Scotland Yard about to commence digs in and around Praia da Luz.

[Angelo222]

No, I neither believe nor disbelieve Birch's theories.  No doubt SY, with a helicopter and ground penetrating radra, now know whether Madeleine is buried there.


But to shut all the gossip/ speculatioon up, it would be good if they dug there.


They have the power, I feel sure, to over-ride Murats reported refusal to allow digging .   


If they dont dig, after the radar then that means they are happy that there is no body there




But I still prefer them to dig, cos if they dont there will still be some doubting Thomases going on and on and on ad infinitum.

Sadie dear, I thought you said she was living with some gypsies in the Rif Mountains in Morocco?

ETA  Along with Joana???

[stephen25000]

Sadie dear, I thought you said she was living with some gypsies in the Rif Mountains in Morocco?

ETA  Along with Joana???

...and Mustafa Leak, no doubt ?

 

[icabodcrane]

I would expect that, though there will always be some die-hards.
My great concern is that nothing of any value comes out of this. A body will bring some degree of closure, whereas no sign of a body , (or relevant artifacts)will add nothing to what is already  known.

I agree

If these digs turn up nothing of value then they will not have advanced the investigation

Yet a 'source  close to the McCanns'  said ;

"Police have assured Kate and Gerry that it does not mean they are specifically searching for a body.They are doing searches as much to rule scenarios out as much as to rule them in"

What does that actually mean though  ? 

What possible scenarios  could  be  'ruled out'  if the digs are fruitless ?

Anyone got a suggestion of a  'scenario'  that could, unequivocally,    be   ruled out if these digs turn up nothing  ?

[ferryman]

I agree

If these digs turn up nothing of value then they will not have advanced the investigation

Yet a 'source  close to the McCanns'  said ;

"Police have assured Kate and Gerry that it does not mean they are specifically searching for a body.They are doing searches as much to rule scenarios out as much as to rule them in"

What does that actually mean though  ? 

What possible scenarios  could  be  'ruled out'  if the digs are fruitless ?

Anyone got a suggestion of a  'scenario'  that could, unequivocally,    be   ruled out if these digs turn up nothing  ?

I think it's quite straightforward.

They are covering ground that ought to have been covered by the shelved enquiry ...

[pathfinder73]

I agree

If these digs turn up nothing of value then they will not have advanced the investigation

Yet a 'source  close to the McCanns'  said ;

"Police have assured Kate and Gerry that it does not mean they are specifically searching for a body.They are doing searches as much to rule scenarios out as much as to rule them in"

What does that actually mean though  ? 

What possible scenarios  could  be  'ruled out'  if the digs are fruitless ?

Anyone got a suggestion of a  'scenario'  that could, unequivocally,    be   ruled out if these digs turn up nothing  ?

They don't expect to find a body probably because they think it never stayed there so they're hoping to find clues of a body being hidden or once buried at one of these sites. Maybe on to WS and Anne's theory of bin to tip.

[icabodcrane]

I think it's quite straightforward.

They are covering ground that ought to have been covered by the shelved enquiry ...

But if the digs turn up nothing what  'scenario'  will be ruled out  ? 

Or was the   'source close to the McCanns'  talking bunkham ?

[icabodcrane]

They don't expect to find a body probably because they think it never stayed there so they're hoping to find clues of a body being hidden or once buried at one of these sites. Maybe on to WS and Anne's theory of bin to tip.

You think they are looking for the spot where a body was  'temporarily'  hidden  ? 

Is that why they are bringing the cadaver dogs in do you think  ?   

[pathfinder73]

You think they are looking for the spot where a body was  'temporarily'  hidden  ? 

Is that why they are bringing the cadaver dogs in do you think  ?

Yes definitely. They are tracking Smithman and searching the areas where he could quickly hide a body.

[Carana]

I think it's quite straightforward.

They are covering ground that ought to have been covered by the shelved enquiry ...

Seems logical to me as well. Isn't this normal practice that should have been done 7 years ago?

