How Can We Be Sure Tasmin Silence’s Sighting Was Important?

[faithlilly]

It would appear several posters feel that Tasmin Silence’s sighting of the man looking into the garden of 5a is somehow important. Can I ask why?

The times he was sighted were just after 8.15am and 12.30pm, a strange time, you may think, for a bit of undercover research when the whole town would be going to work and school , to the Millennium for breakfast or for lunch or back to  work or school. It is arguable though that a man, bored waiting for his lift, is a better fit.

Tasmin’s description certainly doesn’t sound like Brueckner and she certainly doesn’t say that the man she saw had a pockmarked face.

‘Concerning the individual, she describes him as being: Caucasian race, light skin, so he wasn't Portuguese, but could be British, according to her criteria. Approximately 180 cm tall, thin complexion, 30/35 years of age. Short hair, like shaved with 1 cm of length and fair, but she isn't sure if it was blonde because the sun was reflecting, and made perception more difficult. She didn't see the eyes because he wore dark glasses of black colour, with a structure of mass, a thick frame. He had a large forehead. Nose of normal size, a bit pointy and sharp. Large ears, close against the head. Mouth with thin lips, she didn't see his teeth. Chin pointing up, which stood out on a face that she describes as sharp. No beard, no moustache, a clean shave. No other special signs, apart from some small pimples on the face as a result of shaving. He looked ugly, even 'disgusting'.’

Also Tasmin says that the second time she saw the man he was looking up towards not only 5a but the rest of the apartments in that vicinity which begs the question, was it really 5a he was interested in?

[Robittybob1]

There is no clear connection between the e-fit on Tasmin's  statement pages and the words in her statement.

She says he was ugly.  I can't think anyone would call the e-fit as of an ugly man.  Not IMO at least.   

[Icanhandlethetruth]

There is no clear connection between the e-fit on Tasmin's  statement pages and the words in her statement.

She says he was ugly.  I can't think anyone would call the e-fit as of an ugly man.  Not IMO at least.

The clear connection surely is that it is included in Tasmin’s files and nowhere else.
Also if you read the description in the box above the e-fit it describes the person as 30-35 years old and 1.80m tall, exactly the same as Tasmin's description in the main testimony. I think it’s a stretch to think its not an e-fit provided by Tasmin but thats only my opinion.

[Robittybob1]

The clear connection surely is that it is included in Tasmin’s files and nowhere else.
Also if you read the description in the box above the e-fit it describes the person as 30-35 years old and 1.80m tall, exactly the same as Tasmin's description in the main testimony. I think it’s a stretch to think its not an e-fit provided by Tasmin but thats only my opinion.

She says the man was ugly.   Is the e-fit of an ugly man?  Not IMO.  So it is the wrong image IMO.

[Icanhandlethetruth]

She says the man was ugly.   Is the e-fit of an ugly man?  Not IMO.  So it is the wrong image IMO.

So despite that the e-fit is on Tasmins file, the wording above the e-fit matches the description that Tasmin gives in her testimony and it mentions she can create a photofit in the main body of the text it’s not a e-fit supplied by Tasmin because in your opinion the man in the e-fit is not ugly.
You are aware that ugliness is subjective and not everyone has exactly the same ideas of what constitutes ugliness. What a 12 year old girl and a  mature man would find ugly is maybe not exactly the same wouldn’t you say.

[Robittybob1]

So despite that the e-fit is on Tasmins file, the wording above the e-fit matches the description that Tasmin gives in her testimony and it mentions she can create a photofit in the main body of the text it’s not a e-fit supplied by Tasmin because in your opinion the man in the e-fit is not ugly.
You are aware that ugliness is subjective and not everyone has exactly the same ideas of what constitutes ugliness. What a 12 year old girl and a  mature man would find ugly is maybe not exactly the same wouldn’t you say.

There must be a mix-up somewhere.

[Icanhandlethetruth]

There must be a mix-up somewhere.

Why must there be a mix up?

[Vertigo Swirl]

We are on the same page regarding eye witness testimony are we not.

Yes, that was an interesting conversation we were having before it got swiped.  If I recall correctly you seemed to be suggesting that it was possible that multiple witnesses were all mistaken when they claimed they saw Madeleine in the days leading up and including the 3rd May....

[Vertigo Swirl]

I don’t know what your theory is, nor did I say I did - do you not have one?

[Icanhandlethetruth]

I don’t know what your theory is, nor did I say I did - do you not have one?

You made an assumption that I had a theory with the opening sentence of your post.

“If you need to believe this to fit with your theory”

Do you believe there is enough evidence to formulate a theory and say categorically that's what you believe happened because I don’t.

[faithlilly]

From TS statement:-

"Short hair, like shaved with 1 cm of length and fair"

That description doesn't match.

It doesn’t match Brueckner either.

The main question though is was the sighting important and there’s really no evidence that it was.

