Has Martin Smith Changed his Opinion ?

[stephen25000]

Martin Smith saw no reason to amend the efit.

And has said (in a separate statement) that he no longer believes he saw Gerry.

He was reported as having said that.

Me, I would prefer to hear that from Mr. Smith himself.

Wouldn't you  ?

[faithlilly]

It?

Oakley?

Brian Kennedy asked Martin Smith to produce an e-fit (at the end of January 2008) and he refused.

Then he changed his mind and agreed to produce an efit.

That can only be because he also changed his mind about the identity of the man he and his family saw that night ....

He refused to produce an efit for Kennedy. He did however produce one for Oakley/Exton, the efit featured on the Crimewatch appeal. We know from the report produced by Exton that his investigators had found some serious anomalies in the McCann's and their friend's evidence. Perhaps the fact that Exton was not taking the McCann's story at face value encouraged the Smiths to produce the efits ? One thing is for sure though, we have not one scintilla of proof that Martin Smith changed his mind about his identification. In fact, if you believe the direct quote from Smith in the Mirror article above, quite the opposite.

[Alfred R Jones]

He refused to produce an efit for Kennedy. He did however produce one for Oakley/Exton, the efit featured on the Crimewatch appeal. We know from the report produced by Exton that his investigators had found some serious anomalies in the McCann's and their friend's evidence. Perhaps the fact that Exton was not taking the McCann's story at face value encouraged the Smiths to produce the efits ? One thing is for sure though, we have not one scintilla of proof that Martin Smith changed his mind about his identification. In fact, if you believe the direct quote from Smith in the Mirror article above, quite the opposite.

What were the "serious anomalies" and why didn't Smith just ask the e-fit compiler to simply reproduce Gerry McCann's face exactly?

[G-Unit]

He refused to produce an efit for Kennedy. He did however produce one for Oakley/Exton, the efit featured on the Crimewatch appeal. We know from the report produced by Exton that his investigators had found some serious anomalies in the McCann's and their friend's evidence. Perhaps the fact that Exton was not taking the McCann's story at face value encouraged the Smiths to produce the efits ? One thing is for sure though, we have not one scintilla of proof that Martin Smith changed his mind about his identification. In fact, if you believe the direct quote from Smith in the Mirror article above, quite the opposite.

You seem to have identified a reason why the Smiths agreed to produce the e-fits with Oakley after refusing Kennedy's request. Well done. It seems Redwood also had the report produced by the Oakley investigators which didn't follow the 'official line'. With all this information in his possession he decides to go public with the e-fits. I wonder what he hoped to achieve, and what he did achieve?

[faithlilly]

What were the "serious anomalies" and why didn't Smith just ask the e-fit compiler to simply reproduce Gerry McCann's face exactly?

I have no idea what the 'serious anomalies' were, simply that Exton said that several had been identified in Oakley's report and no idea about your second question either.

[Alfred R Jones]

I have no idea what the 'serious anomalies' were, simply that Exton said that several had been identified in Oakley's report and no idea about your second question either.

Has Exton hinted that he believed the parents were involved?  If so please provide a cite.  As for my second point, don't you think it would have been logical if, when asked to provide an e-fit of someone whose picture you had readily to hand you simply said "here - copy that" rather than try and describe the face verbally?

[faithlilly]

Has Exton hinted that he believed the parents were involved?  If so please provide a cite.  As for my second point, don't you think it would have been logical if, when asked to provide an e-fit of someone whose picture you had readily to hand you simply said "here - copy that" rather than try and describe the face verbally?

I think Exton is professional, and canny, enough not suggest anything that he could no comprehensively prove and to your second question I have already given you my answer.

[Alfred R Jones]

I think Exton is professional, and canny, enough not suggest anything that he could no comprehensively prove and to your second question I have already given you my answer.

So you are unable to say what would be logical to do given the situation where you are asked for the description of the person you thought you saw, knowing that the internet was already bulging with pictures of the person you thought you saw?  OK.  I understand.

[slartibartfast]

So you are unable to say what would be logical to do given the situation where you are asked for the description of the person you thought you saw, knowing that the internet was already bulging with pictures of the person you thought you saw?  OK.  I understand.

It is always possible the he was repeatedly pressed to produce an e-fit of the person he had already identified to a significant extent as Gerry and to get rid of the pressure produced an e-fit accordingly.

[ferryman]

You haven't provided any rational argument.

Kennedy had no business going near the Smith family.

He was interfering in a criminal case, following his own agenda.

We're discussing whether Martin Smith changed his opinion (about whether he believed he had seen Gerry).

[stephen25000]

We're discussing whether Martin Smith changed his opinion (about whether he believed he had seen Gerry).

You have provided no evidence that Mr. Smith changed his mind.

SECOND HAND COMMENTS DON'T COUNT.

[slartibartfast]

We're discussing whether Martin Smith changed his opinion (about whether he believed he had seen Gerry).

...and no one has produced a quote from him.

[ferryman]

He refused to produce an efit for Kennedy. He did however produce one for Oakley/Exton, the efit featured on the Crimewatch appeal. We know from the report produced by Exton that his investigators had found some serious anomalies in the McCann's and their friend's evidence. Perhaps the fact that Exton was not taking the McCann's story at face value encouraged the Smiths to produce the efits ? One thing is for sure though, we have not one scintilla of proof that Martin Smith changed his mind about his identification. In fact, if you believe the direct quote from Smith in the Mirror article above, quite the opposite.

Answers on a post card.

Why would Martin Smith, or, (we now know) his wife, Mary, have produced e-fits of a man either thought was Gerry?

[slartibartfast]

Answers on a post card.

Why would Martin Smith, or, (we now know) his wife, Mary, have produced e-fits of a man either thought was Gerry?

See #38

[ferryman]

It is always possible the he was repeatedly pressed to produce an e-fit of the person he had already identified to a significant extent as Gerry and to get rid of the pressure produced an e-fit accordingly.

Crap (at most charitable).

Idle speculation (based on what)?