Gonçalo Amaral claimed that so-called Smithman e-fits were simply a ruse!

[pegasus]

Just a reminder, from the Sept 2007 statement of an English tourist (Apensos V, volume 1, p131).

"Another thing which has played on my mind is the coverage of Mr McCann walking off the aeroplane holding one of his young children. The way he was holding the child over his left shoulder reminded me of the man carrying the child from the white van in Portugal. Although I could not describe the male I'd seen in Portugal because he had his back to me, it was the particular way Mr. McCann held the child that made me think. He held the child over his left shoulder with his left arm supporting the child's weight"

In fact the man seen by this english witness saw was not GM, was not english, was not an abductor, was not a body hider, and had absolutely nothing to do with the case.

Am I the only poster who can see that the similar Smith sighting also has absolutely nothing to do with the case?

[Robittybob1]

Just a reminder, from the Sept 2007 statement of an English tourist (Apensos V, volume 1, p131).

"Another thing which has played on my mind is the coverage of Mr McCann walking off the aeroplane holding one of his young children. The way he was holding the child over his left shoulder reminded me of the man carrying the child from the white van in Portugal. Although I could not describe the male I'd seen in Portugal because he had his back to me, it was the particular way Mr. McCann held the child that made me think. He held the child over his left shoulder with his left arm supporting the child's weight"

In fact the man seen by this english witness saw was not GM, was not english, was not an abductor, was not a body hider, and had absolutely nothing to do with the case.

Am I the only poster who can see that the similar Smith sighting also has absolutely nothing to do with the case?

No I think Smithman is pivotal to the case.

[pegasus]

No I think Smithman is pivotal to the case.

It appears that (apart from me), almost all posters - posters on the abduction side, and posters on the opposite "non-abduction" side - and Mr Amaral, and SY too (judging by their press releases) all think that the Smith sighting is pivotal to the case.

It's risky enough when one investigator puts all their eggs in one basket in an unsolved case. It is very strange when (almost) all investigators, real, and armchair of both opposite sides, put all their eggs in the same basket, and an absurdly unlikely one at that, just IMO.

[Robittybob1]

It appears that (apart from me), almost all posters - posters on the abduction side, and posters on the opposite "non-abduction" side - and Mr Amaral, and SY too (judging by their press releases) all think that the Smith sighting is pivotal to the case.

It's risky enough when one investigator puts all their eggs in one basket in an unsolved case. It is very strange when (almost) all investigators, real, and armchair of both opposite sides, put all their eggs in the same basket, and an absurdly unlikely one at that, just IMO.

Remember I was a bit different I didn't put all my eggs in the one basket.  I thought the Egg and the Smithman were connected.

[G-Unit]

Yes.

Mrs Smith gave an interview recently in which she said they (the Smiths) stand ready to support the McCanns in whatever way they can to  find Madeleine.

And I really don't understand why some people question the Smiths' probity based on the time that elapsed before they gave their interviews.

How long did it take to interview Mrs Fenn?

She was the person in closest to proximity to the apartment when Madeleine was abducted and a resident of PdL.

Yet it was weeks after the event that she was (finally) interviewed.

The Smiths had to travel (especially) from another country to be interviewed. alot more organising involved.

On 5th May 6 teams made up of PJ officers and members of the Ocean Club maintenance staff visited 443 residences in the Ocean Club. People were asked if they had any information and if they did they were taken for formal questioning.

Mrs Fenn and the Moyes must either have been out or said they had no information. If they were missed there was an apartment given over to the police [606] where they could have gone and reported anything of interest to the investigation. Derek Flack, who was staying in the Mirage apartments,  went there to report what he saw.

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/EXTERNAL.htm
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/DEREK_FLACK.htm

[Angelo222]

Remember I was a bit different I didn't put all my eggs in the one basket.  I thought the Egg and the Smithman were connected.

Your eggs are all cracked Bobbie.

[Angelo222]

On 5th May 6 teams made up of PJ officers and members of the Ocean Club maintenance staff visited 443 residences in the Ocean Club. People were asked if they had any information and if they did they were taken for formal questioning.

Mrs Fenn and the Moyes must either have been out or said they had no information. If they were missed there was an apartment given over to the police [606] where they could have gone and reported anything of interest to the investigation. Derek Flack, who was staying in the Mirage apartments,  went there to report what he saw.