[Icanhandlethetruth]

From TS statement:-

"Short hair, like shaved with 1 cm of length and fair"

That description doesn't match.

Regarding the hair she also says the sun made the perception more difficult and couldn’t verify even what colour the hair was

"Short hair, like shaved with 1 cm of length and fair, but she isn't sure if it was blonde because the sun was reflecting, and made perception more difficult".

[misty]

It doesn’t match Brueckner either.

The main question though is was the sighting important and there’s really no evidence to say that it was.

I agree the description doesn't match Brueckner, not only because of the hair but also because TS estimated the man's height to be only 5'9" whereas CB is taller than average.
Whilst the man remains unidentified, imo the sighting is still of importance to the investigation.

[sadie]

From TS statement:-

"Short hair, like shaved with 1 cm of length and fair"

That description doesn't match.

This description matches Carole Tranmers statement in a number of ways though.

https://mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/CAROL_TRANMER.htm

-snip-
DC1485'Was this individual accompanied by anyone'

CT'No, he was alone.

DC1485'Okay, the next thing is the description, this will be difficult for you, I know, but try and remember as much as possible even if they are details that may appear... ohh. Assume that I know nothing.

CT'Mmm, mmm.

DC14850'Okay'

CT'Okay.

DC1485'Presuppose that I have just entered this investigation, that I do not know about your previous statement; that I know nothing about this individual.

CT'Okay.

DC1485'Where should we start.

CT'At the head.

DC1485'the head.

CT'Because it was what I saw first.

DC1485'yes.

CT'Humm... he was blonde, with a lot of hair, very short, not like mine but a little more, humm... but not like a footballer, do you know what I mean' A style close to shaven. Very short, blonde, the head was very sculptured. The shape of the head was very sculptured, more oval shaped.


DC1485'Yes.

CT'And, humm... then I believe I saw him wearing a blue-grey T-shirt, it was not dark blue, more of a pallid colour and it was, humm... a type of blue with short sleeves, humm... but I did not see anything below, I did not see the trousers or shoes or anything else, only the top part and he would have, I would say'humm, when looking from above, he was not short, I would say he was about a 1'78, about medium height. He was not thing nor was he muscular. So he was of average stature. I would say he was European but not Portuguese. He was not dark and, he was not short, but I would say that he looked Scandinavian if you will, because he was very light and could have been British or Scandinavian. Even though I was looking upwards, he had big eyes, there is nothing else. He did not have tattoos, nothing like this, humm'a person of common appearance, it was his furtiveness that called my attention, humm, no, I can't'

DC1485'Could you give him an age'

CT'Yes, I believe so, I would say that he was between, oh he was not old, 30 to 35, I don't believe that he was older than this.

DC1485'And his aspect'

CT'It was clear, he was light-skinned, he had no freckles, he was not sunburned, he was not dark, nor bronzed from the sun, he was a light colour, not white, white but you know'humm..he was not one who was exposed to the sun.

DC1485'And when he walked, did he have any particular walk or limp'

CT'No, I never really noticed his gait as I only saw him leave the gate. He did not appear incapacitated, hum' he was merely ordinary looking, I did not really look at his walk.

DC1485'You told me he did not have tattoos; was he wearing any jewellery'

CT'No, I did not see any jewellery, no, no he did not have necklaces or rings and as far as I could tell, he did not have earrings.

DC1485'And his T-shirt, you spoke to me about his T-shirt, did it have an inscription'

CT'No, it was a common shirt, without inscriptions, it was light blue in colour, or grey, it could have been grey, mmm.

DC1485'And the T-shirt, did it have buttons or was it simply something that went up to the neck'

CT'No, it went up to the neck and had sleeves, short sleeves, but not straps, of this type, just short sleeves.

DC1485'Yes, and was it loose-fitting'

CT'No it was not snug, it was not loose, it was comfortable.

DC1485'Did it fit him loosely'

CT'It was big but not by much.

DC1485'Yes.

CT'It was simply common, the type of T-shirt one wears on Saturday.

DC1485'Yes, yes.

CT'With inscriptions or anything in general, mmm.

DC'And he was well-shaven'

CT'Yes, yes.

DC1485'Yes without a beard or did you notice anything else'

CT'No, nothing from what I remember, because he was very blonde.

DC1485'Yes.

CT'But if he had a beard, I would have seen it.

DC1485'Spectacles'

CT'No, he did not have sunglasses, nor did he wear spectacles.

DC1485'He did not use sunglasses'

CT'No.


DC1485'Okay, and for how long did you think you saw him'

CT'Well, humm... the time it takes to leave, shut the gate, look to the side, look to that side, a few seconds because he did not take very long to do this, I would say that it was for a minute or something like that.

DC1485'And I know that you pointed to the map, as you know, that you were on the third floor and he was here, this is, rua estreita, as you revelead'

CT'No, no it appears, humm... it is simply long, because the apartments on the first level jut out a bit, the veranda belongs to my aunt.

