What is the provenance of the joint time line.

[G-Unit]

It has elements of collusion or calibration or correction depends on how one sees it.

What actually happened was that individual recollections were changed. Those recollections may have been wrong, but they may have been right. There's no way of knowing which. Take Russell O'Brien. On the night he wrote down that everyone was at the restaurant at 8.45. A few hours later he's changed it;

he went there at around 8.45pm. When he arrived at the restaurant, nearly all the adults were present, without children, with the exception of David, Fiona and Diane. They arrived more or less 5 minutes later.

A week later he's changed it a bit more;
 
When he arrived at the restaurant, all the adults were there, without the children. David and Fiona were missing and Dianne Webster. They arrived more or less 10 minutes after.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/RUSSELL-OBRIEN.htm

In his rog interview he's finally in line with the other witnesses. It's 9 o'clock and the Paynes aren't there;

So Matt, erm, around nine o’clock, give or take a few minutes, but around that sort of time, he got up and said ‘I’ll go and drag them out’
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/RUSSELL-OBRIEN_ROGATORY.htm

[sadie]

It gets better. During their rogatory interviews the Paynes had grasped that they had passed Matthew. But where?
Dianne wasn't asked, which is a shame, but Dave manages to mess it up this time;

 Reply    “Yeah well at that, that was the point you see, at that time I don’t, I didn’t remember having passed Matt on the way but you know as time’s gone on and, and err I think Dave, Dave or Fiona mentioned it and that’s, I did then remember.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/DIANE-WEBSTER-2.htm

Matthew said;

and on my way up, about at that top corner before you turn left to get round the back, as you go up the top of the hill, we sort of passed on the way down
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MATTHEW-OLDFIELD-ROGATORY.htm

Fiona pretty much agrees;

And just as we were approaching, erm, probably outside kind of the, Kate and Gerry's gate, that sort of area, erm, we bumped into Matt who was heading back to chase us up,
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/FIONA-PAYNE-ROGATORY.htm

Now Dave gets into a tangle;

1485 "Whereabouts did you pass him''
 Reply "Err''
1485 "Can you mark, just''
 Reply "Yeah, the err where's, this is the entrance here into the Tapas area.'
 1485 "Yeah.'
 Reply "Err my recollection was that we were just got, you know we were round there, I thought we'd actually entered into the Tapas bar to just''

1485 "Actually into the complex''
 Reply "Just, just into the complex
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/DAVID-PAYNE-ROGATORY.htm

Remember the Smiths, how their group was fragmented?

Have you ever considered that the Paynes might have been walking in a fragmented way too? 
With Dave, concerned that they were late and posibly about to be chided by the others rushing to get there ... and Fiona and her mum following at a more sedate pace probably chatting ?.

It happens ............

[G-Unit]

Remember the Smiths, how their group was fragmented?

Have you ever considered that the Paynes might have been walking in a fragmented way too? 
With Dave, concerned that they were late and posibly about to be chided by the others rushing to get there ... and Fiona and her mum following at a more sedate pace probably chatting ?.

It happens ............

The women left at 8.45 for the restaurant. Ten minutes later Dave arrived there. Are you suggesting the women lingered and were still up the hill when he arrived? Their statements don't support your musings in my opinion.

They left the apartment at around 8.45 and accompanied by her son-in-law and her daughter, they went to join the rest of the group at the "TAPAS" restaurant.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/DIANE-WEBSTER.htm

She left around 20H45, accompanied by David and her mother, in order to meet the rest of the group in the Tapas restaurant.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/FIONA-PAYNE.htm

Concerning yesterday evening, he states that he, his wife and his mother-in-law arrived at the restaurant at around 8.55pm.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/DAVID-PAYNE.htm

[Robittybob1]

The women left at 8.45 for the restaurant. Ten minutes later Dave arrived there. Are you suggesting the women lingered and were still up the hill when he arrived? Their statements don't support your musings in my opinion.

