A reasonable viewpoint

[Eleanor]

So when he saw Gerry McCann walking down the aircraft steps, despite the coincidence, he was thinking of men in general? No, he was pretty sure he saw Gerry McCann. He didn't state that he thought it was Rod Stewart or Denzel Washington, but Gerry McCann.

Can he prove it?

[Eleanor]

Why don't you just stop obfuscating and tell it as it was. Smith was so sure he had witnessed Gerry McCann carrying his daughter the night Maddie disappeared that he called the Irish police and reported it. That IS evidence whether you like it or not.

60 to 80%  is so sure is it?  Take that one to Court.  But no one ever did.  Why not, do you think?

I'm not sure what obfuscating means but at least I am here most of the time.

[jassi]

Can he prove it?

Wouldn't have thought it was done to Smith to prove anything. He gave a witness statement regarding what he saw.

[Eleanor]

Did you forget about the Eddie and Keela alerts in the apartment and to Kate McCanns clothing. Maybe that was imagined too

And why didn't Kate McCann cooperate with the Portuguese detectives if she was innocent?

As ever, we have done all this many times while you weren't around.

And The McCanns have never been so much as arrested.

[The General]

Can he prove it?

That's how eye witnesses work. You rely on their testimony because you've got little choice sans corroboration.
I would say that him coming forward after the fact as he did could be construed in two ways; either he's an unreliable witness not having noticed earlier, or it's more compelling given account of how he made the connection despite the time delay.
I don't care which it is, but all witnesses should be accounted for.
And let's all pretend that Martin Smith didn't identify Gerry McCann at all, but merely a man carrying a child towards the beach on the night a child goes missing - are we still dismissing that?
Or, he describes a scruffy, lank-haired, wiry character carrying a child towards the beach?
What about of he comes forward last June when CB hit the headlines and says 'I'm 60-80% sure I saw that guy carrying a child towards the beach'?

[Eleanor]

Wouldn't have thought it was done to Smith to prove anything. He gave a witness statement regarding what he saw.

Someone has to prove it and that won't be for The McCanns to prove their Innocence.  This is Basic British Law.

[The General]

60 to 80%  is so sure is it?  Take that one to Court.  But no one ever did.  Why not, do you think?

I'm not sure what obfuscating means but at least I am here most of the time.

What if an eye witness came forward fingering CB '60 / 80%'? Is that any more compelling?

[The General]

All that rubbish as been answered many times.. A cadaver dog that will alert to a coconut.. Some are easily fooled.
The.. Innocent people always answer questions... is more codswallop.

What if it's established that CB killed MM in situ, then removed her? How will that fit?

[Eleanor]

That's how eye witnesses work. You rely on their testimony because you've got little choice sans corroboration.
I would say that him coming forward after the fact as he did could be construed in two ways; either he's an unreliable witness not having noticed earlier, or it's more compelling given account of how he made the connection despite the time delay.
I don't care which it is, but all witnesses should be accounted for.
And let's all pretend that Martin Smith didn't identify Gerry McCann at all, but merely a man carrying a child towards the beach on the night a child goes missing - are we still dismissing that?
Or, he describes a scruffy, lank-haired, wiry character carrying a child towards the beach?
What about of he comes forward last June when CB hit the headlines and says 'I'm 60-80% sure I saw that guy carrying a child towards the beach'?

What happened to Martin Smith's statement?  Any news on that one?

[The General]

What happened to Martin Smith's statement?  Any news on that one?

Why not answer the question?

[Eleanor]

What if an eye witness came forward fingering CB '60 / 80%'? Is that any more compelling?

I have no idea about Breuckner and have always said so.  You picked on the wrong Supporter.  But then you often aren't here either.

[Eleanor]

Why not answer the question?

What is your question?

[The General]

I have no idea about Breuckner and have always said so.  You picked on the wrong Supporter.  But then you often aren't here either.

The point being, either an eye witness is to be followed up or not.

[The General]

What is your question?

That's how eye witnesses work. You rely on their testimony because you've got little choice sans corroboration.
I would say that him coming forward after the fact as he did could be construed in two ways; either he's an unreliable witness not having noticed earlier, or it's more compelling given account of how he made the connection despite the time delay.
I don't care which it is, but all witnesses should be accounted for.
And let's all pretend that Martin Smith didn't identify Gerry McCann at all, but merely a man carrying a child towards the beach on the night a child goes missing - are we still dismissing that?
Or, he describes a scruffy, lank-haired, wiry character carrying a child towards the beach?
What about of he comes forward last June when CB hit the headlines and says 'I'm 60-80% sure I saw that guy carrying a child towards the beach'?

[Eleanor]

That's how eye witnesses work. You rely on their testimony because you've got little choice sans corroboration.
I would say that him coming forward after the fact as he did could be construed in two ways; either he's an unreliable witness not having noticed earlier, or it's more compelling given account of how he made the connection despite the time delay.
I don't care which it is, but all witnesses should be accounted for.
And let's all pretend that Martin Smith didn't identify Gerry McCann at all, but merely a man carrying a child towards the beach on the night a child goes missing - are we still dismissing that?
Or, he describes a scruffy, lank-haired, wiry character carrying a child towards the beach?
What about of he comes forward last June when CB hit the headlines and says 'I'm 60-80% sure I saw that guy carrying a child towards the beach'?

I can't answer for Martin Smith.  But in any event none of his family agreed with him.

But you could try asking Amaral.  He might know more than I do.