So where was Smithman going to that night?

[sadie]

The deponent remembers that upon reaching the top of the stairs, she looked to her left and saw a man (1) with a female child (2) in his arms, walking along the pavement of Rua 25 de Abril. He was walking in her direction at a distance of, give or take, two metres. (AS)

So Smithman crossed the road to the opposite pavement and was going down when Aoife got to the top of the stairs. So he passed behind her as she started crossing the road. I'm surprised SY haven't got the Smiths back to do a thorough reconstruction. I would do it.

Your second paragraph is not certain, pathfinder.  We dont KNOW that he crossed the road. 
We certainly dont know whether he went down the steps, or whether he carried on in an easterly direction down Rua 25 Abril.   As John says that is in the direction of Sergies. 

In fact if the photo previously shown, (by ?Mr Mod) is correct then Sergies flat was just behind the Chinese Restaurant,  This is only the second building along and a distance along Rua 25 Abril of just over 30 metres from Aoifes sighting.

I must admit that I thought that Sergies flat was behind the real estate agents, which is the next building along Rua 25 Abril after the drive in gap ... and some 45 metres east from Aoifes sighting.

But I am happy to be proved wrong.  As far as I can see there are only three commercial premises along there.  Maybe there was a fourth in the gap after the empty shop [on the current GE street scene]


Needless to say, we truly do not know whether Smithman went down the steps or east towards Sergies.  50/50


From Aoifes statemebnt we know he didn't go west tho.



Anyway, I dont want to speculate.  It is kind of ex judice.

[pathfinder73]

Your second paragraph is not certain, pathfinder.  We dont KNOW that he crossed the road. 
We certainly dont know whether he went down the steps, or whether he carried on in an easterly direction down Rua 25 Abril.   As John says that is in the direction of Sergies. 

In fact if the photo previously shown, (by ?Mr Mod) is correct then Sergies flat was just behind the Chinese Restaurant,  This is only the second building along and a distance along Rua 25 Abril of just over 30 metres from Aoifes sighting.

I must admit that I thought that Sergies flat was behind the real estate agents, which is the next building along Rua 25 Abril after the drive in gap ... and some 45 metres east from Aoifes sighting.

But I am happy to be proved wrong.  As far as I can see there are only three commercial premises along there.  Maybe there was a fourth in the gap after the empty shop [on the current GE street scene]


Needless to say, we truly do not know whether Smithman went down the steps or east towards Sergies.  50/50


From Aoifes statemebnt we know he didn't go west tho.



Anyway, I dont want to speculate.  It is kind of ex judice.

I know we don't know for certain but I can make an educated guess from my own theory that he was heading to the church/building site/rocks area. There was a report of him passing the church but if there is a lost witness then we don't know what was said.

[pegasus]

Well yes one way to make the Smith sighting work is to have the missing child carried on foot from 5A to the carpark south of block 6, driven in a vehicle from there to Rua Escola, then carried on foot again down Rua Escola.

I think that's too complicated. I think the GNR dog tracks rule out both the JT sighting and the Smith sighting.

[pathfinder73]

This is cool! A closer look at the Rocky Beach Area if coming from the church direction.

https://www.google.com/maps/views/u/0/view/111144785370961399848/gphoto/5873795772824280930?hl=pt-BR&gl=us&heading=255&pitch=90&fovy=75

[pathfinder73]

How well did the dogs search this area? You can see a person sitting on the rocks.

[sadie]

How well did the dogs search this area? You can see a person sitting on the rocks.

Do you think the abductor clambered over all those rocks, carrying a child, in the dark?

[pathfinder73]

Why not if he wanted something not to be found? There's plenty of good hiding places there in the dark.

[slartibartfast]

Do you think the abductor clambered over all those rocks, carrying a child, in the dark?

Though it was full moon and the skies were clear, so quite a bit of light.

[sadie]

Why not if he wanted something not to be found? There's plenty of good hiding places there in the dark.

Those rocks PFinder are near the church and the Fortezela.  Which is more or less the centre of Luz.   

Several restaurants, with likely eaters had to be passed to get there.  People who might witness a man carrying a child.  People who after eating their meal might quite likely take the few steps to the front to gaze over the rocks at the ocean beyond.

If it was light enough for Smithman to clamber over those rocks, it was light enough for people strolling along the "prom" or gazing out to see to see a child being hidden there


Also in the daylight, the next day, people would be walking above and clambering over those rocks.

What you are suggesting isn't sensible TBH

[pathfinder73]

Did you see the footage of that area on Dispatches with Gary Lig? It was pitch black. Anybody could easily get there and not necessarily be seen. So it is feasible. Whether that actually happened is another matter. But you have heard about Amaral's lost witness I presume who saw somebody on the beach.

[sadie]

Did you see the footage of that area on Dispatches with Gary Lig? It was pitch black. Anybody could easily get there and not necessarily be seen. So it is feasible. Whether that actually happened is another matter. But you have heard about Amaral's lost witness I presume who saw somebody on the beach.

If it was light enough to clamber over those rocks, Pfinder, it was light enough to have been observed by people gazing out to sea or strolling along the "prom"


Now Amaral

He seems to have a story to cover every eventuality, especially if it points to the Mccanns.  Only in my opinion, but I think others will have noticed the same.

[pathfinder73]

If it was light enough to clamber over those rocks, Pfinder, it was light enough to have been observed by people gazing out to sea or strolling along the "prom"


Now Amaral

He seems to have a story to cover every eventuality, especially if it points to the Mccanns.  Only in my opinion, but I think others will have noticed the same.

A witness saw him not Amaral. If you wanted to hide something very well you could manage to clamber over rocks with the adrenaline pumping. The whole point of moving into the pitch black is not to be seen because there's nobody there. If a crime was being committed he could get his ass over the rocks. Don't you worry about that Sadie.

[sadie]

A witness saw him not Amaral. If you wanted to hide something very well you could manage to clamber over rocks with the adrenaline pumping. The whole point of moving into the pitch black is not to be seen because there's nobody there. If a crime was being committed he could get his ass over the rocks. Don't you worry about that Sadie.

Not in full view.


And who is this unamed witness?

Amaral seems to be very good at "unamed" people.

We all know that he is also very good at stories.

[pathfinder73]

Not in full view.


And who is this unamed witness?

Amaral seems to be very good at "unamed" people.

We all know that he is also very good at stories.

It is possible. This was a Thursday night not a weekend or peak season.

[slartibartfast]

Not in full view.


And who is this unamed witness?

Amaral seems to be very good at "unamed" people.

We all know that he is also very good at stories.

Anyone looking from the shore across the rocks to the sea would having difficulty distinguishing anything due to backlighting.