They left the apartment at around 8.45 and accompanied by her son-in-law and her daughter, they went to join the rest of the group at the "TAPAS" restaurant.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/DIANE-WEBSTER.htm

She left around 20H45, accompanied by David and her mother, in order to meet the rest of the group in the Tapas restaurant.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/FIONA-PAYNE.htm

Concerning yesterday evening, he states that he, his wife and his mother-in-law arrived at the restaurant at around 8.55pm.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/DAVID-PAYNE.htm

There seems to be unaccounted for time here!  8:45 - 8:55 = 10 minutes and the walk should not take that long.

[G-Unit]

There seems to be unaccounted for time here!  8:45 - 8:55 = 10 minutes and the walk should not take that long.

Dave's time fits with the joint typed timeline;

2055: MO returns to apartments to check on ground floor flats, passing David Payne (DP), Fiona Payne (FP) and her mother Dianne Webster (DW) on their way down to the table.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/TIME_LINE_3_MAY_07.htm

But Matthew didn't pass them in his first statement on 4th;

That the last to arrive at the restaurant was the couple David and Fiona. That the latter arrived at the restaurant at around 9pm.

That around 9.05pm, the interviewee went to the area of the apartments.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MATTHEW-OLDFIELD.htm

[Robittybob1]

Dave's time fits with the joint typed timeline;

2055: MO returns to apartments to check on ground floor flats, passing David Payne (DP), Fiona Payne (FP) and her mother Dianne Webster (DW) on their way down to the table.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/TIME_LINE_3_MAY_07.htm

But Matthew didn't pass them in his first statement on 4th;

That the last to arrive at the restaurant was the couple David and Fiona. That the latter arrived at the restaurant at around 9pm.

That around 9.05pm, the interviewee went to the area of the apartments.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MATTHEW-OLDFIELD.htm

So what was originally happening at 9:05 in Matt's statement is pushed forward to 8:55 (10 minutes).

if we were to take the extreme of the times 8:45* - 9:05** that is a 20 minute gap.
*  8:45 when DP says he left
**  9:05 at time Matt goes to do apartment check after the Paynes have been hurried up.

(I'm just using times you have already quoted).

[G-Unit]

So what was originally happening at 9:05 in Matt's statement is pushed forward to 8:55 (10 minutes).

if we were to take the extreme of the times 8:45* - 9:05** that is a 20 minute gap.
*  8:45 when DP says he left
**  9:05 at time Matt goes to do apartment check after the Paynes have been hurried up.
(I'm just using times you have already quoted).

In my opinion people changed their memories to fit in with each other. That's why I prefer the earlier statements which are relatively uncontaminated by discussion between the members of the group.

4th May
Kate and Gerry say nothing
Russell says the Paynes arrived at 8.50, Matthew checked just after 9.00
Matthew says the Paynes arrived at 9.00, he checked at 9.05.
Fiona and Dianne say they left their apartment at 8.45, no mention of Matthew.
Dave said they arrived at 8.55, no mention of Matthew.
Jane says Russell and the Paynes arrived at 9.00, no mention of Matthew.
Rachael says Matthew went to find the Paynes and they arrived at 9.00, followed by Matthew a few minutes later.

Seven people agree that they didn't arrive in time for their booking, they were late. They disagree on how late; was it fifteen minutes as in Russell's written timeline or 30 minutes as Matthew, Jane and Rachael say?

Two independent witnesses say no-one was all that late.

On the day of the disappearance, all were seated at the table between 20H35 and 20H45. He remembers them arriving as usual. Had they arrived late, this would have been noted by the staff.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/RICARDO-A-D-L-OLIVEIRA.htm

 At approximately half past eight, Gerry and Kate and their group of approximately ten people were already seated at their table
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/STEPHEN-CARPENTER.htm

In the end it was Rachael's account which was adopted by the whole group, but why? Perhaps the answer lies in Jane's statement;

At about 21.00 her husband arrived at the restaurant, having got E**e to sleep. For this reason and because Fiona, David and Diane only arrived at about 21.00, the dinner, reserved for 20.30, only began after 21.00.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/JANE-TANNER.htm

[Robittybob1]

I wonder if at the beginning of the joint time line discussions they all had to read their 4th May statements just to reveal the shambles it all seemed. It seems a shambles to me. 

