Has Martin Smith Changed his Opinion ?

[G-Unit]

I don't see any connection between what Kate said in a state of panic a few minutes after finding Madeleine had disappeared - and her ensuing thoughts when Madeleine wasn't found -  on what could have happened to her and why  - the following day.

Two completely separate and unconnected events IMO.

Of course she denies saying it. 'Someone' she said, not 'they'; easy to mistake the two words in the excitement I guess.

I wonder why her friends forgot to mention how they ran back and forth to the Tapas begging people to phone the police? I wonder why none of those at the Tapas mentioned this flow of desperately begging people? I wonder why they ignored them? So many things to wonder about in this case.

[Alfred R Jones]

Of course she denies saying it. 'Someone' she said, not 'they'; easy to mistake the two words in the excitement I guess.

I wonder why her friends forgot to mention how they ran back and forth to the Tapas begging people to phone the police? I wonder why none of those at the Tapas mentioned this flow of desperately begging people? I wonder why they ignored them? So many things to wonder about in this case.

I wonder what Kate would stand to gain from deliberately lying about such a thing?  Perhaps she is guilty of hyperbole, perhaps she thought that's what her friends were doing when in reality they were simply mooching around outside gazing at the stars, maybe some random people actually were asked to call the police but being Portuguese speakers didn't understand what they were being asked.  Or maybe they understood but did nothing, and felt too guilty to admit doing nothing, etc etc etc.  Not that any of this matters a tiny jot but carry on worrying about it if you've nothing better to do.

[faithlilly]

I wonder what Kate would stand to gain from deliberately lying about such a thing?  Perhaps she is guilty of hyperbole, perhaps she thought that's what her friends were doing when in reality they were simply mooching around outside gazing at the stars, maybe some random people actually were asked to call the police but being Portuguese speakers didn't understand what they were being asked.  Or maybe they understood but did nothing, and felt too guilty to admit doing nothing, etc etc etc.  Not that any of this matters a tiny jot but carry on worrying about it if you've nothing better to do.

What would Kate stand to gain from the alleged deception ? Perhaps to mitigate the impression that while a small child was missing the tapas bunch were more interested in saving their own backsides by writing timelines etc rather than actually doing anything proactive to find her ?

[G-Unit]

I wonder what Kate would stand to gain from deliberately lying about such a thing?  Perhaps she is guilty of hyperbole, perhaps she thought that's what her friends were doing when in reality they were simply mooching around outside gazing at the stars, maybe some random people actually were asked to call the police but being Portuguese speakers didn't understand what they were being asked.  Or maybe they understood but did nothing, and felt too guilty to admit doing nothing, etc etc etc.  Not that any of this matters a tiny jot but carry on worrying about it if you've nothing better to do.

Morning Alfred! There's nothing wrong with literary exaggeration, it makes a better story. The book isn't supposed to be a story though, it's meant to be an account of the truth.

It seems strange how interested some people are in discussing Martin Smith's alleged change of opinion but are completely disinterested when others in the case are shown to be departing from a true account of what was said and done.

[Alfred R Jones]

What would Kate stand to gain from the alleged deception ? Perhaps to mitigate the impression that while a small child was missing the tapas bunch were more interested in saving their own backsides by writing timelines etc rather than actually doing anything proactive to find her ?

So is it your belief that when they all got back to the apartment 5a they all sat down and started writing a timeline?

[Alfred R Jones]

Morning Alfred! There's nothing wrong with literary exaggeration, it makes a better story. The book isn't supposed to be a story though, it's meant to be an account of the truth.

It seems strange how interested some people are in discussing Martin Smith's alleged change of opinion but are completely disinterested when others in the case are shown to be departing from a true account of what was said and done.

I note you gave no time to consider any of the options I proffered apart from hyperbole, any reason for that?

[Alfred R Jones]

Morning Alfred! There's nothing wrong with literary exaggeration, it makes a better story. The book isn't supposed to be a story though, it's meant to be an account of the truth.

It seems strange how interested some people are in discussing Martin Smith's alleged change of opinion but are completely disinterested when others in the case are shown to be departing from a true account of what was said and done.

Is it true to say that none of the McCann friends asked anyone outwith the group to call the police and if so how would you prove it?

[faithlilly]

Is it true to say that none of the McCann friends asked anyone outwith the group to call the police and if so how would you prove it?

I'm sure you'll be able to prove they did by posting the numerous statements from waiters, nannies etc who mention the requests.

[Alfred R Jones]

I'm sure you'll be able to prove they did by posting the numerous statements from waiters, nannies etc who mention the requests.

I'm not the one making a claim either way.  G-Unit (and you) are claiming that Kate McCann made this up, so over to you to prove it is a fiction. 

[Alfred R Jones]

Question 1) were there any other holidaymakers staying at the OC that evening who were out and about on the evening of 3rd May, either dining in the restaurant or sitting on their patios, or generally present in one way or another?
Question 2) if so can someone please direct me to their statements?

[faithlilly]

I'm not the one making a claim either way.  G-Unit (and you) are claiming that Kate McCann made this up, so over to you to prove it is a fiction.

The fact that no one that was around at that time mentions this frantic activity by the McCanns and their friends kind of proves the point. A bit like Kate claiming she voiced her concerns about the twins unresponsive state to several police officers on the night of the third yet not one witness mentions it. Either the eye witnesses were all very absent-minded or all spoke a foreign language or Kate has simply 'misremembered'. What do you think the most likely reason is ?

[Alfred R Jones]

The fact that no one that was around at that time mentions this frantic activity by the McCanns and their friends kind of proves the point. A bit like Kate claiming she voiced her concerns about the twins unresponsive state to several police officers on the night of the third yet not one witness mentions it. Either the eye witnesses were all very absent-minded or all spoke a foreign language or Kate has simply 'misremembered'. What do you think the most likely reason is ?

I have no idea, and neither do you, though you might like to think you do.

[Benice]

Question 1) were there any other holidaymakers staying at the OC that evening who were out and about on the evening of 3rd May, either dining in the restaurant or sitting on their patios, or generally present in one way or another?
Question 2) if so can someone please direct me to their statements?

IMO it's a mistake to assume that every single word spoken and that every move people made that night has been recorded in the witness statements or that if it hasn't been recorded then it didn't happen.   

IIRC Gerry was interviewed for around 10 or 11 hours but you can read his summarised statement in around 4/5 mins.   If it was a verbatim statement it would be pages and pages long.     It seems quite obvious to me that not  every word spoken during interviews was included in the summarised version. 

It's also a mistake to assume that everyone remembered in precise detail not only what THEY said and did that night but also what other people said and did.   

The whole idea is totally unrealistic IMO.

AIMO

[Alfred R Jones]

I have started a new thread entitled "There was no frantic activity by the Tapas Group after the alarm was raised" - pending authorisation, it can hopefully be discussed there.

[pathfinder73]

Is it true to say that none of the McCann friends asked anyone outwith the group to call the police and if so how would you prove it?

Mrs Fenn offered her phone to call the police but Gerry said they had been when they hadn't. This was at 10:30. Police call was 10:41.