Was the slamming door connected to an escape via bedroom patio door?

[Anna]

If an intruder could get into or out of a window in the floor above 5A (Mrs Fenn) then I am sure they would have no difficulty getting in or out of the parents bedroom door without using the stairs a possibility. It would be normal in a hot climate to open a window for air. It may have been forgotten about, when they went out.
I have a lot of problems with doors slamming shut and I suppose a lot depends on room locations,height of property and whether or not a window/door is exposed to open spaces. The adult bedroom faced flat empty space with pool etc below it.

[Anna]

lots of DNA except Madeleine's. All 3 kids shared the same toothbrush by strange doctor parents AS IF &%+((£

Lots of DNA, Yes, but none tested until after the dogs came which was after the Apartment had already been thoroughly cleaned and used by other holiday makers. Only hairs were collected by the first inspection

[John]

Hi Misty, Hope this helps.....No curtains were forensically tested until after the dogs came in. The parents room and Lounge was then tested.
The Portuguese forensic police used a lamp that shows up blood and other body fluids resulting in the bedspread next to the window in kiddies room showing positive. It was sent for analysis a it was suspected to be semen. but was proved to be the saliva of a child.
The GNR who first arrived at 5A searched the apartment with no regard to disturbing evidence, which they admitted. The bedding was all sent to the laundry after the initial inspections. There was many people in the apartment that night.....so lots of DNA.

Please correct any errors I may have made in this post
http://themaddiecasefiles.com/post106907.html#p106907

Thank you for responding to a genuine question Anna.  Too many flippant and frankly disingenuous responses have been posted recently and if this does not cease there will be repercussions.

[pegasus]

Eddie indicated in the adult bedroom, and at the climbing plant outside the adult bedroom (he indicated this both from below and from above).
So that makes the door directly linking those two locations potentially of interest.
However note that,  soon after the alarm was raised, FP did a test on the shutter of the adult bedroom to balcony door, to test whether the door's shutter could be opened from outside. She does not mention the door being open, therefore it is likely it was in the closed position at that time.
"I was trying to lift the shutter ... at the back ... which is where their balcony was”.

[sadie]

I'm not even sure there is a balcony outside the bedroom let alone separated by a wall, which would probably blow that part of my 'theory' out of the water. I'll look out for a picture of the back of the apartment block which can determine the truth of the matter.

I think the layout of flat would allow an intruder to hide undiscovered in the back bedroom while listening till the coast was clear.

There definitely is a narrow balcony outside the parents window, probably a metre or less wide, but it exists.  It appears to be the same width as the steps up.

As for hiding there, much of it had no direct light falling on it from the steet lamp across the road, so it is darkish, but against that idea is the fact that the bushes had just been clipped back and as anyone came up the outside steps, that Balcony was immediately in front.  Visually a NO-NO imo


Would be a bit risky and cheeky to hide there with peeps coming up the steps, imo.

[pegasus]

There definitely is a narrow balcony outside the parents window, probably a metre or less wide, but it exists.  It appears to be the same width as the steps up.

As for hiding there, much of it had no direct light falling on it from the steet lamp across the road, so it is darkish, but against that idea is the fact that the bushes had just been clipped back and as anyone came up the outside steps, that Balcony was immediately in front.  Visually a NO-NO imo


Would be a bit risky and cheeky to hide there with peeps coming up the steps, imo.

Part of that end of the balcony can be seen in "Foto 16" here http://www.mccannfiles.com/id155.html

And "Foto 15" is taken from that part of the balcony.

(Also that railing features in a video shot in the dark, late evening 31st July 2007).

[Brietta]

There definitely is a narrow balcony outside the parents window, probably a metre or less wide, but it exists.  It appears to be the same width as the steps up.

As for hiding there, much of it had no direct light falling on it from the steet lamp across the road, so it is darkish, but against that idea is the fact that the bushes had just been clipped back and as anyone came up the outside steps, that Balcony was immediately in front.  Visually a NO-NO imo


Would be a bit risky and cheeky to hide there with peeps coming up the steps, imo.

Is this a photograph of Rebelo and Paiva outside the bedroom door?  Is there a chance the wall may be slightly recessed to provide some slight cover to prevent being seen by anyone coming up the stairs?

If it was the door opening to allow exit that caused the interior door to slam it would have required two to be in the apartment ... one to carry the child ... one to close the door and the shutter.
Even in the panic of searching the apartment, I think Dr McCann would have heard that.

[pegasus]

Thanks for the photo, I added a green dot on the metal shutter of the balcony to south bedroom door.

[Anna]

There is definately a recess there, but a hiding place....not sure about that. I think it was a possible route.

[pegasus]

Here's an experiment we can all do in our residence.
Next time it's fairly windy.

1. Fully open all internal doors.
Close all the external doors and windows.
Except open just one window fully, leaving its curtains open but its net curtains drawn closed.
Wait for some gusts.
Do the net curtains get blown in/out? A little or a lot?

2. Next: Almost close the internal door of that room (the room with the open window), so it is only about 1cm ajar.
Wait for some gusts.
Does the door slam?

[Anna]

I have always had problems with doors slamming, when it is breezy.I now use wedges, but still have flapping curtains, depite them being heavy