I don't believe for a moment that any of the above could negate the abduction from the street theory. According to the parents the patio door was intentionally left open so that Madeleine could get out. She probably did just that and ran straight into danger.
Nah, soz John … but an anxious child of not yet 4 pulling back the curtains and then reclosing them, opening a patio door that I think was probably too hard for her ** and re-shutting it, descending the steps and opening a child proof gate, then from the step below re-shutting it, then Opening the garden gate and re-closing it from a step below doesn't seem sensible to me.
By the flimsy nature of the Tapas restaurant and the acute hearing of young ears, she would almost certainly be able to hear her Dad, Mum and friends enjoying themselves. She knew where the restaurant was and it involved a walk of only 23 metres (25 yards or big paces) on the public path between 5A garden gate and the entrance to the Tapas area.
Also, at the top, before she descended the steps, the main lit place in front of her was the Tapas Restaurant. She would look towards the lit places and see her Mum and Dad and Friends there... and hear them !
** Unless the patio doors are "Rolls Royce" in construction, they would take some effort to slide open. **
Scientifically a push at Madeleines low level would take more strength than a push at near the middle height of the door, because a cheaper patio door, which these appear, would tend to tilt and jam with a force lower down, IMO
Nah, John. What you are saying doesn't make sense IMO and it would be a great co-incidence if an abductor just happened to be in the vicinity of the 23 metre walk.
This abduction was thoroughly planned it sems.