How accurate would be Martin Smith's ID of Gerry MaCann?

[jassi]

Could have meant CCTV. At its most basic it might just have been an observation camera plugged into a computer

[jassi]

I know. Dreadful. Even basic science was out to conspire against him.

And his biggest fan club even asserts that, although he's a genius, he hadn't worked out that a) she'd died almost as soon as she arrived or b) she never existed anyway.

Has he a fan club? They must post elsewhere, as I haven't seen anyone on here that would fit the description.
A few very anti Amaral on here, of course.

[Robittybob1]

Could have meant CCTV. At its most basic it might just have been an observation camera plugged into a computer

I can't how that could be called a reconstruction.  But the whole thing was a mystery.

[jassi]

I can't how that could be called a reconstruction.  But the whole thing was a mystery.

Probably just one of these translation errors that the case seems strewn with 

[Robittybob1]

Probably just one of these translation errors that the case seems strewn with 

And it showed my tiredness too what was I trying to say?  It should have said:
"I can't think how that could be called a reconstruction.  But the whole thing was a mystery."

[Carana]

Surely "televised images" is a translation error.   I thought that he meant something like a photographic image in the form of a life sized cardboard cut out.

You can buy them off E-bay.  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Life-Size-Celebrity-Cardboard-Cutouts-Standees-Various-ones-/322834075021

Possibly loaded onto a moving robot van with the missing child in an elusive blue tennis bag, inside a fridge in a backpack along with a spade in the event of a "reconstruction"... ;)

[Brietta]

Is asserting that one stands by what one said to the police and the media at the time the same as one's current thinking? The bone of contention (on the other thread) was that it had been alleged that Martinn had retracted his statement.

Russell expressed doubts as to whether he could have been mistaken about seeing RM that night, but in the end also chose to stand by his original recollection.

In both cases, the perceived implications of arguido status may (or may not) have influenced recollections.

Just as some may argue that changing one's mind, now, that Murat / Gerry may not have been the people in question after all could be interpreted as potential media influence in the opposite direction.

IMO.

Snip
I've agonised for days over whether or not to contact the police about this because it is a terrible thing to accuse somebody of. It had just not crossed my mind that the child?s parents could in some way be involved in her disappearance.

I have watched a good deal of news coverage about the McCanns over the past week or so. Another thing which has played on my mind is the coverage of Mr McCann walking off the aeroplane holding one of his young children. The way he was holding the child over his left shoulder reminded me of the man carrying the child from the white van in Portugal.

Although I could not describe the male I'd seen in Portugal because he had his back to me, it was the particular way Mr. McCann held the child that made me think. He held the child over his left shoulder with his left arm supporting the child?s weight.

(signed).......R McCluskey

Snip
He states he is "almost certain" that they are the same person and has agonised for days over what to do and whether to contact Police. He is acutely aware of the possibly implications of his account. When asked why there had been such a time lapse in him making this "identification" he explained it as follows:
Mr. McCluskey states the thought had never crossed his mind that a child's parents could be implicated in such a matter. Media coverage over the past week or so has cased him to take a renewed interest in the case. The only thing which prevents Mr. McCluskey from stating he in 100% certain in his "identification" is the fact that he would , in his words, " hate to incriminate and innocent person."

Mr McCluskey appears to be a credible person and is not recorded on local intelligence systems.

Email from Stephen Robinson, Northumbria police to Leicestershire police
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/RI_Mc.htm


The media coverage quite obviously had an impact on Mr and Mrs McCluskey's recollection of events which in my opinion reflects uncannily in Mr Smith's addition to his statement.

[Miss Taken Identity]

Another person trying to be helpful being torn down...There is NO logic in supporters arguments!

Mr Smith gave a statement - the SY and PJ when they got wind of this looked at it and felt it warranted enough to say this was a person of interest.

As the supporters are 100%sure  the McCanns are innocent of everything and any thing then why do they bother with challenging people who gave statements. When the statements of the Tapas (some plain ridiculous- and appear to be  made up) are challenged the person posting is a troll!  and has posts swiped for no valid reason on some occasions.

[Carana]

Snip
I've agonised for days over whether or not to contact the police about this because it is a terrible thing to accuse somebody of. It had just not crossed my mind that the child?s parents could in some way be involved in her disappearance.

I have watched a good deal of news coverage about the McCanns over the past week or so. Another thing which has played on my mind is the coverage of Mr McCann walking off the aeroplane holding one of his young children. The way he was holding the child over his left shoulder reminded me of the man carrying the child from the white van in Portugal.

Although I could not describe the male I'd seen in Portugal because he had his back to me, it was the particular way Mr. McCann held the child that made me think. He held the child over his left shoulder with his left arm supporting the child?s weight.

