Was stranger abduction unlikely due to the checking regime?

[Robittybob1]

That might have been the reason for wanting the Tapas group there - to ensure that the PJ got it right  according to the players.

The actors could follow the times in the statements as it was.  I don't think you could have got Jez to turn up.  So it was always going to fail.

[jassi]

The actors could follow the times in the statements as it was.  I don't think you could have got Jez to turn up.  So it was always going to fail.

And if it hadn't actually worked on the ground, what then ?

[Robittybob1]

And if it hadn't actually worked on the ground, what then ?

What do you mean?

[slartibartfast]

The actors could follow the times in the statements as it was.  I don't think you could have got Jez to turn up.  So it was always going to fail.

We know the timelines were created by the group which would probably be reflected in the statements. Group dynamics would likely result in some Members recollections having more weight than others who in turn would conform to the group will. IMO, the accuracy of the group timeline is not likely to be high.

[G-Unit]

The actors could follow the times in the statements as it was.  I don't think you could have got Jez to turn up.  So it was always going to fail.

The times in the statements weren't definite, that's the problem. Jez wasn't vital because he couldn't give a fixed time for his meeting with Gerry.

[Alfie]

What people say and what can be done are two different things. It would have been much more interesting if they had demonstrated the 'abduction' on film, with the same internal lighting conditions and with someone who was unfamiliar with the layout of the apartment.

How do you know the (alleged) abductor was unfamiliar with the layout?  You are assuming which is against your own rules.

[Robittybob1]

The times in the statements weren't definite, that's the problem. Jez wasn't vital because he couldn't give a fixed time for his meeting with Gerry.

You are just making that up, for AFAIK there was never any official reasons given for Jez being asked to attend.
In fact that would be the best reason for him to attend, to get some more definition in Jez' timeline.

[Alfie]

The times in the statements weren't definite, that's the problem. Jez wasn't vital because he couldn't give a fixed time for his meeting with Gerry.

So what would have been the point of a reconstitution then, if none of the timings could be fixed?  How many opportunities to re-enact the events of 3rd May would you have given the participants?  There must surely be almost unlimited variations.

[Robittybob1]

How do you know the (alleged) abductor was unfamiliar with the layout?  You are assuming which is against your own rules.

That is right the abductor may have been a current or former employee.

[G-Unit]

That is right the abductor may have been a current or former employee.

That still wouldn't enable him/her to know which bedroom, which bed and so on. Kate couldn't see in that bedroom, remember, and she knew where to look.

[jassi]

That is right the abductor may have been a current or former employee.

Or even someone previously there on holiday.

[Brietta]

I question the validity of shelving the investigation just because they failed to get sufficient evidence against the McCanns.

Absolutely right.

Madeleine's parents had been thoroughly investigated and there was no case found against them.  Therefore the investigation should have progressed to the next stage.

I wonder had the McCanns never been declared suspects in the midst of the propaganda war to which they were subjected if that progression would happened as a matter of course.

[G-Unit]

Absolutely right.

Madeleine's parents had been thoroughly investigated and there was no case found against them.  Therefore the investigation should have progressed to the next stage.

I wonder had the McCanns never been declared suspects in the midst of the propaganda war to which they were subjected if that progression would happened as a matter of course.

There was, according to the PJ, nothing else to do, so no 'next stage';

Therefore, as we do not envision, at the present moment, the execution of any other diligence within the process that might produce any useful result for the process, I submit it to your consideration, for you to determine whatever you may see as convenient.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/P_J_FINAL_REPORT.htm

[Benice]

So what would have been the point of a reconstitution then, if none of the timings could be fixed?  How many opportunities to re-enact the events of 3rd May would you have given the participants?  There must surely be almost unlimited variations.

From memory but IIRC the recon was to take place over two days. 

Day 1 for the actual recon - between 5.00p.m. and 11.00p.pm
and Day 2 for the PJ to study the events of Day 1.

IMO that would strongly suggest that those involved in recreating their movements of 3rd May would only have one go at it.

In view of the massive no. of  different possible variations -  because only approx times of 9 people's movements were known  - the whole idea that anything meaningful could be established is preposterous IMO.

I still have no idea how a recon could establish the McCanns innocence.  Their innocence of what? 

[Brietta]

There was, according to the PJ, nothing else to do, so no 'next stage';

Therefore, as we do not envision, at the present moment, the execution of any other diligence within the process that might produce any useful result for the process, I submit it to your consideration, for you to determine whatever you may see as convenient.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/P_J_FINAL_REPORT.htm

The next stage should not have involved shutting down the investigation into a missing child and placing the onus to keep the search for her and investigating on her behalf, on her parents.


Portuguese police held their own Madeleine McCann reconstruction


A RECONSTRUCTION by Portuguese detectives of key events on the day Madeleine McCann went missing has helped persuade the country's legal officials to re-open the case, we reveal today.

By JAMES MURRAY
PUBLISHED: 04:43, Sun, Oct 27, 2013

The detectives, who have been reviewing the case files for two years, went to Praia da Luz on the Algarve a month ago to pursue secret inquiries.

They spent hours walking around the Ocean Club working out where certain people were seen at particular times and at Apartment 5a, from where threeyear-old Madeleine went missing on May 3, 2007.

The exercise was the culmination of months of work by four Portuguese detectives based in Porto in the north of the country, who are directly working for the highly respected senior officer Helen Monteiro, an expert on abduction cases.

It is thought her elite team of dedicated officers has recently been concentrating on statements from witnesses who say they saw unknown people acting suspiciously in the resort around the time the child was missed. The work in Luz came before Scotland Yard released photofits of potential suspects on the BBC's Crimewatch show this month.

Ms Monteiro has insisted all her officers work in absolute secrecy to prevent leaks of their inquiries. It was decided officers in Porto should conduct the review as none had any direct involvement in the first Madeleine McCann investigation and would therefore approach the case with fresh eyes and open minds.

In Portugal, Ms Monteiro is seen as the driving force finally to get the Madeleine case files re-opened after five years, rather than through the efforts of Scotland Yard. She and her team are working separately from the Yard, although there is close liaison between the two.

Yesterday Portuguese Justice Minister Paula Teixeira da Cruz said the decision to reopen the case, taken last week, was due to the work of the Policia Judiciaria and not because of pressure from Scotland Yard. She said: "The PJ developed diligences that allowed for this process to be reopened. Often there are almost perfect crimes and not all of them are discovered all over the world. If the PJ requested the reopening, it has good motives to do so."

Portuguese law officials and senior officers in the PJ have been acutely aware of criticism of the initial police investigation and insist they are determined to solve the case.

Ms Teixeira da Cruz urged people to be "proud" of the work being done by the PJ, which she insisted had not been idle in seeking to solve the mystery.

For a time Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, were seen as arguidos or suspects but that status was lifted. Now they are being kept fully informed of all developments and were given a personal briefing of the work of the PJ in Lisbon last week.

The McCann's Portuguese lawyer, Rogerio Alves, is reportedly seeking for his clients to be "assistants" in the case. This would allow their lawyer to work closely with state prosecutors.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/439464/Portuguese-police-held-their-own-Madeleine-McCann-reconstruction