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/EXTERNAL.htm
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/DEREK_FLACK.htm

It still never ceases to amaze me that with all these people milling around, wandering up and down between the tapas and block 5, staff members, locals visiting, smokers puffing in the shadows, tourists watching from balconies etc etc etc  that only one person saw what appeared to be this elusive abductor but even her testimony has now been questioned by SY.

How does one abduct a kid in such circumstances and disappear into the ether?

[Benice]

It still never ceases to amaze me that with all these people milling around, wandering up and down between the tapas and block 5, staff members, locals visiting, smokers puffing in the shadows, tourists watching from balconies etc etc etc  that only one person saw what appeared to be this elusive abductor but even her testimony has now been questioned by SY.

How does one abduct a kid in such circumstances and disappear into the ether?

Hindsight is  indeed a wonderful thing.    No-one - including all the people you mention would spend even a second of their time anticipating that a child could  be abducted in their vicinity at any moment - and so they had better keep their eyes peeled in readiness.

There was an Horizon programme a while back which proved that people who were concentrating on what they were doing themselves were capable of missing all kinds of stuff going on around them - even a mock attack by 2 people on a third person taking place about 20 ft away from them as they passed by.

[G-Unit]

It still never ceases to amaze me that with all these people milling around, wandering up and down between the tapas and block 5, staff members, locals visiting, smokers puffing in the shadows, tourists watching from balconies etc etc etc  that only one person saw what appeared to be this elusive abductor but even her testimony has now been questioned by SY.

How does one abduct a kid in such circumstances and disappear into the ether?

A logistical nightmare.

From 8.30pm to 9pm Gerry, Kate, Jane, Matthew and Rachael, Russell, the Paynes and Jeremy Wikins passed by.

From 9pm to 9.30pm Matthew, Gerry, Jez, Jane and the Moyes passed by. The chef drove by on his way from the central kitchen to the Tapas, as did a maintenance worker and his girlfriend. The Carpenters were around by the Tapas entrance. We also have [allegedly] crecheman around.

From 9.30pm to 10pm Matthew, Russell [twice] and Jane passed by. 

Overlooking the car park are two blocks where people could be seated on balconies like Balu and Naylor were. A couple left Block 6 at 10pm and did a drive-past.

The other Tapas diners must have been around and there could have been people coming from the Millenium restaurant.

Amazingly the only people who saw each other were Matthew and the Paynes [after being reminded], Jane saw Gerry, Jez and crecheman but no-one seems to have seen her.

[ferryman]

A logistical nightmare.

From 8.30pm to 9pm Gerry, Kate, Jane, Matthew and Rachael, Russell, the Paynes and Jeremy Wikins passed by.

From 9pm to 9.30pm Matthew, Gerry, Jez, Jane and the Moyes passed by. The chef drove by on his way from the central kitchen to the Tapas, as did a maintenance worker and his girlfriend. The Carpenters were around by the Tapas entrance. We also have [allegedly] crecheman around.

From 9.30pm to 10pm Matthew, Russell [twice] and Jane passed by. 

Overlooking the car park are two blocks where people could be seated on balconies like Balu and Naylor were. A couple left Block 6 at 10pm and did a drive-past.

The other Tapas diners must have been around and there could have been people coming from the Millenium restaurant.

Amazingly the only people who saw each other were Matthew and the Paynes [after being reminded], Jane saw Gerry, Jez and crecheman but no-one seems to have seen her.

How did Peter Voisey abduct a 5 or 6 year old child from the bath of a ground-floor flat while all the family was at home?

He managed it.

The little girl (thank God!) survived the ordeal, lived to tell the tale; and Peter Voisey (to this day!) serves time in jail for the crime.

[jassi]

Slight difference is that  he got caught.

[misty]

A logistical nightmare.

From 8.30pm to 9pm Gerry, Kate, Jane, Matthew and Rachael, Russell, the Paynes and Jeremy Wikins passed by.

From 9pm to 9.30pm Matthew, Gerry, Jez, Jane and the Moyes passed by. The chef drove by on his way from the central kitchen to the Tapas, as did a maintenance worker and his girlfriend. The Carpenters were around by the Tapas entrance. We also have [allegedly] crecheman around.

From 9.30pm to 10pm Matthew, Russell [twice] and Jane passed by. 

