Is any of Arlindo's statement confirmed by anyone else?

[pathfinder73]

So why is he an hour out with his times?  Could he be just  half an hour out?

21:40 according to him nobody was at the table not even Dianne so he's way out with his times.  Not seeing Dianne there alone like others did then you have to question the reliability of the witness.

Later, at around 21:40, he left the restaurant passing through the same esplanade where moments before, he had seen the same table occupied by the three couples, empty, who had left in the meanwhile various items, principally clothing. He was told by his colleagues that the child who had disappeared was a child of one of those couples;  http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/ARLINDO-PELEGA.htm

[G-Unit]

Next bit:  ". When he arrived there, by vehicle, at around 21:10, he remembers that next to the Tapas reception, he saw a vehicle, dark blue in colour, with Portuguese license plates. Although he cannot be definite, he believes it was a Fiesta or Focus. The deponent furthers that is was not a small car, and for this reason it could very well have been a Focus and not a Fiesta. He tells that he does not remember any sticker indicating that it was a rental car. Inside the vehicle he saw no one.
. After parking his vehicle, he entered through the reception of that restaurant, in the left hand direction, toward the side opposite the pool, and passed by the esplanade. He remembers having seen in that esplanade, one table, occupied by three couples, without children, and all of them adults. On the esplanade, he encountered no one else." 

9:10 is when Gerry Jane and Jez were out and about.  Did they see any cars pull up?
Previously I thought when he saw a table occupied by three couples he could have been taking about the Tapas 9 with at least 3 of them away.  We might say it was possible that Jane and Gerry had left so that might look as if there were 3 couples still seated.  Was it the Tapas 9 or was it some other group?

When he says he saw no one else?  Had Stephen Carpenter and his friends left by that stage?

Mrs Carpenter heard someone calling'Madeleine' long before 10 pm.

He heard about the news being investigated on the evening of 3rd May at about 21.30 - 21.40 from P**** B******, a Dutchman and owner of the Atlantico restaurant, who passed by the witness near the Baptista supermarket, in P da L and who asked for his help in searching for Madeleine.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/BAREND_WEIJDOM.htm

was contacted by a member of staff from the Tapas Restaurant between 09.30 and 22.00 who informed him that the daughter of some guests who were dining there had disappeared.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/HELDER_LUIS.htm

[Carana]

So why is he an hour out with his times?  Could he be just  half an hour out?

There are quite a few of these statements that are out by an hour.

If it had been just one, I'd have just assumed it was most likely a typo.

[Robittybob1]

There are quite a few of these statements that are out by an hour.

If it had been just one, I'd have just assumed it was most likely a typo.

I can find the 24 hour clock times confusing so I tend to use the 12 hour clock and define AM and PM.  Arlindo uses the standard 12 hour system too.

[sadie]

The whole idea of witness statements is that what they say is supposed to be the truth.  Generally facts and events mentioned by the witness will be mentioned by other witnesses which then confirms that it was likely to be true.

Let's look at each paragraph in turn and see if any part can be confirmed.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/ARLINDO-PELEGA.htm
". Is a functionary of the Ocean Club establishment since the 13th of January of the current year (2007), and is employed as executive chef of the kitchen. He clarifies that along with being responsible for the five (5) kitchens (one of whom is the Tapas) of the Ocean Club, his post essentially centres on the principal kitchen next to a reception, close to the restaurant MIRAGE. His work takes him occasionally to the other kitchens; "

If we Google Mirage restaurant praia da luz do we get a result?

There is a restaurant caled the Mirage "Mirage Restaurant
 Rua do Ramalhete"  So is this the one " .... next to a reception, close to the restaurant MIRAGE."?

Well according to Google Earth Rua do Ramalhete is nowhere near either the main reception or the secondary reception.

Use G Earth. 

That will fly you to the Mirage Apartments owned by Ocean Club. 

