Proof of abduction

[Benice]

I can't think why, it's just a rumour in a newspaper. No quote from Mr Smith, no hint of why they said it, it means nothing.

The Mail on Sunday does give direct quotes from Mrs Smith who is talking about her husband and herself:

Quote
"We only did what we thought was right for a missing girl and our hearts are breaking for her parents, as it would be if it were one of ours.''
Unquote

Hardly the sentiments one would expect to hear from people who believed they may have seen one of those same parents in the appalling act of disposing of their daughter's body.

Those direct quotes may have been the initial source of the comment made in the Sunday Times.  But even if they were not  - Mary Smiths verbatim words clearly confirm that neither she nor her husband believe that it was Gerry who they saw on May 3rd.   It is obvious that she is speaking for both of them.   
IMO

[G-Unit]

The Mail on Sunday does give direct quotes from Mrs Smith who is talking about her husband and herself:

Quote
"We only did what we thought was right for a missing girl and our hearts are breaking for her parents, as it would be if it were one of ours.''
Unquote

Hardly the sentiments one would expect to hear from people who believed they may have seen one of those same parents in the appalling act of disposing of their daughter's body.

Those direct quotes may have been the initial source of the comment made in the Sunday Times.  But even if they were not  - Mary Smiths verbatim words clearly confirm that neither she nor her husband believe that it was Gerry who they saw on May 3rd.   It is obvious that she is speaking for both of them.   
IMO

You can assume what you like, it's still an assumption. Perhaps Mrs Smith wasn't 80% sure like her husband and that's why she didn't make a statement. Until her husband speaks out we till have nothing from him, so the various journalists who say he changed his mind have no evidence to offer.

[Alfie]

You can assume what you like, it's still an assumption. Perhaps Mrs Smith wasn't 80% sure like her husband and that's why she didn't make a statement. Until her husband speaks out we till have nothing from him, so the various journalists who say he changed his mind have no evidence to offer.

so when she talks about "our hearts are breaking" for the McCanns you don't think she's talking for her husband then?

[Mr Gray]

You are talking about two different things. An official signed statement and an unconfirmed newspaper report.

Neither are direct quotes
The signature on a Portuguese document is worthless

[ferryman]

so when she talks about "our hearts are breaking" for the McCanns you don't think she's talking for her husband then?

Much more likely that Mrs Smith has some sort of share-heart-with-her-husband dual vascular disorder.

She's probably hoping Gerry will fix it for her.

[G-Unit]

Neither are direct quotes
The signature on a Portuguese document is worthless

You may not like it, but the statements are evidence, otherwise the PJ wasted a heck of a lot of time getting them.

[The Singularity]

This has been an interesting thread to read. The proof of abduction theory will always be a point of contention. From my perspective, there is no proof of an abduction. Even the shutters, whether they were open or closed still doesn't support or dismiss the abduction theory. Whether the shutters were even open seems to be another point of contention.

The problem here is the contaminated crime scene. That's not to put blame on anyone for this because the PJ were looking for a missing girl and it is unlikely at that early stage of the investigation they considered the apartment a crime scene. Plus it didn't help that people were coming in and out. That didn't really help the investigation when it became clear that it was a likely crime scene.

[Robittybob1]

Did Ocean Club have its own CCTV?

[Mr Gray]

You may not like it, but the statements are evidence, otherwise the PJ wasted a heck of a lot of time getting them.

as I understand evidence that cannot be used in court against the mccanns

[Robittybob1]

as I understand evidence that cannot be used in court against the mccanns

The person making the statement could give evidence though.

[Mr Gray]

This has been an interesting thread to read. The proof of abduction theory will always be a point of contention. From my perspective, there is no proof of an abduction. Even the shutters, whether they were open or closed still doesn't support or dismiss the abduction theory. Whether the shutters were even open seems to be another point of contention.

The problem here is the contaminated crime scene. That's not to put blame on anyone for this because the PJ were looking for a missing girl and it is unlikely at that early stage of the investigation they considered the apartment a crime scene. Plus it didn't help that people were coming in and out. That didn't really help the investigation when it became clear that it was a likely crime scene.

as i have said many times it depends what you mean by proof

[The Singularity]

as i have said many times it depends what you mean by proof

Proof that in a court of law would be used to prosecute whoever was responsible, as yet there is nothing I can determine that does this which is why the shutters is at best circumstantial because there is doubt over if they were open and at what time this took place.

[Robittybob1]

Did Ocean Club have its own CCTV?

Amy Tierney says she saw the shutters raised but others say the shutters were down by the time she arrived so I'm thinking did she see the shutters up on CCTV footage?
Her printer was taken to France by her boyfriend.  What was his name and why didn't they check her office?

[Robittybob1]

Amy Tierney says she saw the shutters raised but others say the shutters were down by the time she arrived so I'm thinking did she see the shutters up on CCTV footage?
Her printer was taken to France by her boyfriend.  What was his name and why didn't they check her office?

Touchy topic or does nobody know.

[The Singularity]

Amy Tierney says she saw the shutters raised but others say the shutters were down by the time she arrived so I'm thinking did she see the shutters up on CCTV footage?
Her printer was taken to France by her boyfriend.  What was his name and why didn't they check her office?

From my recollection going back to the time Madeleine went missing, and being involved in quite a few internet forums and following the story in the press, I cannot remember there being any CCTV images produced from the Mark Warner complex. It is my belief that they didn't have CCTV or if they did, it was restricted to areas of security and were no use for monitoring the coming and going of residents and guests.

Amy Tierney was a member of the crèche staff I think. Also was the person who was able to print out the initial pictures of Madeleine for the PJ?