Overlooking the car park are two blocks where people could be seated on balconies like Balu and Naylor were. A couple left Block 6 at 10pm and did a drive-past.

The other Tapas diners must have been around and there could have been people coming from the Millenium restaurant.

Amazingly the only people who saw each other were Matthew and the Paynes [after being reminded], Jane saw Gerry, Jez and crecheman but no-one seems to have seen her.

We have not seen Crecheman's statement.
We have not seen the statements of the other MW guests who used the Tapas Bar & restaurant that night.
We have not seen the statements of the Thomas Cook guests who used the Tapas Bar & restaurant that night.
We have not seen the full Berry/Balu statements for that night.
We have not seen a statement from the lady who was being visited in Block 6.
We have not seen statements from owner/occupiers who may have walked up RGdM after visiting the restaurants/pubs on Rua Direta.
Quite how anyone can come to the conclusion as to who saw who without access to all the available witness statements is beyond me. Yet, strangely, when some witnesses said that they saw someone in the vicinity before or after the discovery, their testimonies are dismissed as inaccurate by those who doubt the abduction.
No-one apparently saw where Smithman came from. No-one saw where he went. Was the only logistical nightmare in Luz between 9 & 10pm around the Tapas Bar/Block 5?

[misty]

It appears that (apart from me), almost all posters - posters on the abduction side, and posters on the opposite "non-abduction" side - and Mr Amaral, and SY too (judging by their press releases) all think that the Smith sighting is pivotal to the case.

It's risky enough when one investigator puts all their eggs in one basket in an unsolved case. It is very strange when (almost) all investigators, real, and armchair of both opposite sides, put all their eggs in the same basket, and an absurdly unlikely one at that, just IMO.

Not pivotal, just integral, Pegasus.

[G-Unit]

We have not seen Crecheman's statement.
We have not seen the statements of the other MW guests who used the Tapas Bar & restaurant that night.
We have not seen the statements of the Thomas Cook guests who used the Tapas Bar & restaurant that night.
We have not seen the full Berry/Balu statements for that night.
We have not seen a statement from the lady who was being visited in Block 6.
We have not seen statements from owner/occupiers who may have walked up RGdM after visiting the restaurants/pubs on Rua Direta.
Quite how anyone can come to the conclusion as to who saw who without access to all the available witness statements is beyond me. Yet, strangely, when some witnesses said that they saw someone in the vicinity before or after the discovery, their testimonies are dismissed as inaccurate by those who doubt the abduction.
No-one apparently saw where Smithman came from. No-one saw where he went. Was the only logistical nightmare in Luz between 9 & 10pm around the Tapas Bar/Block 5?

If we have not seen statements it's because none were taken by the PJ. According to the Tapas booking sheets only MW guests dined there. The lady in Block 6 must have known about the police command post so she had the opportunity to speak to them if she wished to. Block 6 was visited, apartment by apartment on 4th, so all the occupants had an opportunity to share what they knew with the police. Neil Berry and Raj Balu were pictured in the car park of Block 5, near to the police but obviously thought they had nothing to share at that point.

4th May;
 the witness went to meet GNR officers whom she cannot identify, to open the doors for them and speak to guests staying in apartments in block 6. The objective was for the police to talk to these guests and show them the photo of the girl and establish whether they had any information that could lead to discovering her whereabouts.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARIA-CASTELA.htm

[misty]

If we have not seen statements it's because none were taken by the PJ. According to the Tapas booking sheets only MW guests dined there. The lady in Block 6 must have known about the police command post so she had the opportunity to speak to them if she wished to. Block 6 was visited, apartment by apartment on 4th, so all the occupants had an opportunity to share what they knew with the police. Neil Berry and Raj Balu were pictured in the car park of Block 5, near to the police but obviously thought they had nothing to share at that point.

4th May;
 the witness went to meet GNR officers whom she cannot identify, to open the doors for them and speak to guests staying in apartments in block 6. The objective was for the police to talk to these guests and show them the photo of the girl and establish whether they had any information that could lead to discovering her whereabouts.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARIA-CASTELA.htm

Was the Tapas Bar, as opposed to the restaurant, also only for the exclusive use of MW guests? That wouldn't have been good for profits or pleased the TC guests.
MW were allocated 20 covers in the Tapas restaurant. The restaurant can clearly seat more than 20. What is the explanation for allocation of all the other tables not taken by MW diners?