It has never been explained why Julian Totman was walking the wrong way?

[Angelo222]

One of the tapas group, Jane Tanner, saw a man carrying a child across the street in front of her on the night that Maddie disappeared.  The man was walking eastwards at a brisk pace and did not turn to acknowledge her.

Dr Julian Totman has recently been identified as possibly being this man yet he claims to have been returning from the night creche to his apartment in block 4.  If that was the case he would have been walking westwards at a normal pace.

Any thoughts?

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[Mr Gray]

One of the tapas group, Jane Tanner, saw a man carrying a child across the street in front of her on the night that Maddie disappeared.  The man was walking eastwards at a brisk pace and did not turn to acknowledge her.

Dr Julian Totman has recently been identified as possibly being this man yet he claims to have been returning from the night creche to his apartment in block 4.  If that was the case he would have been walking westwards at a normal pace.

Any thoughts?

yes...we obviously do not have all the information that has led to this conclusion

[Angelo222]

yes...we obviously do not have all the information that has led to this conclusion

Which makes me suspicious of the entire revelation.  Why haven't SY explained this apparent inconsistency?

[Vertigo Swirl]

Which makes me suspicious of the entire revelation.  Why haven't SY explained this apparent inconsistency?

Because they are not providing a running commentary and do not exist purely to satisfy our curiosity about this case. 

[Mr Gray]

Which makes me suspicious of the entire revelation.  Why haven't SY explained this apparent inconsistency?

why should they...perhaps its deliberate misinformation...although i doubt it

[ShiningInLuz]

One of the tapas group, Jane Tanner, saw a man carrying a child across the street in front of her on the night that Maddie disappeared.  The man was walking eastwards at a brisk pace and did not turn to acknowledge her.

Dr Julian Totman has recently been identified as possibly being this man yet he claims to have been returning from the night creche to his apartment in block 4.  If that was the case he would have been walking westwards at a normal pace.

Any thoughts?

The 'best' solution to this conundrum that I have heard of is pure speculation, so caveat emptor.  It proposes Totman was walking ahead with one child and his wife was following behind with another.  Totman realised his wife had the sole key to their apartment, so he turned back to get it.

Note, a weakness in this speculative proposal is that his path was on an unlikely route between block 4 and the crèche.   

[jassi]

The 'best' solution to this conundrum that I have heard of is pure speculation, so caveat emptor.  It proposes Totman was walking ahead with one child and his wife was following behind with another.  Totman realised his wife had the sole key to their apartment, so he turned back to get it.

Note, a weakness in this speculative proposal is that his path was on an unlikely route between block 4 and the crèche.

A bit contrived, don't you think? More the sort of thing a supporter might dream up

More likely that he loosely formed the basis of Tanner's description of the man she described - IMO

[faithlilly]

The 'best' solution to this conundrum that I have heard of is pure speculation, so caveat emptor.  It proposes Totman was walking ahead with one child and his wife was following behind with another.  Totman realised his wife had the sole key to their apartment, so he turned back to get it.

Note, a weakness in this speculative proposal is that his path was on an unlikely route between block 4 and the crèche.

Or he was taking a detour to visit a friend....get a pint of milk....had arranged to meet his wife somewhere beyond his direction of travel ? Loads of options.

It is mere speculation but I think it’s likely Totman saw Tanner on her way back to her apartment and that’s why he thought he was Tanner’s sighting. Perhaps because he didn’t see Gerry or Jez that is where the doubt set in ?

[Mr Gray]

The 'best' solution to this conundrum that I have heard of is pure speculation, so caveat emptor.  It proposes Totman was walking ahead with one child and his wife was following behind with another.  Totman realised his wife had the sole key to their apartment, so he turned back to get it.

Note, a weakness in this speculative proposal is that his path was on an unlikely route between block 4 and the crèche.

The best solution... In your opinion

SY can simply ask those involved which they no doubt have done

It really is as simple as that

[faithlilly]

The best solution... In your opinion

SY can simply ask those involved which they no doubt have done

It really is as simple as that

Oh I’ve no doubt they have.

[Vertigo Swirl]

Oh I’ve no doubt they have.

When was the Andy Redwood revelation moment again?

[faithlilly]

When was the Andy Redwood revelation moment again?

2013. Why ?

[Brietta]

Or he was taking a detour to visit a friend....get a pint of milk....had arranged to meet his wife somewhere beyond his direction of travel ? Loads of options.

It is mere speculation but I think it’s likely Totman saw Tanner on her way back to her apartment and that’s why he thought he was Tanner’s sighting. Perhaps because he didn’t see Gerry or Jez that is where the doubt set in ?

I think the pint of milk thing is unlikely;  I don't think he would have carried a sleeping child with him to do that.

Depending on the camber of the road and the closeness of Jane would he have necessarily seen the two men even if he had registered Jane?  Perhaps? if they had been standing where Gerry thought,  but not necessarily where Jane and Jes thought.  We don't know what he saw, for all we know it may have been all three from the top of the hill.  I don't think it really works, though, and as shining has said the weakness lies in the direction of travel for most of the speculation.

On the other hand, there is another way of considering the situation.  Perhaps he wasn't actually walking in the wrong direction at all.

He may have followed what we think is the logical route from the creche to his apartment in block four. 
He may have walked uphill and through the junction either just before Gerry and Jes met in the street, or he may even have passed them while they chatted.  They didn't see Jane, so what else didn't they see?  Particularly if he followed the route Jane did.
He may have seen Tannerman walking out from block 5 as he was walking into block four.

I think that works.  It is simple and it cuts out much of the need for speculation. 

[Vertigo Swirl]

2013. Why ?

5 years ago then.  If the revelation blew the McCanns version of events out of the water, then what exactly are the Met waiting for, in your opinion?

[faithlilly]

I think the pint of milk thing is unlikely;  I don't think he would have carried a sleeping child with him to do that.

Depending on the camber of the road and the closeness of Jane would he have necessarily seen the two men even if he had registered Jane?  Perhaps? if they had been standing where Gerry thought,  but not necessarily where Jane and Jes thought.  We don't know what he saw, for all we know it may have been all three from the top of the hill.  I don't think it really works, though, and as shining has said the weakness lies in the direction of travel for most of the speculation.

On the other hand, there is another way of considering the situation.  Perhaps he wasn't actually walking in the wrong direction at all.

He may have followed what we think is the logical route from the creche to his apartment in block four. 
He may have walked uphill and through the junction either just before Gerry and Jes met in the street, or he may even have passed them while they chatted.  They didn't see Jane, so what else didn't they see?  Particularly if he followed the route Jane did.
He may have seen Tannerman walking out from block 5 as he was walking into block four.

I think that works.  It is simple and it cuts out much of the need for speculation.

He obviously didn’t see Gerry and Jez or he, and OG, would have been absolutely positive that he was Tanner’s sighting and, again, having walked down that road myself ( there is no camber in the road ) I think it would have been all but impossible for Totman to have seen Tanner and not Jez and Gerry, as he would have had a clear line of sight.