The events from 9pm 3RD MAY to end of 4TH MAY as told by the main witnesses

by **Tony Bennett** 21.05.12 7:57

This excellent analysis of the key witness statements about events from 9pm on 3 May until the end of 4 May was compiled in, I think, early 2009 by Kazlux, astro and Joana Morais, and can be found still, I believe, on Joana Morais' blog. It may well be on the mccannfiles site as well. I reproduce it here as a research tool for this forum. In doing so, I make no comment on it, fearing that any comment which does not unequivocally back the McCanns' account of events could be deemed libelllous and a contempt of court. So the information below (in several parts) can be used by McCann-sceptics and McCann-believers alike to support their respective understandings of these events:

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21H20, Executive Chef A. E. G. F. P. heard some clamour, which made him leave toward the restaurant, a few meters away, and was then informed that a child had disappeared.
at around 21:40, he left the restaurant passing through the same esplanade where moments before, he had seen the same table occupied by the three couples, empty, who had left in the meanwhile various items, principally clothing. He was told by his colleagues that the child who had disappeared was a child of one of those couples;

Property manager B. J. J. W. heard about the news being investigated on the evening of 3rd May at about 21.30 – 21.40 from P.B., a Dutchman and owner of the Atlántico restaurant, who passed by the witness near the Baptista supermarket, in P da L and who asked for his help in searching for Madeleine. He then went to the place where the events occurred which was at about 21.45 – 21.50. At this time various local people and MW staff were present. When questioned he said that the police had not yet arrived and that about 5 minutes had passed.

Dinner finished at around 21H45 and some minutes passed where waiter R. A.E D. L. O. looked towards the table but saw no one—his colleague told him that all the guests of that table left rapidly and abruptly. He remembers having heard shouts in the direction of the McCann apartment;

Between 21.30 and 22: Fitness instructor/Waiter J. R. S. went over to the table and joked with (Diane Webster): “They’ve left you alone?” She responded more of less with these words: “No, they went to see if the little girl was there.” I responded that I hoped they would find her somewhere in the apartment. At saying this, I saw the man. Who I knew later to be Madeleine’s father, running to the pool and to the children’s play area in the Tapas zone as if looking for someone. It immediately hit me that after talking to the older woman, that the little girl had not been found. I offered to alert the workers at the Milenium Restaurant and the man agreed. He then left again running to continue searching. I believe that this was between 21H30 and 22H00 but do not remember with certainty.

approx. 21.55 pm The Smith Family, (4 adults and 5 children) are returning from 'Kelly's Bar', heading north, all spread out along the street and they pass a man walking down the middle of the street, carrying a child, with the head against his left shoulder and the arms hanging down alongside the body, in light colored or pink pyjamas, bare feet, pale skin typical of British and blond, shoulder-length hair; the girl is about 3-4 years old, about 1 metre tall. - The man is not dressed like a tourist; he's wearing cream or beige trousers, classic cut, of linen or cotton. He is white, 30-35 yrs, 1.70-1.80 meters tall, average build, physically fit, short, brown hair, with a face that looks tanned. (GA)

M. M. M. d. S. declares that on the night 03-05-07, she left the apartment at around 21H58—she remembers the exact time because she asked her friend the time and she responded after checking this on the telephone in the lounge;
. They left the building and the deponent and her boyfriend took the Opel Frontera, previously indicated, which was parked out front of the apartment, in the private parking area of Block 6 where her friend’s apartment was located;
. She declares that the night was good with a breeze, and that it was dark;
. After leaving Block 6, they turned right and after left, passing in front of the block occupied by the McCanns. She states that she saw no movement of people, and that in the immediate areas of the blocks she saw no vehicle with the exception of a small car, that appeared to her grey in colour, parked close to the window of the McCann apartment;
She declares further that she mentioned this fact to her boyfriend and that it wasn’t yet summer given the movement on the roads, and at that hour movement was nill;
. States that she looked at the exit of the apartment and that from the flat above the McCanns, she saw light, and also in from of the apartment, but she could not define, concretely, where she saw the light when she passed the McCann apartment;
. Next to the tree, she did not detect any movement of people or vehicles, and nothing struck her as abnormal in that zone that would have raised her suspicions;

Receptionist Ocean Club H. J. S. L. was on duty and was contacted by a member of staff from the Tapas Restaurant between 21.30 and 22.00 who informed him that the daughter of some guests who were dining there had disappeared. He immediately contacted the GNR in Lagos, shortly after this the child’s father and John Hill arrived at the reception and he phoned the GNR again.

