The whooshing curtains, net curtains or both?

[lordpookles]

The way Kate describes the curtains billowing open though is surprising to me given they were floor length curtains in the photos... Not saying that couldn't happen just surprising...

[pegasus]

The way Kate describes the curtains billowing open though is surprising to me given they were floor length curtains in the photos... Not saying that couldn't happen just surprising...

I hope that some peeps will try the tests it will be interesting.
BTW can anyone clarify?
Were the main curtains in the children's bedroom found in the open or closed or part-closed position at 10pm?
Was it just the net curtains that blew into the room, or was it the main curtains too?

[valeria]

I am living in a windy place. There are days that when i open a certain window even if all other doors and windows are closed the gust of air is so strong that the main curtains blow into the room. In fact is so strong that when blows the north wind i never open it because all the inside doors are slamming. The same time if i would open a window situated in an  other side of the house nothing would happen. I mean a gust could cause  the situation discribed by kate. It depends on the direction of the wind and the location of the window.

[Anna]

I hope that some peeps will try the tests it will be interesting.
BTW can anyone clarify?
Were the main curtains in the children's bedroom found in the open or closed or part-closed position at 10pm?
Was it just the net curtains that blew into the room, or was it the main curtains too?

IIRC They were closed until the door slammed which made them whoosh

[Anna]

I hope that some peeps will try the tests it will be interesting.
BTW can anyone clarify?
Were the main curtains in the children's bedroom found in the open or closed or part-closed position at 10pm?
Was it just the net curtains that blew into the room, or was it the main curtains too?

Sorry Pegasus, In her ststement, she says that the window and curtains were open as was the door at 10pm. I think she explained the banging door at another time.

[pegasus]

Sorry Pegasus, In her ststement, she says that the window and curtains were open as was the door at 10pm. I think she explained the banging door at another time.

Thanks.
So if the heavy main curtains were open...
it was just the lightweight net curtains which blew into the room.

The door did not slam initially, because it was fairly wide open.
It slammed only after had been manually adjusted to the almost closed position.

BTW I am convinced that her description is accurate and true.
The physics is all good IMO.

[pegasus]

Do we know if the main heavy curtains of childbedroom were in the closed position at 19.30?

[pathfinder73]

Do we know if the main heavy curtains of childbedroom were in the closed position at 19.30?

Everything was closed all week. The room stayed dark all week unless the cleaner opened them - she would have to be questioned about it. That room was only used for sleeping so I can conclude that wardrobe was unused being blocked by a cot. That's where you think the missing bag was hiding?

"At around 10pm, the witness came to check on the children. She went into the apartment by the side door, which was closed, but unlocked, as already said, and immediately noticed that the door to her children's bedroom was completely open, the window was also open, the shutters raised and the curtains open, while she was certain of having closed them all as she always did." (KM 4 May)

[pegasus]

Everything was closed all week. The room stayed dark all week unless the cleaner opened them - she would have to be questioned about it. That room was only used for sleeping so I can conclude that wardrobe was unused being blocked by a cot. That's where you think the missing bag was hiding?

"At around 10pm, the witness came to check on the children. She went into the apartment by the side door, which was closed, but unlocked, as already said, and immediately noticed that the door to her children's bedroom was completely open, the window was also open, the shutters raised and the curtains open, while she was certain of having closed them all as she always did." (KM 4 May)

Thanks. So at 7.30pm so we seem to agree that the heavy curtains of child bedroom were fully closed.
And at the time of this PJ photo (early hours 4th) the heavy curtains are partly open.
http://www.mccannfiles.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/foto7.jpg
So at some point between those two times, someone for some reason partly opened the heavy curtains.
It is interesting to note that in this photo the left heavy curtain is only only slightly (about 10%) opened, but the right heavy curtain is significantly opened. This correlates with the right half of the window being the half which is easier to slide open.

[Eleanor]

There doesn't appear to be any net curtains.  But the actual curtains don't look all that heavy to me.

[pegasus]

There doesn't appear to be any net curtains.  But the actual curtains don't look all that heavy to me.

My apologies, you are right, there were no net curtains, a gust blew the closed main curtains up and in.

[Wonderfulspam]

My apologies, you are right, there were no net curtains, a gust blew the closed main curtains up and in.

Untucking them from behind the bed & chair, before they tucked themselves back in again.

Wanna buy some magic beans?

[DCI]

My apologies, you are right, there were no net curtains, a gust blew the closed main curtains up and in.

There are net curtains Pegasus, see photo 9. You can see to the right of the ruler, on the windowcill.

Better view here

[Brietta]

There are net curtains Pegasus, see photo 9. You can see to the right of the ruler, on the windowcill.

Better view here

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P9/09_VOLUME_IXa_Page_2313.jpg

I agree with Anna that the 'heavy' curtains don't look too heavy ... I would think heavy guage cotton? and the photograph indicated certainly shows nets ... so it could be either or.

I don't think too much reliance can be placed on the crime scene photographs because imo among the first places you would look for a missing child would be under beds and behind curtains so the positioning would be disturbed.
We know that Dr K McCann looked out of the window, perhaps disturbing the curtains in the process.

It was when she pulled the door towards her that it banged shut ... suggests to me that another door was open. 

If it was the bedroom patio door that would not have been seen from the stairs to the apartment.

In the couple of minutes taken to check Madeleine's bedroom and cross to the window to look out before searching the apartment, intruders could have quietly closed the glass door and lowered the shutters and made good their escape without being seen.

What is the drop like into the flower garden?  Too risky to use the stairs? although sometimes needs must; but exiting from the balcony into the garden, accessing the lane at the back and out into the lane between the two buildings would enable them to stay one step ahead of the alarm and searchers, take them in the direction of the Smith family at about the appropriate time.

The Smiths were walking towards the crime scene ... but apart from that one individual ... they are not recorded as having witnessed any furore or searchers despite the search for Madeleine taking place.

[Wonderfulspam]

Even Crimewatch couldn't get the curtains to go from being closed to getting blown out and open.

15.12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=OZ8jmdWlB8Y#t=884