The investigation into the Smith family's sighting

[Brietta]

Amaral could have started where Rebelo did - the Smith family timeline,  the CCTV at Estela da Luz, asking reception staff at the hotel if they remembered seeing the Smith family return & at what time.
He could also have told the McCanns that there was another potential suspect but they had to find out through the Irish press 2 weeks later. Why did Amaral want to keep it secret - what was so important about the Smith sighting that it could be neither disclosed nor investigated?

Depending on the interpretation of the secrecy law ... I can only just accept the secrecy of it while still thinking it the wrong call to make.

I cannot comprehend why it had to wait for the Rebelo investigation to carry out the checks which should have been carried out at the time of reporting.

There was a gap between the PJ being made aware of the Smith sighting by the Garda Síochána and the return of the three Smiths to demonstrate it.
In my opinion that was the optimum time to carry out the corroborating checks you have suggested in your post in time for the Smith return.

[faithlilly]

Amaral could have started where Rebelo did - the Smith family timeline,  the CCTV at Estela da Luz, asking reception staff at the hotel if they remembered seeing the Smith family return & at what time.
He could also have told the McCanns that there was another potential suspect but they had to find out through the Irish press 2 weeks later. Why did Amaral want to keep it secret - what was so important about the Smith sighting that it could be neither disclosed nor investigated?

The sighting was investigated. It was only when Martin Smith tentatively identified Gerry that the timeline of the sighting needed further investigation. The whole family agreed the timings. What reason would Amaral have had to investigate further?

Did Rebelo publicise the Smith sighting?

[misty]

The sighting was investigated. It was only when Martin Smith tentatively identified Gerry that the timeline of the sighting needed further investigation. The whole family agreed the timings. What reason would Amaral have had to investigate further?

Did Rebelo publicise the Smith sighting?

How did Amaral investigate it? How did he check their timings when he didn't even have the receipts from the Dolphin & Kelly's? The Smith family timings did not match - both men said they left the Dolphin 30mins before the bill was actually paid.
Rebelo did at least investigate but correctly decided that there was no point in publicising a sighting made by an unreliable witness. IMO

[Robittybob1]

How did Amaral investigate it? How did he check their timings when he didn't even have the receipts from the Dolphin & Kelly's? The Smith family timings did not match - both men said they left the Dolphin 30mins before the bill was actually paid.
Rebelo did at least investigate but correctly decided that there was no point in publicising a sighting made by an unreliable witness. IMO

I know you are probably right but could you provide the proof of that  Photo of receipt and the sentences from their statement please.

[misty]

I know you are probably right but could you provide the proof of that  Photo of receipt and the sentences from their statement please.

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARTIN_SMITH.htm
Martin Smith:-
— Concerning the facts under investigation, on the 3rd of May, he went with his family to the Dolphin restaurant in Praia da Luz where they dined. Around 21H00 they left the restaurant and headed toward 'Kelly's Bar'; about a 50 metre distance from the restaurant, following the path, as it is very short.

Aoife Smith :-
— Regarding the 3rd of May, 2007, she went, with all her family, to eat at the Dolphin restaurant, which is close to Kelly's Bar. When they left the restaurant, around 21H30, they headed toward Kelly's Bar. They stayed there for about 30 minutes.
— Around 22H00, they left Kelly's Bar. The group headed, on foot, for their apartment.


Peter Smith:-
— He would like to clarify that on the 3rd of May, he and his family went to the Dolphin restaurant, situated in Praia da Luz, where they dined. Around 21H00 they left the restaurant and went to Kelly's Bar, about one minute away on foot. In Kelly's Bar (he does not remember the name of the street it is on) they had a few drinks, having left from there around 21H50/22H00.





Inquiries carried out under Rebelo
 
12_VOLUME_XIIa_Page_3277
 
External Inquiry

Date 10 ' 10 ' 2007

Place: Kelly's Bar, P da L

Inquiry carried out by Inspectors Rui Fernandes and Ricardo Paiva

Description and results of Inquiry

On this date at about 15.00 we went to Kelly's Bar, located in Rua da Calheta, in Praia da Luz. At the site we were received by an employee of the bar identified as L***** A**** M**** who had been on duty on the night of 3rd May 2007.

