The Tapas Note.

[Robittybob1]

It mattered little whether it was 50 yards or 500 yards, the children were still in danger if left for extended periods.

How would anyone define what is an "extended period"?

[Robittybob1]

It is interesting to see Jeremy's reaction to the block booking by the Tapas group

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/JEREMY-WILKINS-ROGATORY.htm
"It appeared as though he was jealous of what I was doing, but given that he was with a big group, he felt the obligation to meet with them every night, and the chosen location was the Tapas bar. I believe that there was some sort of agreement with the tapas Bar as they appeared to have a reservation every night and it was impossible for other guests to book at spot there."

For him to say  "it was impossible for other guests to book at spot there"  that must mean there was some difficulty experienced.  Does he mean another large group for there are definitely other people booked there.

[Robittybob1]

I notice the booking sheet for the Wednesday they put it down as 9 for the Tapas group yet Rachael says she didn't go.   What I notice is the "9" is clearly an alteration even though I can't work out what it previously was.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/T/03_VOLUME_IIIa_Page_607.jpg
 

[barrier]

No matter what happened the other nights on Thursday the patio door was unlocked.

Yet if true there are some who would like us to believe that a window was used in spiriting Madeleine out when this door was unlocked and perfectly serviceable.

[Benice]

Matthew, from memory, never mentioned Russell's patio doors.

True - he didn't mention those patio doors, but he did say he took the 'quickest route' from Russell's apartment to the McCans, which would surely be via the patio door and down the pathway at a the back of the apartments - and not the long way round -  across the car park.

Quote from his 2nd interview

That, on that occasion, Russell and he went to their own residences, to check on their own children. After leaving his apartment he went to that of Russell who opted to stay there to calm his daughter who was crying, that done with the deponent went alone to the McCann apartment. He clarifies that Russell's daughter was ill, with vomiting.
 
To this end, he took the quickest route between Russell's apartment and the side garden gate entrance to the rear patio of the McCann residence, to which he gained access through the glass sliding door into the apartment lounge. The door was closed but not locked as Kate had said it would be.
End quote

I can't think of any reason for him to lie - as I can't see what he would  have to gain by doing that.

AIMHO

[Robittybob1]

True - he didn't mention those patio doors, but he did say he took the 'quickest route' from Russell's apartment to the McCans, which would surely be via the patio door and down the pathway at a the back of the apartments - and not the long way round -  across the car park.

Quote from his 2nd interview

That, on that occasion, Russell and he went to their own residences, to check on their own children. After leaving his apartment he went to that of Russell who opted to stay there to calm his daughter who was crying, that done with the deponent went alone to the McCann apartment. He clarifies that Russell's daughter was ill, with vomiting.
 
To this end, he took the quickest route between Russell's apartment and the side garden gate entrance to the rear patio of the McCann residence, to which he gained access through the glass sliding door into the apartment lounge. The door was closed but not locked as Kate had said it would be.
End quote

I can't think of any reason for him to lie - as I can't see what he would  have to gain by doing that.

AIMHO

Matt does not say he went inside Russell's apartment, so the shortest route is via the alleyway between block 4 and 5 and then along the alleyway leading to the road.  That is the route I think he meant by the shortest route.  There is no need to intrude into an apartment that has a sick kid in it.

[G-Unit]

It is interesting to see Jeremy's reaction to the block booking by the Tapas group

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/JEREMY-WILKINS-ROGATORY.htm
"It appeared as though he was jealous of what I was doing, but given that he was with a big group, he felt the obligation to meet with them every night, and the chosen location was the Tapas bar. I believe that there was some sort of agreement with the tapas Bar as they appeared to have a reservation every night and it was impossible for other guests to book at spot there."

For him to say  "it was impossible for other guests to book at spot there"  that must mean there was some difficulty experienced.  Does he mean another large group for there are definitely other people booked there.

It suggests to me that the problem was common knowledge, as the receptionist confirms;

She says that the guests told her that the Tapas was of better quality but that it was difficult to reserve there as a MW guest as the MW daily quota was of only 20.
http://mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/LUISA_COUTINHO.htm

A quota which appears to have been ignored or was it increased to a limit of 20 + 9? That would explain why the Berry's couldn't get in on Thursday; even the higher number had been exceeded.

