Kate McCann admits in her book that private criminal investigations in Portugal were illegal.

[slartibartfast]

It does.

They all thought differently (from Martin Smith) apart from his wife.

Only Martin Smith (and his wife) thought it was Gerry.

As you say, cleared up.

Have ou read the statements?

[ferryman]

Have ou read the statements?

Yes.

[Angelo222]

Back to my original point, initially he was so convinced of what he saw and after interference by McCann agents it got watered down.  In any country that is called interfering with a material witness and comes with a penalty.  I only wish Martin Smith would set the record straight here and now and tell us exactly what went on.  Now there's a challenge to him!!

[Mr Gray]

Back to my original point, initially he was so convinced of what he saw and after interference by McCann agents it got watered down.  In any country that is called interfering with a material witness and comes with a penalty.  I only wish Martin Smith would set the record straight here and now and tell us exactly what went on.  Now there's a challenge to him!!

you have absolutely no evidence that any of this is true and continue to post opinion as fact to the detriment of the forum...

the real fact is that smith could not identify teh man he saw as he didn't see his face

[Lace]

Only when it suited.  In any event don't believe everything you read in a book authored by a suspect.

The detectives weren't arrested or even stopped when they were investigating,  what does that tell you.

I certainly don't believe everything Amaral wrote in his book.

[G-Unit]

you have absolutely no evidence that any of this is true and continue to post opinion as fact to the detriment of the forum...

the real fact is that smith could not identify teh man he saw as he didn't see his face

He identified him by his manner of carrying the child;

He states it was like watching an action replay of the night he saw the male carrying the child back in Portugal. He states the way Gerry was carrying his twin triggered something in his head. It was exactly the same way and look of the male seen the night Maddie went missing . He also watched ITV news and Sky news and inferred it looked like the same person both times carrying the children.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARTIN_SMITH.htm

[Carana]

Back to my original point, initially he was so convinced of what he saw and after interference by McCann agents it got watered down.  In any country that is called interfering with a material witness and comes with a penalty.  I only wish Martin Smith would set the record straight here and now and tell us exactly what went on.  Now there's a challenge to him!!

What do you mean by "initially"? It only occurred to him that it might have been Gerry when he saw the news coverage of how Sean was held when Gerry walked down the plane steps, just after they'd been made arguidos, no less.

As I and others have posted numerous times before, there is a body of research into "false memories" generated by the mind attempting to reprocess new "information". That doesn't mean that a "flash memory" is always inaccurate, but officers aware of the phenomenon and trained in how to explore it further with a witness would be far more competent than officers who aren't.

[Mr Gray]

He identified him by his manner of carrying the child;

He states it was like watching an action replay of the night he saw the male carrying the child back in Portugal. He states the way Gerry was carrying his twin triggered something in his head. It was exactly the same way and look of the male seen the night Maddie went missing . He also watched ITV news and Sky news and inferred it looked like the same person both times carrying the children.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARTIN_SMITH.htm

Thats right..so he didnt see his face...how good an ID is that...it is laughable

[slartibartfast]

Snip

As I and others have posted numerous times before, there is a body of research into "false memories" generated by the mind attempting to reprocess new "information". That doesn't mean that a "flash memory" is always inaccurate, but officers aware of the phenomenon and trained in how to explore it further with a witness would be far more competent than officers who aren't.

I agree with you, however if we start to discount evidence that may be subject to "false memories" in this case, I'm not sure what would be left.

[Mr Gray]

I agree with you, however if we start to discount evidence that may be subject to "false memories" in this case, I'm not sure what would be left.

all witness statements are subject to it...to a certain extent...but posters want to base their conclusions on minute detail...risible

[slartibartfast]

all witness statements are subject to it...to a certain extent...but posters want to base their conclusions on minute detail...risible

From both sides...

[Carana]

I agree with you, however if we start to discount evidence that may be subject to "false memories" in this case, I'm not sure what would be left.

Hopefully, the officers currently investigating the case have far more training and information to make progress than armchair detectives.

The fact that the general public is not being given constant updates on a live investigation into a disappearance that took place in a country attempting to reign in media leaks doesn't mean that that there has been no progress, even if the end result turns out to be simply eliminating question marks and keep remaining red flags on hold pending a future breakthrough that can be more easily be quickly cross-referenced.

Edited for clarification.

[ferryman]

(Angelo):

initially [Martin Smith] was so convinced of what he saw and after interference by McCann agents it got watered down.

Cite for interference by McCann agents, please ....

[Angelo222]

(Angelo):

initially [Martin Smith] was so convinced of what he saw and after interference by McCann agents it got watered down.

Cite for interference by McCann agents, please ....

It is a matter of record that first Kennedy and then Halligen made it their business to challenge Smith and what he had already officially recorded in respect of his observation. You can wriggle and squirm as much as you like but until such time as Martin Smith reveals what pressure he was subjected to then that is all we know.

[Angelo222]

you have absolutely no evidence that any of this is true and continue to post opinion as fact to the detriment of the forum...

the real fact is that smith could not identify teh man he saw as he didn't see his face

Well the e-fits which the Irish witnesses (according to Halligen) produced would prove you wrong yet again.