The Mirage Restaurant is at the extreme eastern end of Rua do Ramalhete, on its northern side, immediately east of three tennis Courts..   It appears to wrap itself around the corner of the complex.  If upon reaching that extreme eastern end of Rua do Ramalhete you turn in a northern direction, you will see a car park. 

Behind that car park there apppears to be the reception area for Ocean Club Mirage Apartments.   It looks as though the restaurant adjoins the Reception area.

Within the curve of the restaurant, it appears that in summer there is out door dining.

[Robittybob1]

Sadie - can you recall if the Esplanade was before or after the Tapas restaurant?  Do you know how I can visualise the relationships?

[Robittybob1]

Mrs Carpenter heard someone calling'Madeleine' long before 10 pm.

He heard about the news being investigated on the evening of 3rd May at about 21.30 - 21.40 from P**** B******, a Dutchman and owner of the Atlantico restaurant, who passed by the witness near the Baptista supermarket, in P da L and who asked for his help in searching for Madeleine.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/BAREND_WEIJDOM.htm

was contacted by a member of staff from the Tapas Restaurant between 09.30 and 22.00 who informed him that the daughter of some guests who were dining there had disappeared.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/HELDER_LUIS.htm

So how do you explain that if Kate discovered Madeleine missing at 10:00 PM?

[Mr Gray]

So how do you explain that if Kate only discovered Madeleine missing at 10:00 PM?

its very...very..easy to explain

[Robittybob1]

its very...very..easy to explain

Try then?

[Mr Gray]

Try then?

Mrs Carpenter got the time wrong...simple

[Robittybob1]

Mrs Carpenter got the time wrong...simple

So why were so many people getting their times so seriously wrong.  For you to be right the Carpenters would have to leave after the Tapas group rushed off.  Wouldn't they be aware of that?

[Robittybob1]

Sadie - can you recall if the Esplanade was before or after the Tapas restaurant?  Do you know how I can visualise the relationships?

This website has a type of a slideshow is the image of the tables the restaurant or the esplanade? http://luzoceanclub.com/gallery-luz-ocean-club/

[Robittybob1]

Back to Arlindo's statement ". Later, at around 21:40, he left the restaurant passing through the same esplanade where moments before, he had seen the same table occupied by the three couples, empty, who had left in the meanwhile various items, principally clothing. He was told by his colleagues that the child who had disappeared was a child of one of those couples;"

So let me understand this at this time he was aware of a missing child but he was still going to leave the area?
The fact that items of clothing were left behind does make it sound like the McCann table with Dianne leaving clothing, a baby monitor and a camera behind.  But are we to make out Dianne didn't come back for these items till 10:40 PM or later if Arlindo is an hour out in his timings?

[sadie]

Sadie - can you recall if the Esplanade was before or after the Tapas restaurant?  Do you know how I can visualise the relationships?

I dont quite know what he means by the Esplanade t.b.h. Rob, but I think he probably means the walkway, the level paved area that people walked over to get to the tennis courts, play area, childrens creche, childrens pool, lawned area / gardens, Tapas bar and of course one would walk over part of it to get to the restaurant.

As he mentions the left way IIRC, I think it likely that he actually walked right in front of the restaurant and that he was probably going to the Tapas Bar for a night cap, as much as for a check.  But I dont know. 

And upon further thought, I wonder if he called in to the Bar to check the books and take the cash from the days takings.  He was Head Honcho after all.

AIMO

[Robittybob1]

I dont quite know what he means by the Esplanade t.b.h. Rob, but I think he probably means the walkway, the level paved area that people walked over to get to the tennis courts, play area, childrens creche, childrens pool, lawned area / gardens, Tapas bar and of course one would walk over part of it to get to the restaurant.

As he mentions the left way IIRC, I think it likely that he actually walked right in front of the restaurant and that he was probably going to the Tapas Bar for a night cap, as much as for a check.  But I dont know. 

And upon further thought, I wonder if he called in to the Bar to check the books and take the cash from the days takings.  He was Head Honcho after all.
Would that be the Chefs job?

AIMO