Bar chef M. J. d. S. R. heard about it on that night at about 22.00 when an English tourist arrived at the Millenium restaurant to ask whether anyone had seen a lost little girl.

After 22:00 R. R. S. B. and his wife were still sitting on the veranda in the B. family apartment. They heard noises downstairs and afterwards found out that a child had disappeared. Gerald was seen and spoken to by N.B. and R.R.S.B. They heard him calling for Madeleine when they were sitting on N.B.’s balcony, not far from the McCann’s apartment. They both went down to talk to Gerald and helped in the search.

Between 22H00 and 22H30, waiter J. J. M. B. was in the kitchen, and was alerted, by a colleague, to the fact that a guest entered the restaurant screaming, and at this point, the entire group left in a panic; his colleague proceeded to tell him that the (screaming) individual indicated that a child had gone missing.

about 22.15 Owner of “Duque de Holanda” Bar J. O. W. was working in her bar when some employee who she cannot identify (but whom she knows works for Mark Warner) informed them that a girl had disappeared from the OC.

At about 22.17 Hotel manager E. L. K. received a call from L.J., the Crèche Manager, informing her that the girl had gone missing. She met L.J. and the Service Manager, A.T., near to the Tapas Bar and they initiated the “Mark Warner procedures for the search of a missing child”.

Tennis coach D. J. S. knew about the disappearance of little MBM that same night, about 22h20, because he was contacted by a resort worker having attended and partcipated in the searches.

Tennis coach G.L.J. knew about the disappearance of little MBM that same night, about 22h20, because she lives in the same house as another OC worker and (s)he told her.

22.28 Manager J.H. gets a phone call from L.J., head of the child care service, who told him about a female child staying at the resort who had disappeared. This phone call was made to his mobile phone at about 22.28 on 03-05-2007. About 5 minutes later J.H presented himself at the resort. Upon arriving at the scene he saw about 100 people, employees, guests and residents searching the grounds, the beach and adjoining areas calling out the child’s name.

Head of Maintenance J. C. S. B. was informed about 22.30 by phone by the OC administrator, who had contacted his wife, S.B..

Manager G. R. C. arrived at 22H25 and there found J.H. and other functionaries, S.B., J.B., the former who is employee manager and the latter maintenance; when he arrived at the Ocean Club, he went to the entry of the pool and the restaurant (Tapas) areas of said establishment, having there come across various individuals in the local, all of which were participating in the search for the lost child, and was made up of guests and other people;

At around 22h30, after having left the apartment where she is living, close to the establishment mentioned, together with two more colleagues, also residents there, whose name are Leanne and Sarah, nanny K. M. found her colleague Amy. That during their discussion she was informed that Madeleine McCann had disappeared and that they were looking for her. For this reason, together with her colleagues, they also began searching for Madeleine McCann.

Millennium waitress A. N. d. . heard about the events on the same day at about 22.30 when she was at the restaurant bar where she works, relaxing with her mother and sister. At that moment, a British individual, a tennis instructor entered the restaurant, and told them what had happened, and headed towards the interior of the space where the pool are, looking for the girl. She says that because she had had some alcoholic drinks, she was not in a condition to participate in the searches. However, her sister did take part in the searches, together with her boyfriend.

Just after 22.30 upstairs neighbor Mrs. F. heard the hysterical shouts from a female person, calling out “we have let her down” which she repeated several times, quite upset. Mrs Fenn then saw that it was the mother of little Madeleine who was shouting furiously. Upon leaning over the terrace, after having seen the mother, Mrs. F. asked the father, Gerry, what was happening to which he replied that a small girl had been abducted. When asked, she replied that she did not leave her apartment, just spoke to Gerry from her balcony, which had a view over the terrace of the floor below. She found it strange that Gerry when said that a girl had been abducted, he did not mention that it was his daughter and that he did not mention any other scenarios. At that moment she offered Gerry help, saying that he could use her phone to contact the authorities, to which he replied that this had already been done. It was just after 22.30.