When questioned whether on the night in question she remembered the visit to the bar by witness Martin Smith and his family, she replied that she does not remember given the lapse of time between the events and because the bar is daily frequented by dozens of clients of different nationalities.

All the available documentation was requested concerning the expenses in the bar on the night of 3rd May 2007 as we were given the cash register from which photocopies were made referring to the period between 20.00 and 24.00, which is annexed to this report.



http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P12/12_VOLUME_XIIa_Page_3257.jpg (duplicate receipt from Dolphin)
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P12/12_VOLUME_XIIa_Page_3258.jpg (duplicate EPS slip showing transaction time)

[G-Unit]

There seem to be a few unreliable witnesses who don't remember times very well. If the Smith sighting was later, of course, there was no-one at the Tapas table.

[Robittybob1]

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARTIN_SMITH.htm
Martin Smith:-
— Concerning the facts under investigation, on the 3rd of May, he went with his family to the Dolphin restaurant in Praia da Luz where they dined. Around 21H00 they left the restaurant and headed toward 'Kelly's Bar'; about a 50 metre distance from the restaurant, following the path, as it is very short.

Aoife Smith :-
— Regarding the 3rd of May, 2007, she went, with all her family, to eat at the Dolphin restaurant, which is close to Kelly's Bar. When they left the restaurant, around 21H30, they headed toward Kelly's Bar. They stayed there for about 30 minutes.
— Around 22H00, they left Kelly's Bar. The group headed, on foot, for their apartment.


Peter Smith:-
— He would like to clarify that on the 3rd of May, he and his family went to the Dolphin restaurant, situated in Praia da Luz, where they dined. Around 21H00 they left the restaurant and went to Kelly's Bar, about one minute away on foot. In Kelly's Bar (he does not remember the name of the street it is on) they had a few drinks, having left from there around 21H50/22H00.





Inquiries carried out under Rebelo
 
12_VOLUME_XIIa_Page_3277
 
External Inquiry

Date 10 ' 10 ' 2007

Place: Kelly's Bar, P da L

Inquiry carried out by Inspectors Rui Fernandes and Ricardo Paiva

Description and results of Inquiry

On this date at about 15.00 we went to Kelly's Bar, located in Rua da Calheta, in Praia da Luz. At the site we were received by an employee of the bar identified as L***** A**** M**** who had been on duty on the night of 3rd May 2007.

When questioned whether on the night in question she remembered the visit to the bar by witness Martin Smith and his family, she replied that she does not remember given the lapse of time between the events and because the bar is daily frequented by dozens of clients of different nationalities.

All the available documentation was requested concerning the expenses in the bar on the night of 3rd May 2007 as we were given the cash register from which photocopies were made referring to the period between 20.00 and 24.00, which is annexed to this report.



http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P12/12_VOLUME_XIIa_Page_3257.jpg (duplicate receipt from Dolphin)
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P12/12_VOLUME_XIIa_Page_3258.jpg (duplicate EPS slip showing transaction time)

I don't see the problem Misty. 

[misty]

I don't see the problem Misty.

According to the male Smiths' timeline, they were in Kelly's Bar for an hour. According to Aoife's, they were in Kelly's Bar for half an hour. So, if they left the restaurant at 9.30pm as per the till receipt, how long did they really spend at the bar & what time did they really head back for the hotel?

[Brietta]

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARTIN_SMITH.htm
Martin Smith:-
— Concerning the facts under investigation, on the 3rd of May, he went with his family to the Dolphin restaurant in Praia da Luz where they dined. Around 21H00 they left the restaurant and headed toward 'Kelly's Bar'; about a 50 metre distance from the restaurant, following the path, as it is very short.

