Am I correct in thinking it was in a garage where it was valeted?
I've never heard that. AFAIK there wasn't any explanation as to why the Getz wasn't subjected to the cadaver dogs examination. That vehicle was substituted in the line up by ROB's hire car.
The Getz was examined by the Portuguese sniffer dogs - but they were trained to look for living scent not cadaver.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/ROBERT-MURAT.htm#p5p1119*snipped*
The GNR dog team commanded by First-Sergeant A.Silva used four dogs to search for a trace of Madeleine Beth McCann in the entire property (inside and outside). The work results were negative.
- In the location were three vehicles - VW Transporter; Peugeot 205; Hyundai Getz - all of which were searched.
- The entire property was inspected by colleagues from Local Crime Section and Police Science Laboratory, with respective photographic reports made, with special focus on R.Murat's room and the vehicles
Murat had let his mother use the V/W for her information post. That vehicle was cleaned on 13/5/07, the day before the PJ swooped on Casa Liliana, according to MW's statement of 16/5/07
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MICHAELA_WALCZUCH.htm1358 to 1360 Witness statement of Michaela Walzuch 2007.05.16
*snipped*
--- Asked, she states that on the 13 May last she was with Robert washing the VW Transporter at GALP-Lagos because it was dirty.