Tuesday 1st          28 MW guests
Wednesday 2nd    26 MW guests
Thursday 3rd       32 MW guests

[Angelo222]

How would anyone define what is an "extended period"?

Leaving three kids alone for more than five minutes would concern me.

[Benice]

Matt does not say he went inside Russell's apartment, so the shortest route is via the alleyway between block 4 and 5 and then along the alleyway leading to the road.  That is the route I think he meant by the shortest route.  There is no need to intrude into an apartment that has a sick kid in it.

They were friends so I have no difficulty in believing Russell invited Matt in when he came to his door.

However  - whatever the route was - the fact that it was mentioned at all - and was described as the 'quickest' route between  Russell's apartment and the McCanns - shows that his intended destination was the patio door of 5a imo. 

I think it is more than reasonable to assume that it is true that those patio door were unlocked as claimed.

AIMHO

[Robittybob1]

It suggests to me that the problem was common knowledge, as the receptionist confirms;

She says that the guests told her that the Tapas was of better quality but that it was difficult to reserve there as a MW guest as the MW daily quota was of only 20.
http://mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/LUISA_COUTINHO.htm

A quota which appears to have been ignored or was it increased to a limit of 20 + 9? That would explain why the Berry's couldn't get in on Thursday; even the higher number had been exceeded.

Tuesday 1st          28 MW guests
Wednesday 2nd    26 MW guests
Thursday 3rd       32 MW guests

Are you counting the children too?  The children had already been fed at high tea.
On Wednesday I counted it as 21 but it fell back down to 20 if Rachael is not included.

[Robittybob1]

They were friends so I have no difficulty in believing Russell invited Matt in when he came to his door.

However  - whatever the route was - the fact that it was mentioned at all - and was described as the 'quickest' route between  Russell's apartment and the McCanns - shows that his intended destination was the patio door of 5a imo. 

I think it is more than reasonable to assume that it is true that those patio door were unlocked as claimed.

AIMHO

Thinking it through he would have said went through Russell's apartment if that happened , rather than having to decide what is the shortest route, which ends up as a disaster really for if he had taken the longer route he might have actually noted the external shutters.

[G-Unit]

They were friends so I have no difficulty in believing Russell invited Matt in when he came to his door.

However  - whatever the route was - the fact that it was mentioned at all - and was described as the 'quickest' route between  Russell's apartment and the McCanns - shows that his intended destination was the patio door of 5a imo. 

I think it is more than reasonable to assume that it is true that those patio door were unlocked as claimed.

AIMHO

Yes, three of the group said they were in their twice translated non verbatim statements, didn't they? Oh, sorry, one of the three gave a rather confusing account, didn't he?

[G-Unit]

Are you counting the children too?  The children had already been fed at high tea.
On Wednesday I counted it as 21 but it fell back down to 20 if Rachael is not included.

A booking is a meal. A meal is one of the 20 allocated.

[Innominate]

Thinking it through he would have said went through Russell's apartment if that happened , rather than having to decide what is the shortest route, which ends up as a disaster really for if he had taken the longer route he might have actually noted the external shutters.

I think the answer might be contained in ROB rogatory:

 I went into the apartment and Matt went into his.  I went to the toilet to urinate and then started to clean up Evie and change her, Matt came into my apartment and asked if I needed any help.  It was getting darker by this time.  I said to go back and tell Jane that Evie was unwell.

----

What is the potential issue with that statement if you take it as a literal description of what happened?

[Benice]

Yes, three of the group said they were in their twice translated non verbatim statements, didn't they? Oh, sorry, one of the three gave a rather confusing account, didn't he?

Unless someone can come up with a credible reason WHY anyone would lie about the patio doors being unlocked - then everything we do know about the subject indicates that they were unlocked as claimed.

What would be the point of  devising a 'cunning plan' to lie about the patio doors.  What was that supposed to achieve?

If Matt checked the McCann children via their front door  which was next door to his own front door  - then surely he would have done that before he went to Russell's apartment?

AIMHO