The Smithman e-fits

[Carana]

39.    The Smith family sighting was featured prominently, twice, in the Channel 4/Mentorn Media ‘Mockumentary’ of May 2009. Did the Smiths know about – and then consent – to their sighting featuring in the documentary, despite Martin Smith (allegedly) still believing that he had seen Gerry McCann on the night of 3 May 2007?     
40.   Did he approve the contents of what was said about his family’s sighting in the film?
41.   If not, did he ever protest publicly about it?
42.   Immediately after the C4/Mentorn Media documentary was shown, the McCanns uploaded a 30-second summary of Martin Smith’s alleged sighting, read out in an Irish accent (not by Martin Smith). Was Martin Smith told about this, or did he become aware?
43.   If and when he did become aware, did he consent to his sighting being used on the McCanns’ website?
44.   If he did become aware, was he also aware that after he had changed his initial story about the age of the man he said he saw from ‘35 to 40’ to ‘40’, was Martin Smith aware that in this audio recording the age had been changed again to ’34-35’? Did Martin Smith agree to that second change of the man’s age?
45.   If yes, why did he do so? If not, why did he never protest publicly?
46.   When Dr Kate McCann published her book, ‘madeleine’, on 11 May 2011, seven pages of her book mentioned Smithman. Three of these seven pages consisted of an itemised list of the ‘striking similarities’ between ‘Tannerman’ and ‘Smithman’. Was Martin Smith consulted about this before the proofs went to the printers?
47.   Again, given that in September 2007 Martin Smith was sure that he had seen Gerry McCann on 3 May 2007, did Martin Smith approve of his sighting being quoted on 7 pages of Kate McCann’s book? – in support of a ‘stranger’ abductor?
48.   Did Martin Smith object in any way to his sighting being used in a book which effectively denied that he had seen Gerry McCann - and which was pointing the finger at the ‘Tannerman’ sighting?       

If they'd objected, I expect that we'd have heard all about it by now. If they agreed to try to help with e-fits, and the descriptions, it's often with a view to publicising them at some point in a public appeal.

[Carana]

59.   How credible is that after nine years of working closely with the McCanns and then Operation Grange (2008-2017), that the Smiths would suddenly tell Irish reporter Gemma O’Doherty: “I have never retracted my view that I saw Gerry McCann that night”?

Is that a direct cite from her article, or are you paraphrasing with quotation marks?

[Carana]

60.   How credible a witness would Martin Smith be if put on a witness stand to testify that in his judgment he was 60% to 80% sure he had seen Gerry McCann on the night of 3 May 2007? How well would that evidence stand up under cross-examination?       

The nuance is that the 60 - 80% level tends to get left out as does the clarification that it was based on how the man was carrying the child. Nothing else.

That also assumes that he would have been the only one to testify (he does appear to be the only one that Paiva had asked). Peter and Aoife didn't agree with him, so presumably there wouldn't have been much point.

[Eleanor]

I have no idea of what Martin Smith thought, but then I doubt that he did either.

In the normal course of events, without this horric disclosure, then no one else would have known either.

The penchant of The PJ to disclose is just about the worst thing that could ever have happened.

I remain horrified by such by who these people think they are, especially Goncalo Amaral who already has a conviction for Perjury.

The opinions of this man should have been consigned to The Bin many moons ago.  He is a total disaster.

[Carana]

While you're around, Blonk, any idea why Martin was the only one asked by Paiva if he'd be willing to come over?


On this date I state for the files that at about 12.12 I had telephone contact with the witness Martin Smith, by means of phone number ********* who referred to the communication he made on 20-09-2007 to the British authorities, that confirms his sighting and showing his full availability to travel to Portugal with the aim of making statements and collaborating with this police in all the diligences that could be considered necessary concerning these events.

Portimao, 27th September 2007

Signed

Inspector Paiva
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARTIN_SMITH.htm

[Eleanor]

Is Blonk around?  I must have missed that.

[faithlilly]

While you're around, Blonk, any idea why Martin was the only one asked by Paiva if he'd be willing to come over?


On this date I state for the files that at about 12.12 I had telephone contact with the witness Martin Smith, by means of phone number ********* who referred to the communication he made on 20-09-2007 to the British authorities, that confirms his sighting and showing his full availability to travel to Portugal with the aim of making statements and collaborating with this police in all the diligences that could be considered necessary concerning these events.

Portimao, 27th September 2007

Signed

Inspector Paiva
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARTIN_SMITH.htm

Do you think Blonk has any kind of communication with Paiva ? If not then how in Dickens would he know why Paiva did anything ?

[Carana]

Do you think Blonk has any kind of communication with Paiva ? If not then how in Dickens would he know why Paiva did anything ?

I just wondered if he had a logical explanation as to why Paiva, presumably at Amaral's behest, only got in touch with Martin.

[Robittybob1]

I just wondered if he had a logical explanation as to why Paiva, presumably at Amaral's behest, only got in touch with Martin.

I was always thinking Martin was controlling that.  No one talked unless he approved it IMO.

[G-Unit]

I just wondered if he had a logical explanation as to why Paiva, presumably at Amaral's behest, only got in touch with Martin.

He was the only one who thought it was Gerry McCann.

[Vertigo Swirl]

We were told by Gerry himself that PDL was very quiet and he hadn’t seen anyone else throughout the week while checking so not sure it being a popular tourist resort is relevant. As to Smithman knowing the streets well, the streets are well lit and the way Smithman was proceeding is one of the main ways to the beach. Any tourist who had stayed in the resort for even a few days would know the route.

When Gerry was checking through the week did he do so by walking down the main street to the beach?   I think not, so the point stands.  PdL was and is a popular tourist destination, there were dozens of holiday makers there at the time, not to mention locals, so even though it was (by high holiday season) "quiet", anyone walking down the well-lit main street to the sea would know that they would have run a serious risk of passing others en route, as indeed they did.  This is a man who, in your opinion was able to carry a body though town, uncovered and having made no attempt to disguise or hide his own features.  Did he not pass any bins before he reached the point of the Smiths sighting?  Wouldn't taking a street out of town and away from the main drag looking for a bin make more sense?

[faithlilly]

I just wondered if he had a logical explanation as to why Paiva, presumably at Amaral's behest, only got in touch with Martin.

Surely as blonk isn’t Paiva then he’d have as much idea as any other stranger, even you ?

[Brietta]

He was the only one who thought it was Gerry McCann.

No he wasn't.

[Miss Taken Identity]

Ofcourse the Smith Family can evidence where they were and at what time on that evening.

[Carana]

1. It was quiet as Gerry testified and how can you cry abduction if you don’t move the body ?
2. We don’t know exactly when the alarm was raised. Estimates range between 9.30 and 10.13pm.
3. In a municipal bin, in an abandoned building etc etc
4. If Smithman had come from the Ocean Club it wouldn’t have taken him many minutes to find a hiding place, deposit the body and return there.

It would have to have been a very cunning hiding place with all the people out looking for her the next day. So then what? Her body was quickly moved early in the morning? But where to, and how?