British police commence ground searches and digs in Praia da Luz.

[sadie]

Tracking a mobile definitely. I wonder who's  >@@(*&) A black smithman  8-)(--)

Misty didn't say he was Smithman.  She just wondered if he might be up there taking drugs?

[Victoria]

I read something yesterday saying the police planned to put fibre optic cameras down drains or gutters today, did anyone else see that? I can't seem to find it this morning to paste the link.

[jassi]

In the Mail, I think. They also make reference to a hole, that was covered by a metal sheet , which is being examined.

[Brietta]

I would have thought that once the operation had been started, it would have been more appropriate to allow progress to its conclusion without the constraints of a timetable being imposed.

The Scotland Yard team have approval from officials in Lisbon to conduct searches until the end of the week.  The time frame of the operation is unlikely to be extended.                                                                                                                                                         
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/madeleine-mccann-search-april-jones-3642420

[pathfinder73]

In the Mail, I think. They also make reference to a hole, that was covered by a metal sheet , which is being examined.

Hole under corrugated iron sheet.

[sadie]

Hole under corrugated iron sheet.

Thanks Pfinder

Just why would anyone dig a hole like that I wonder?

[Benice]

Yup. And then Euclides Monteiro, full of heroin, managed to slip noiselesly to the apartment 5A, maneuver through the unlit childrens bedroom without stumbling, take Maddie away without leaving even a tiniest bit of evidence, and walk with her in his arms, without waking her up, through the streets of Praia without being noticed. All of it while being high on heroin.

Now, THAT requires a real Superman!

I thought Euclides Monteiro was the PJ's preferred line of enquiry - not SY's?

We can have no idea whether or not the intruder left any evidence because the crime scene was not cordoned off when it should have been -  and so evidence could have been destroyed.  The shortcomings in expertise by the PJ officers collecting forensics - admitted by Amaral, could also be a contributory factor.

[pathfinder73]

Whats the matter with you Pathfinder that you have such a need to be rude?

They're looking for Madeleine's body and you're wondering if a deceased black man was taking drugs there. Maybe they've been tracking his mobile phone to search in these specific areas >@@(*&) But Smithman wasn't black  >@@(*&)

[patb]

Looking at the maps and the photos of the area, is it a fair conclusion that anyone who hid a body in that area (long or short term) was either in a situation that they had not planned (would anyone actually choose in advance to use that area?) or just very stupid. The fact that SY are putting such resources there means that they think there is a reasonable chance of finding something (when balanced with the resources required). Therefore, SY have spent some time considering theories that involve someone hiding a body under a set of circumstances that they did not plan. This still, of course, could include a planned abduction that went wrong, burglary that went wrong as well as other options that have been discussed. To put it another way, if SY were absolutely convinced that the body was hidden/disposed of as part of a pre-planned schedule of events and executed by someone who was not very stupid, they would not be digging in this area.

[pathfinder73]

Looking at the maps and the photos of the area, is it a fair conclusion that anyone who hid a body in that area (long or short term) was either in a situation that they had not planned (would anyone actually choose in advance to use that area?) or just very stupid. The fact that SY are putting such resources there means that they think there is a reasonable chance of finding something (when balanced with the resources required). Therefore, SY have spent some time considering theories that involve someone hiding a body under a set of circumstances that they did not plan. This still, of course, could include a planned abduction that went wrong, burglary that went wrong as well as other options that have been discussed.

They didn't have a car to get the body out of PDL at the time but maybe that came later  >@@(*&)

[patb]

If you know in advavce you need a car, you get a car in advance. You dont plan to have a temp place to hide the body. So yes, not having the use of a car to assist with hiding the body fits in with not having a plan or being very supid

[icabodcrane]

They didn't have a car to get the body out of PDL at the time but maybe that came later  >@@(*&)

You raise a very good point pathfinder

If the police think someone buried something in that waste ground then they must think it was someone who didn't have transport of any kind

[patb]

Or they did have access to a car but could not use it as they did not have the time to load the body into the car, drive away, dispose etc etc. So again, not having the time leads to the conclusion of a "panic situation" as, obviously, if the operation is planned, then time would have been allocated. I find it very hard not to come to the conclusion that SY think that there is a strong possibility of a "panic" scenario rather than a well planned operation.

[patb]

interesting that (if photo is genuine) both from the angle and the quality etc that that is a photo that was taken with with the full co-operation of SY (looks to be on the land itself?) and also released with their permission. So an effort is being made to get "column inches" for the operation rather than just get on with it and comment later. Unless, of course, a photo journo has managed to get really close which would imply that SY are not in full control of the area. Very interested photo, thanks for posting

[slartibartfast]

Thanks Pfinder

Just why would anyone dig a hole like that I wonder?

Could be test holes for possible future building work. Sink holes or drainage?