(signed).......R McCluskey

Snip
He states he is "almost certain" that they are the same person and has agonised for days over what to do and whether to contact Police. He is acutely aware of the possibly implications of his account. When asked why there had been such a time lapse in him making this "identification" he explained it as follows:
Mr. McCluskey states the thought had never crossed his mind that a child's parents could be implicated in such a matter. Media coverage over the past week or so has cased him to take a renewed interest in the case. The only thing which prevents Mr. McCluskey from stating he in 100% certain in his "identification" is the fact that he would , in his words, " hate to incriminate and innocent person."

Mr McCluskey appears to be a credible person and is not recorded on local intelligence systems.

Email from Stephen Robinson, Northumbria police to Leicestershire police
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/RI_Mc.htm


The media coverage quite obviously had an impact on Mr and Mrs McCluskey's recollection of events which in my opinion reflects uncannily in Mr Smith's addition to his statement.

I don't see anything malicious in making a statement, per se. How often are we told to contact the police, however insignificant we may find a potential detail to be? 99% may well be totally irrelevant, but there may always be that tiny nugget out there.

It's up to the police to check it all out and retain only what may stay on the back or front burner.

Someone has yet to explain to me, in words of one syllable or less, why the only document in the files about getting the Smiths over yet again, only concerns Paiva's record of asking if Martin would be willing to go back to PT.

Why not the kids who didn't agree?

[Brietta]

I don't see anything malicious in making a statement, per se. How often are we told to contact the police, however insignificant we may find a potential detail to be? 99% may well be totally irrelevant, but there may always be that tiny nugget out there.

It's up to the police to check it all out and retain only what may stay on the back or front burner.

Someone has yet to explain to me, in words of one syllable or less, why the only document in the files about getting the Smiths over yet again, only concerns Paiva's record of asking if Martin would be willing to go back to PT.

Why not the kids who didn't agree?

In my opinion there was no malicious intent on the part of Mr McCluskey (not forgetting his wife) who were dismayed at the thought Madeleine's parents could be involved nor on the only member of the Smith family to make an addition to his statement.

I think they were subject to the adverse media coverage from swinging to arguido which made the unthinkable thinkable and what they remembered of the incident in which they were involved took on a different significance.

Mr Smith saw one man ... who became for him Gerry McCann who became familiar to him from watching the media.

The McCluskeys saw two people who became for them Kate and Gerry McCann who had become familiar to them from the media.

All it took to trigger a false memory in all, was the combination of the McCann arguido status, the adverse commentary in the press and the footage of Gerry leaving the plane.

I agree that it is odd that only Mr Smith was invited back ... and like you am at a loss as to what value his solo return would have been.  The investigation knew about Mr McCluskey and they knew Gerry was elsewhere and ruled out as Mr Smith's man ... so a bit of a conundrum?

[Miss Taken Identity]

I don't see anything malicious in making a statement, per se. How often are we told to contact the police, however insignificant we may find a potential detail to be? 99% may well be totally irrelevant, but there may always be that tiny nugget out there.

It's up to the police to check it all out and retain only what may stay on the back or front burner.

Someone has yet to explain to me, in words of one syllable or less, why the only document in the files about getting the Smiths over yet again, only concerns Paiva's record of asking if Martin would be willing to go back to PT.

Why not the kids who didn't agree?

I have never known a witness who 'thinks' they maybe saw [named person] ever making a witness stand- A lawyer just wouldn't allow it. As Martin was 60-80% certain then his testimony would be taken seriously. I am only surmising this is why it was only him, however as you point out, there may have been other requests on paper to invite others in the party, which have disappeared or got lost?

I personally, wholly understand Mr Smiths anxiety, no one wants to get people into serious trouble and he feared his information may do just that-the thought of a missing child must have outweighed that and he let his conscience guide him there fore he  came  forward.

[Carana]

I have never known a witness who 'thinks' they maybe saw [named person] ever making a witness stand- A lawyer just wouldn't allow it. As Martin was 60-80% certain then his testimony would be taken seriously. I am only surmising this is why it was only him, however as you point out, there may have been other requests on paper to invite others in the party, which have disappeared or got lost?

I personally, wholly understand Mr Smiths anxiety, no one wants to get people into serious trouble and he feared his information may do just that-the thought of a missing child must have outweighed that and he let his conscience guide him there fore he  came  forward.

I suppose that it is indeed possible that an invitation extended to other members of the Smith family got "lost in the post" or in a sudden loss of phone contact.

However, I'm not aware of any internet access outage that could explain why contact wasn't resumed.

[Robittybob1]

Possibly loaded onto a moving robot van with the missing child in an elusive blue tennis bag, inside a fridge in a backpack along with a spade in the event of a "reconstruction"... ;)

Other than the spade, I find your post a bit OTT.

[Carana]

Other than the spade, I find your post a bit OTT.

Ok, ok. I could take out the spade if you prefer.

[Robittybob1]

Ok, ok. I could take out the spade if you prefer.

No, no, I accept the fact that fathers taking their kids to the beach could have easily have taken a spade with them. 
For making sand castles and the like.  Wasn't there a full moon out so it is not impossible?