[icabodcrane]

So,  back on topic

Carana said that the planned digs are just  'normal practice'  that should have done seven years ago

That suggests that the locations where the digs are planned were selected randomly and not based on any particular intelligence

Does  anyone agree with that ?

Does  anyone else think the Portuguese police should have been randomly digging up PDL seven years ago  ? 

[Alfred R Jones]

So,  back on topic

Carana said that the planned digs are just  'normal practice'  that should have done seven years ago

That suggests that the locations where the digs are planned were selected randomly and not based on any particular intelligence

Does  anyone agree with that ?

Does  anyone else think the Portuguese police should have been randomly digging up PDL seven years ago  ?

I doubt they were selected randomly.  Randomly would indicate that no thought whatsoever had been given to where to dig and might have included the swimming pool area, the local mini market, and the police station back yard.  I should think that Scotland Yard have used a modicum of intelligence when deciding where an abductor might have hidden evidence and/ or a body, don't you?

[Carana]

So,  back on topic

Carana said that the planned digs are just  'normal practice'  that should have done seven years ago

That suggests that the locations where the digs are planned were selected randomly and not based on any particular intelligence

Does  anyone agree with that ?

Does  anyone else think the Portuguese police should have been randomly digging up PDL seven years ago  ?

Maybe we should move to the dig thread?

[icabodcrane]

I doubt they were selected randomly.  Randomly would indicate that no thought whatsoever had been given to where to dig and might have included the swimming pool area, the local mini market, and the police station back yard.  I should think that Scotland Yard have used a modicum of intelligence when deciding where an abductor might have hidden evidence and/ or a body, don't you?

I would hope there was something more substancial behind the choice of these dig locations other than just  Andy Redwood and his team strolling around  PDL saying   "ooh,  look over there  ...  that looks like a good spot to bury a body"

wouldn't you  ?

[Brietta]

So,  back on topic

Carana said that the planned digs are just  'normal practice'  that should have done seven years ago

That suggests that the locations where the digs are planned were selected randomly and not based on any particular intelligence

Does  anyone agree with that ?

Does  anyone else think the Portuguese police should have been randomly digging up PDL seven years ago  ?

I think we would need to know what has led NSY and the PJ to where we are today and the reason for the proposed ground searches to make an informed comment. 
That isn’t going to happen, so here goes. 

I cannot believe Madeleine was buried within the environs of PDL unless in an area with no public access or access for scavengers.   

At the time extensive searches were carried out by the police and volunteers in which police dogs were involved. 

IMO the professional searchers would have been on the lookout specifically for areas of disturbed ground or places where a small child could have wandered to unseen and fallen.

Observers in the helicopter would have been searching and perhaps taking photos? for further study. 

I do believe that the initial investigation concentrated their resources on Madeleine’s parents to the exclusion of many other possibilities.  If she should be found buried in the location to be searched I think the scrutiny of the conduct of her case will be intense.

I echo Carana's sentiments in her kind thoughts for Madeleine's family, who must be going through Hell as the search for Madeleine progresses.

[jassi]

I think we would need to know what has led NSY and the PJ to where we are today and the reason for the proposed ground searches to make an informed comment. 
That isn’t going to happen, so here goes. 

I cannot believe Madeleine was buried within the environs of PDL unless in an area with no public access or access for scavengers.   

At the time extensive searches were carried out by the police and volunteers in which police dogs were involved. 

IMO the professional searchers would have been on the lookout specifically for areas of disturbed ground or places where a small child could have wandered to unseen and fallen.

Observers in the helicopter would have been searching and perhaps taking photos? for further study. 

I do believe that the initial investigation concentrated their resources on Madeleine’s parents to the exclusion of many other possibilities.  If she should be found buried in the location to be searched I think the scrutiny of the conduct of her case will be intense.

I echo Carana's sentiments in her kind thoughts for Madeleine's family, who must be going through Hell as the search for Madeleine progresses.

They have been begging people to search for Madeleine since she disappeared.