Is it true the PJ may have "Smithman" on video?

[misty]

I can understand why Holly may not be up to speed on this Rob, but you should be by now.

In Oct 2013, on Crimewatch, OG stated that Tannerman was no longer of interest, but Smithman was, and published 2 e-fits of him.

Crimewatch was NOT shown in Portugal, but the e-fits were.  They were described as OG's chief suspect.  The Sun pulled a stunt by putting up posters around Luz showing the e-fits in English and Portuguese, describing this man as a suspect.  That's not quite what DCI Andy Redwood said, but chief suspect makes a better story.

Wind forward to July 2014.  One person gets hoiked in, made an arguido, hauled down to Faro, seemingly because he allegedly looked like one of the e-fits.  Might be more, but I have not yet spoken to him about this.  He is one of the 3 alleged burglars, who lived in Luz and made phone calls to each other.

That's what would happen to InnocentDad or GuiltyMan.  Made an arguido, hoiked off to Faro, exposed by the media.

Yummy.  What an incentive.

I don't see InnocentDad or GuiltyMan stepping into the limelight.  Do you?

DCI Redwood never said Tannerman was no longer a person of interest, he merely said that he wasn't thought to be the (actual) abductor. What are the odds of another man, Smithman,  being dressed almost identically to Tannerman & carrying a young barefooted girl in pyjamas within the same hour Madeleine went missing?

[Robittybob1]

With Jane Tanner's description of the direction Tannerman walked and Julian Totman's logical direction heading home from the creche, being in opposite directions, I was never going to be up to speed on this matter.  No matter how they were dressed? No matter what Redwood says.  I can't accept it.

[ShiningInLuz]

Well that was rather interesting.  I wasn't aware anyone was made arguido and happened to fit the description of Smithman.  How certain are you of this?
InnocentDad should step up.

OK, Panorama 10 year anniversary special.

Gentleman got hoiked on a drawing or an e-fit  (Portuguese is different to the English translation).

Yummy.  2 days in Faro.

For what?

[ShiningInLuz]

DCI Redwood never said Tannerman was no longer a person of interest, he merely said that he wasn't thought to be the (actual) abductor. What are the odds of another man, Smithman,  being dressed almost identically to Tannerman & carrying a young barefooted girl in pyjamas within the same hour Madeleine went missing?

I know what Redwood did and did not say on Crimewatch.

In Portuguese media, it was shortened to suspect.

[barrier]

With Jane Tanner's description of the direction Tannerman walked and Julian Totman's logical direction heading home from the creche, being in opposite directions, I was never going to be up to speed on this matter.  No matter how they were dressed? No matter what Redwood says.  I can't accept it.

For the umpteenth time,Redwood never mentioned any one by name,the papers picked up on it and ran the Totman tale.

[Robittybob1]

For the umpteenth time,Redwood never mentioned any one by name,the papers picked up on it and ran the Totman tale.

BUT THE TOTMANS WOULD KNOW IF IT WAS THEM CAPS LOCK ON SORRY.

[barrier]

BUT THE TOTMANS WOULD KNOW IF IT WAS THEM CAPS LOCK ON SORRY.

Its never been stated by OG who they found,that almost certainly ruled them out of the alleged abduction,they will not give a running commentary,Totman is supposed to have spoken to someone in 2007,has he ever claimed he spoke to OG. Further to that Misty  up thread says that tannerman and Smithman were of similar appearance,did Totman ever say he was still around at circa 10pm.

[Robittybob1]

Its never been stated by OG who they found,that almost certainly ruled them out of the alleged abduction,they will not give a running commentary,Totman is supposed to have spoken to someone in 2007,has he ever claimed he spoke to OG. Further to that Misty  up thread says that tannerman and Smithman were of similar appearance,did Totman ever say he was still around at circa 10pm.

There was that direct quote from Rachel Totman only.  I've never seen a quote attributable to Julian Totman.

[barrier]

There was that direct quote from Rachel Totman only.  I've never seen a quote attributable to Julian Totman.

Even she does not say that they have spoken to OG.Of more importance imo, whoever it was saw nothing suspicious which is why Redwood moved onto Smithman.

[Robittybob1]

Even she does not say that they have spoken to OG.Of more importance imo, whoever it was saw nothing suspicious which is why Redwood moved onto Smithman.

There is all that judicial secrecy requirements to deal with.  I think we need to accept it was them who spoke to the police PJ and to the OG investigators.

[Robittybob1]

As I said I would look at the Archiving Report (http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/LEGAL_SUMMARY.htm) to see if there was a hint  the PJ knew who Smithman was.

Two paragraphs sums it up:
"Martin Smith was questioned, who said that at the beginning of the Travessa da Escola Primária he saw an individual carrying a child, walking in the opposite direction, at a normal pace, when he passed this individual it must have been about 22.00, being totally unaware that a child had disappeared. Later he states that when he saw Gerald McCann on the news, leaving by plane, he appeared to him to be the individual whom he had seen on the night of 3rd May in Praia da Luz.

This witness was heard again by the Drogheda Irish police on 23-01-08, having been shown a video clip of Gerald McCann’s departure by plane carrying one of the twins. This witness maintains his belief that judging by the posture, there seemed to be a probability of 60-80% that the person seen by him at about 21.55 at the previously mentioned place, was Madeleine’s father. At this time, Gerald’s presence at the restaurant was confirmed by his friends and has not been denied by restaurant employees."

It clearly doesn't say the identity of the Smithman is known to the PJ.  Yet they claim there are no more leads to followup.  Catch 22 there, they could have kept hunting the identity of Smithman.

The case should not have been archived.

[pathfinder73]

They will have a good idea who he is for this case to be on-going 12 years later! He is the only real credible lead they have left!

[Robittybob1]

They will have a good idea who he is for this case to be on-going 12 years later! He is the only real credible lead they have left!

That is the point of this thread to propose the PJ know who he is as they have him on video at the Paraiso Restaurant on Thursday afternoon.   At a time when Gerry didn't attend and Madeleine was at creche.

[pathfinder73]

The ones running the case can tell you who he is but it won't be a surprise to anybody who has investigated it.

[Robittybob1]

The ones running the case can tell you who he is but it won't be a surprise to anybody who has investigated it.

So they do know - thanks for that.