Aoife Smith :-
— Regarding the 3rd of May, 2007, she went, with all her family, to eat at the Dolphin restaurant, which is close to Kelly's Bar. When they left the restaurant, around 21H30, they headed toward Kelly's Bar. They stayed there for about 30 minutes.
— Around 22H00, they left Kelly's Bar. The group headed, on foot, for their apartment.


Peter Smith:-
— He would like to clarify that on the 3rd of May, he and his family went to the Dolphin restaurant, situated in Praia da Luz, where they dined. Around 21H00 they left the restaurant and went to Kelly's Bar, about one minute away on foot. In Kelly's Bar (he does not remember the name of the street it is on) they had a few drinks, having left from there around 21H50/22H00.





Inquiries carried out under Rebelo
 
12_VOLUME_XIIa_Page_3277
 
External Inquiry

Date 10 ' 10 ' 2007

Place: Kelly's Bar, P da L

Inquiry carried out by Inspectors Rui Fernandes and Ricardo Paiva

Description and results of Inquiry

On this date at about 15.00 we went to Kelly's Bar, located in Rua da Calheta, in Praia da Luz. At the site we were received by an employee of the bar identified as L***** A**** M**** who had been on duty on the night of 3rd May 2007.

When questioned whether on the night in question she remembered the visit to the bar by witness Martin Smith and his family, she replied that she does not remember given the lapse of time between the events and because the bar is daily frequented by dozens of clients of different nationalities.

All the available documentation was requested concerning the expenses in the bar on the night of 3rd May 2007 as we were given the cash register from which photocopies were made referring to the period between 20.00 and 24.00, which is annexed to this report.



http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P12/12_VOLUME_XIIa_Page_3257.jpg (duplicate receipt from Dolphin)
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P12/12_VOLUME_XIIa_Page_3258.jpg (duplicate EPS slip showing transaction time)

I wonder why the family left the restaurant which also served soft and alcoholic drink to interrupt their homeward journey to go to a bar a minute away from the restaurant.
Some of the party which included children, had an early rise the following morning and there was an anxiety because Peter's "pregnant wife was somewhat ill and he was constantly attending to her,".
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARTIN_SMITH.htm#p6p1615

[John]

I wonder why the family left the restaurant which also served soft and alcoholic drink to interrupt their homeward journey to go to a bar a minute away from the restaurant.
Some of the party which included children, had an early rise the following morning and there was an anxiety because Peter's "pregnant wife was somewhat ill and he was constantly attending to her,".
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARTIN_SMITH.htm#p6p1615

It's what Irish people normally do, have a nice meal and then find an Irish bar to end the night.

[misty]

It's what Irish people normally do, have a nice meal and then find an Irish bar to end the night.

I think it's the "half hour" & "Irishman in a bar" which don't quite match up. IMO.

[John]

I think it's the "half hour" & "Irishman in a bar" which don't quite match up. IMO.

If you mean they didn't stay very long, that is explained because some of the group were flying home the next day.  Add to that the fact that Peter's wife was pregnant and not feeling too well, they probably didn't want to overdo it.

[Brietta]

If you mean they didn't stay very long, that is explained because some of the group were flying home the next day.  Add to that the fact that Peter's wife was pregnant and not feeling too well, they probably didn't want to overdo it.

I suppose each to their own ... but those circumstances make the whole episode strange for me ... particularly with the early morning departure to consider.

[faithlilly]

I suppose each to their own ... but those circumstances make the whole episode strange for me ... particularly with the early morning departure to consider.

Lest we forget Martin Smith and his family had no axe to grind and no reason to lie. Several of you however have suggested that this was exactly what several of the family did. Can you exlain why ?

[misty]

Lest we forget Martin Smith and his family had no axe to grind and no reason to lie. Several of you however have suggested that this was exactly what several of the family did. Can you exlain why ?

Whilst you are quite happy to suggest/believe that members of the Tapas 9 lied for a specific reason, is it beyond the realms of possibility that someone else would do likewise to protect another person?