As noted in the opening post ... Ian Horrocks doesn't really rate the man seen by the Smiths as Madeleine's abductor.
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It has been suggested that a child of Madeleine’s description was seen by Martin Smith and his wife, being carried over 400 yards away in Rua da Escola Primaria, shortly before 10pm. This sighting was dismissed by the Portuguese Police, but appears to have been given substantial credibility by Operation Grange, the Metropolitan Police inquiry, who featured this on Crimewatch. I do however remain extremely sceptical about this. As far as I am concerned not only is this too late, but it is also too far away. If someone had abducted a child, they would not have carried them this far. If the plan was to take the child to a car, this would have been parked far closer. If the objective was to dispose of a body, then this person has walked past a lot of waste ground.
This timing also does not fit in with the sighting by Jane Tanner at 9.15pm. However, we are told that the person who Jane Tanner saw has come forward and been eliminated. I do not know how the police can be sure after so many years, that the person they spoke to is one and the same who was seen by Jane Tanner. Did she meet him, were the clothes identical to those she described? I obviously do not know, but regardless I still think that this is still the most likely route taken by the kidnapper.
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One option is for a quick getaway using a vehicle ... why risk parking a vehicle so far from the MCann apartment and being unnecessarily exposed on foot with a stolen child?
I'm with him in thinking the man seen by Jane Tanner was heading for a car and the quick getaway that would have given him.
I don't think he wandered around to be seen by all and sundry in an area which even off season SIL has told us he would be likely to encounter passersby or be seen from a bar or restaurant.