[G-Unit]

I wonder if at the beginning of the joint time line discussions they all had to read their 4th May statements just to reveal the shambles it all seemed. It seems a shambles to me.

Why would they have copies of those statements?

It was a shambles but why did it matter? Why was it thought necessary for everyone's statements to agree with Rachael's version?

[Robittybob1]

Why would they have copies of those statements?

It was a shambles but why did it matter? Why was it thought necessary for everyone's statements to agree with Rachael's version?

I think GA expected their statements to align I had read before a headline that went something like "badly told story".  He judged them on it from what I could tell.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/7106086.stm
"JOSE MANUEL OLIVEIRA
Crime reporter, 'Diario de Noticias'
Information started circulating from sources connected to the Portuguese police that the story was full of holes from the side of the McCanns and their friends. Indeed within two days of Madeleine disappearing, this crime correspondent was filing this piece in the Portuguese Daily: Diario of the Noticias: "Headline: a badly told story." We started to receive information according to which the police suspected the theory they had apprehensions, didn't believe the theory that she had been kidnapped. To conclude, the police started to suspect the parents from the word go."

That must have been from their statements.

[G-Unit]

Just to add to the shambles, Russell's recall has improved significantly by the time of his rog interview. He now remembers something no-one else had mentioned;

So there were lots of jokes about the fact that they were still, still not there and probably if we didn’t get a move on they weren’t going to serve us.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/RUSSELL-OBRIEN_ROGATORY.htm

[Robittybob1]

Just to add to the shambles, Russell's recall has improved significantly by the time of his rog interview. He now remembers something no-one else had mentioned;

So there were lots of jokes about the fact that they were still, still not there and probably if we didn’t get a move on they weren’t going to serve us.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/RUSSELL-OBRIEN_ROGATORY.htm

It is one thing to be joking and another to sanction them. 

[sadie]

I think GA expected their statements to align I had read before a headline that went something like "badly told story".  He judged them on it from what I could tell.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/7106086.stm
"JOSE MANUEL OLIVEIRA
Crime reporter, 'Diario de Noticias'
Information started circulating from sources connected to the Portuguese police that the story was full of holes from the side of the McCanns and their friends. Indeed within two days of Madeleine disappearing, this crime correspondent was filing this piece in the Portuguese Daily: Diario of the Noticias: "Headline: a badly told story." We started to receive information according to which the police suspected the theory they had apprehensions, didn't believe the theory that she had been kidnapped. To conclude, the police started to suspect the parents from the word go."

That must have been from their statements.

I have seen it said that the initial GNR officer/s could not understand Gerrys early behaviour when he prostrated himself on the floor and they filed a suspicious report on Gerry. 
They couldn't understand Kates wish to see a priest either ... and thought that this was a sign that Madeleine was dead as a typical Portugues would behave upon the death of a near one, it seems.

So it could well have been from these observations of the GNR Oficer mis-reading the behaviour of a Brit.  IMO

[slartibartfast]

I have seen it said that the initial GNR officer/s could not understand Gerrys early behaviour when he prostrated himself on the floor and they filed a suspicious report on Gerry. 
They couldn't understand Kates wish to see a priest either ... and thought that this was a sign that Madeleine was dead as a typical Portugues would behave upon the death of a near one, it seems.

So it could well have been from these observations of the GNR Oficer mis-reading the behaviour of a Brit.  IMO

Does anyone know the previous time she saw a priest? Was she a regular church goer?

[faithlilly]

Does anyone know the previous time she saw a priest? Was she a regular church goer?

Not according to her mum.