DC1485'Yes.

CT'Therefore, when I say that I am looking below, it is only really looking below...

DC1485'And how, what is your opinion; are you good at measuring distances'

CT'If am am good in measuring distances, recollecting faces, mmm'very good. Are you talking measurements in metres, yards or in feet'

DC1485'Humm, in feet.

DC1485'Please continue.

CT'From where, where I stood'

DC1485'Yes.

CT'Okay, I would then say, humm, close to the roof.

DC1485'Yes.

CT'It would be the measurement of one double-decker bus which, which is the measurement of a double-decker bus.

DC1485'You refer to the top of the double-decker, the double-decker until the end'

CT'Yes, yes.

DC1485'I though you said that you were capable of being precise.

CT'Well, it is difficult, isn't it'

DC1485'Have you looked here to outside'

CT'Yes.

DC1485'Is it roughly the same height'

CT'Humm, yes, but two, two floors up.

DC1485'Yes.

CT'Two floors and a bit upwards.

DC1485'Are the apartments have high ceilings or low-ceilings'

CT'Humm, no... they are higher than this.

DC1485'They are higher than this.

CT'Yes, yes.

DC1485'Or it could be, we are speaking, if I told you 30 metres, twenty meters, thirty metres, 40 metres, which do uou think it would be'

DC1485'Feet and inches

CT'Ahh... feet, if I told you, then, I would from top to bottom it was about' I don't know, 20 feet.

DC1485'Yes, because there we were also on the top of a hill.

DC1485'Yes.

CT'Thus 20, 30 feet for sure, I would that it was around this.

DC1485'Yes.

CT'Because we were also on a hill. But on the rua estreita I don't think there is a relief.

DC1485'Yes.

CT'Mmm.


CT'Yes, I would recognize him. Don't ask me why but I know that I would.

DC1485'Okay, and you told me, when we were speaking of his behaviour, you told me that he left and shut the gate very slowly after himself, that he had to turn. With both his hands.

CT'With both hands.

DC1485'He turned and pulled the gate, he pulled or pushed the gate closed'

CT'Humm... he pulled it.

DC1485'Because it opens from the inside'

CT'It opens from the inside.

DC1485'Yes, then when you saw him leave, he had to pull the gate in his direction.

CT'Yes.

DC1485'Okay, and you told me that he was doing this stealthily, what do you mean by stealthily'

CT'Stealth, humm... someone who would draw my attention, you know, the normal way of entering and exiting a gate, one opens the gate and just leaves, but he did this as though he wanted to make the minimum amount of noise, that is stealthily, and as if, he did not want anyone to know that he was coming or going.

DC1485'Yes.

CT'This was very, very unusual and it was this that stayed in my memory.

DC1485'This was the photo-sketch that you reproduced'

CT'No, he did not use spectacles, but he did have this type of hair.

DC1485'Yes, I was intrigued that the reason for his sunglasses.

CT'He did not have sunglasses, he did not use spectacles and his mouth was not like this, and his nose was not like this, it is not the same person.

DC1485'Then you are telling me that this is not the photo-fit that you made'

CT'No.

DC1485'No.

CT'Because he has glasses, he did not use glasses.

Dc1485'No, but the hair is the same'

CT'The hair is right. More or less.

DC1485'I know that the image is not very good.

CT'And it appears that he has something on his chin that he did not have, humm, but the format is similar, he certainly did not use glasses, and his mouth was different.

DC1485'Okay, but the top of his...

CT'The top, his head is...

DC1485'The same.

CT'Yes.

DC1485'The format of the face is the same, the format of the mouth is the same'

CT'Well, he had a long face.

-snip-

[colour=black]I think that Carole Tranmer and TS are describing the same man.  I think this man was in the garden next door to The McCann flat … and it seems that he may have been sussing it all out from there as he did from the roadway outside, as witnessed by 5 witnesses mentioned before

So now, it seems, we have yet another witness seeing this man acting suspiciously


Just how many more witnesses do you guys need before you stop the unrealistic talk about him waiting for a lift, or waiting for his wife to come out and join him

He does sound rather like CB, doesn't he?  Even to the sculpted head/?face which I had noticed on some of his photos before[/color]

[sadie]

I agree the description doesn't match Brueckner, not only because of the hair but also because TS estimated the man's height to be only 5'9" whereas CB is taller than average.
Whilst the man remains unidentified, imo the sighting is still of importance to the investigation.

Somewhere, Misty, I feel sure that TS thought that he was 1.8 metres tall = 6 feet approx.   I wonder where I saw that?  It was from a webpage identified here, a few days ago, IIRC    Was it posted by you Rob? 

I agree wholeheartedly the sighting along with Mrs Tranmers is still of importance to the investigation. Very much so.