Is there any hard evidence whatsoever in the Madeleine McCann case?

[jassi]

There is direct evidence in the rogs that some other members of this group of tourists thought there was no need to check whether or not windows were locked, because they thought closed shutters alone provided complete security. The cleaners would be under the same illusion as the doctors, because neither the doctors or the cleaners are burglars.

All pretty irrelevant, though, if you then go out, deliberately  leaving the 'back door' unlocked.

[pegasus]

Before that night, the group didnt check whether windows were locked or not:

"The windows, to be honest, in x’s room, we didn’t ever check the window."
“we assumed they were locked”

But after the disappearance obviously the whole group checked whether their windows were locked or not.
Here is indisputable hard evidence, that many windows were unlocked.

"I checked some of the windows in our apartment and they weren’t locked"

[jassi]

What a feckless lot they appear to have been.

Just trying using that excuse in any insurance claim and see where it gets you   

[pegasus]

What a feckless lot they appear to have been.

Just trying using that excuse in any insurance claim and see where it gets you   

The important thing is that the 2 peeps I quoted above (FP DW) are being completely honest.
They give us extremely valuable information.
That many windows were unlocked.
It could not be more important.
It means 5A south north bedroom window and shutter were almost certainly opened from outside.
Then it is elementary to work out the next few seconds, and there is only one solution possible for who pulled open the door.
(Edited to correct a wrong word error by me).

[pegasus]

Using only the hard evidence of the technical designs of the window and shutter and internal door, and the fingerprints and handmarks, and the account of the honest witness who discovered the scene, one room is solved. The progress made is about 3 metres, into another room.

[pathfinder73]

The important thing is that the 2 peeps I quoted above (FP DW) are being completely honest.
They give us extremely valuable information.
That many windows were unlocked.
It could not be more important.
It means 5A south bedroom window and shutter were almost certainly opened from outside.
Then it is elementary to work out the next few seconds, and there is only one solution possible for who pulled open the door.

The windows must surely lock themselves. And you press the button in to open and slide. Is that correct?

[Brietta]

There is direct evidence in the rogs that some other members of this group of tourists thought there was no need to check whether or not windows were locked, because they thought closed shutters alone provided complete security. The cleaners would be under the same illusion as the doctors, because neither the doctors or the cleaners are burglars.

The doctors were visitors who were unfamiliar with shutters and their mechanism.
The cleaners were locals and eminently familiar with the workings of the shutters.

Easy to deduce that the Portuguese cleaners most certainly would not be under the same illusion as the British doctors.  The Portuguese were familiar with shuttered windows probably from birth.

[Carana]

The important thing is that the 2 peeps I quoted above (FP DW) are being completely honest.
They give us extremely valuable information.
That many windows were unlocked.
It could not be more important.
It means 5A south bedroom window and shutter were almost certainly opened from outside.
Then it is elementary to work out the next few seconds, and there is only one solution possible for who pulled open the door.

I really don't follow you on that. And you mention the "south" bedroom window / blind?

[pegasus]

I really don't follow you on that. And you mention the "south" bedroom window / blind?

Sorry I meant north. Thanks i correct it.

[pegasus]

The doctors were visitors who were unfamiliar with shutters and their mechanism.
The cleaners were locals and eminently familiar with the workings of the shutters.

Easy to deduce that the Portuguese cleaners most certainly would not be under the same illusion as the British doctors.  The Portuguese were familiar with shuttered windows probably from birth.

Some of the windows at 5G were unlocked. Definitely. See DW rog.
And 5G was cleaned. This proves that cleaners leave things how they find them - its not their job to lock windows that aren't locked.

[Brietta]

Some of the windows at 5G were unlocked. Definitely. See DW rog.
And 5G was cleaned. This proves that cleaners leave things how they find them - its not their job to lock windows that aren't locked.

The doctors were under the impression that that when the shutters were down they were, in effect, locked and therefore secure.  Even if they had a regime of opening window and shutter, they may not have realised the importance of locking the window on closure.
The cleaners would know the shutters were not locked and could be raised from outside.  It would be simplicity itself for a cleaner to deliberately unlock or leave a window unlocked.

The fact that they immediately checked the shutters and window locks on return to their own apartments provides further confirmation, if any were needed, of the veracity of Kate's statement.

[pegasus]

The windows must surely lock themselves. And you press the button in to open and slide. Is that correct?

The window definitely doesn't lock itself. The handle is fixed. It has two buttons. To lock the window you have to also press the lock button. It does not press itself. There is no latch, no autolock. This is why some of the sliding windows in these apartments were fully closed but completely unlocked, proof is in DW rog.

[pegasus]

The doctors were under the impression that that when the shutters were down they were, in effect, locked and therefore secure.

Correct, see FP rog
"The windows,to be honest, in x’s room, we didn’t ever check the window ... we assumed it was sort of locked and closed and the shutter was down."

[jassi]

Some of the windows at 5G were unlocked. Definitely. See DW rog.
And 5G was cleaned. This proves that cleaners leave things how they find them - its not their job to lock windows that aren't locked.

Quite.It is the responsibility of the occupant to check and  ensure the  security of their accommodation.

[pegasus]

The cleaners would know the shutters were not locked and could be raised from outside.

Wrong. IMO the cleaners would be just like the group, and would assume that if the shutter is down it's safe.