'  that night is stretching credibility

It is an unecessary and entirely unsupported complication

Scotland Yard have eliminated innocent man,  and not  eliminated Smithman

I think we must accept,  therefore,  that they were two different men ...  as have Scotlant Yard,  following a two and a half year investigation

If we do not,   then this becomes a debate about Andy Redwood's and Scotland Yard's competence 

[Wonderfulspam]

I feel that allowing for the possibility that innocent man was  'up to something'  that night is stretching credibility

It is an unecessary and entirely unsupported complication

Scotland Yard have eliminated innocent man,  and not  eliminated Smithman

I think we must accept,  therefore,  that they were two different men ...  as have Scotlant Yard,  following a two and a half year investigation

If we do not,   then this becomes a debate about Andy Redwood's and Scotland Yard's competence 

then this becomes a debate about Andy Redwood's and Scotland Yard's competence, & we wouldn't want to open that can of worms.

[Sherlock Holmes]

I feel that allowing for the possibility that innocent man was  'up to something'  that night is stretching credibility

It is an unecessary and entirely unsupported complication

Scotland Yard have eliminated innocent man,  and not  eliminated Smithman

I think we must accept,  therefore,  that they were two different men ...  as have Scotlant Yard,  following a two and a half year investigation

If we do not,   then this becomes a debate about Andy Redwood's and Scotland Yard's competence

I agree with you in principle, icabod. I'm just being pedantic about the possibilities that do exist.

I believe on the whole that whether we like it or not, we have to assume that SY had good reason to have ruled bundleman out of their investigation, and work with that, whether we are a hundred per cent comfortable with it or not.

It is indeed possible that if there was one man walking around with a child who was completely unconnected to the disappearance, there could be another.

Can we nonetheless look at the more practical question then of why Smithman still appears to be reluctant to come forward after all this time, and in the light of SY's current focus on him?

[AnneGuedes]

I agree with you in principle, icabod. I'm just being pedantic about the possibilities that do exist.

I believe on the whole that whether we like it or not, we have to assume that SY had good reason to have ruled bundleman out of their investigation, and work with that, whether we are a hundred per cent comfortable with it or not.

It is indeed possible that if there was one man walking around with a child who was completely unconnected to the disappearance, there could be another.

Can we nonetheless look at the more practical question then of why Smithman still appears to be reluctant to come forward after all this time, and in the light of SY's current focus on him?

A good reason, but which one ? Some kind of resolution after two years and a half of vain attempt to make one in two ?
There's a considerable difference between Tannerman and Smithman. If the first can eventually become Innocentman, Smithman wasn't alone. There was a discernible little girl with him. How could he become Innocentman 2 ?

[Apostate]

With bundleman no longer a factor the biggest question this now raises is whether SY are satisfied that Gerry can be ruled out as Smithman.

[jassi]

With bundleman no longer a factor the biggest question this now raises is whether SY are satisfied that Gerry can be ruled out as Smithman.

Can they do that with absolute certainty in the absence of conclusively identifying Smithman ?

[Luz]

Not wanting to be pessimistic, "uma pulga atrás da orelha" ( a little flea behind my hear) tells me that in a few weeks time either another innocent parent ( a dead predator would imply the Smith's perjuring themselves) appears to fit the Smith's sighting or it will remain forever the "monster" that took a little girl and nobody can find.

[Apostate]

If Gerry's alibi is solid then I can't believe the Smith family saw Maddie. What kind of planned abduction involves carrying a child across a town in full view of the world? The only way I see it being Maddie is if she wandered out of the apartment and was grabbed by chance.

[Benice]

With bundleman no longer a factor the biggest question this now raises is whether SY are satisfied that Gerry can be ruled out as Smithman.

Gerry has already been ruled out by SY

quote
''Neither her parents or any of the members of the group that were with her are either persons of interest or suspects.

DCI REDWOOD
End quote.

That statement by the Head of the investigation couldn't possibly be any more crystal clear and unambiguous if it tried IMO. 

So what part of it is so difficult to understand?  I don't get it.

[Apostate]

Gerry has already been ruled out by SY

quote
''Neither her parents or any of the members of the group that were with her are either persons of interest or suspects.

DCI REDWOOD
End quote.

That statement by the Head of the investigation couldn't possibly be any more crystal clear and unambiguous if it tried IMO. 

So what part of it is so difficult to understand?  I don't get it.

things change - and I wouldn't expect the police to tell us if they had

[jassi]

I certainly intend to reserve  judgement until someone is charged and convicted over Madeleine's disappearance.

[Benice]

things change - and I wouldn't expect the police to tell us if they had

SY certainly would not make a public statement like that if it was not their official stance.

They would have made no comment at all,  or made a general statement intimating that   'Nothing/no-one  had been ruled out'.

It's obvious the McCanns and their friends would have been thoroughly investigated by SY - before such a statement could be made.   And it's just as obvious by that statement what conclusions they arrived at.

AIMHO