Millinnium restaurant employee D. J. A. V. d. S. stated that an individual, tall and of British nationality, appeared in the restaurant at about 22.30/22.45, who asked him whether he had seen a little girl who had disappeared, describing her as blonde and three years old and that she was probably wearing pyjamas. The witness and his colleague, M.d.F., replied that they hadn’t, upon which the individual ran out.

Millennium waiter G. C. C. C. says that when the events occurred he was working in the restaurant and heard about the disappearance at about 22.30 – 23.00 from a Mark Warner employee (he doesn’t know his name, but he is of English nationality) who, at that moment asked to use a telephone in the bar to make a call as he had received information about the disappearance of the girl on his mobile. He does not know the concrete terms of the conversation but he is clear that something had happened. The employee then left the bar/restaurant. When his shift ended he joined in the searched with his colleague Nelson. He searched until 03.00 AM.

Around 22H45, nanny S. B. O. was in the bar known as ‘Mirage’ together with her colleagues, whose names are Emma, Shinead, Najoua, Hayley and Stacy, which is situated close to the perimeter of the aforementioned resort. After returning from the bathroom, she was informed by her colleague Hayley that a child, of about 3 years of age, and whom was staying at the Ocean Club, had disappeared; she immediately, together with her colleagues, went to the area of a restaurant (Milenium) in the establishment in question near to the bar they were at and began searching for the missing child; during the search, she realised, together with her colleagues of the Ocean Club, others (tourists/owners) were also participating in the search;

22.45/22.50 Manager J. H. went to the apartment being used by the McCanns, where he saw that both members of the couple were in a panic and were shouting that the child had been taken. He always saw the McCanns together in the apartment they were occupying at the time, with the exception of an episode when Gerry went to the main 24 hour reception, with the purpose of speaking to a GNR officer

22.50 pm - First call to GNR Lagos precinct (Guarda Nacional Republicana, rural police); The first call to Police Precinct of GNR (Portuguese Rural Police) in Lagos, reporting a missing child and asking for Police help was made at 10.50pm and a patrol was sent, arriving at Ocean Club 12/15 minutes later, according to Lieutenant-Colonel Costa Cabral, Head of Public Relations of GNR.

About 22.55/23.00 manager E. L. K. went to the McCann’s apartment to obtain the girl’s description and of the clothes she was wearing when she disappeared. When she arrived at the apartment, there was a lady on the terrace, whom she now know to be Kate McCann, accompanied by the wife of one of her friends, David Payne. Kate could not say a word, looked very upset and about to cry. It was Mrs Payne who provided her with the details that she needed.

Head of Maintenance J. C. S. B. arrived at about 23.00 and immediately began to search the resort and the beach area, searching in all the places where the child might be. The searches were carried out by employees from the Tapas and the restaurant who had just finished their shifts and by some local people.

Accountant J. D. N. d. O. N. notes that on May 03, 2007, (Thursday), at around 23H00, at home, in Ramalhete, Casa ***, Praia da Luz, Luz, Lagos, situated close to the OC resort, he noticed “much movement and traffic that was out of the ordinary,” outside (vehicles and individuals passing by frequently) for that time of night. For this reason, he went to look out of his window. Whilst this was happening, he noticed a colleague, J.C.B. (Head of Maintenance at the resort) standing next to his house, who told him what had happened. J.C.B. told him that a child staying at the tourist complex had disappeared.

about 23.00 hrs, OC guest G. McK. approached the McCann’s apartment from the bushes at the rear of the apartment. He was searching the gardens. He did not know it was the McCann’s apartment. He saw Mr Gerry McCann standing alone in the doorway at the rear of the apartment talking on his mobile telephone. Mr McCann was looking our over the swimming pool and did not see Mr McKenzie. Mr McCann was absolutely distraught telling the person receiving the call that he feared “she (Madeleine McCann) had been taken by paedophiles”. He does not know who the person receiving the calls was but presumes it to be a family member: “I worked my way around the area, eventually coming around the back of the tennis courts and up towards what I now know to be the McCanns apartment a couple of hours later. I was looking in the little gardens on the poolside of that block, I was in the end garden when I heard a male voice, he sounded distraught his voice cracking with emotion. I looked to see who I now know to be Gerry McCann stood above me on the balcony/patio about 3 metres away speaking on a mobile phone. I cannot recall his exact words but I got the impression that he was speaking to perhaps a family member or someone he was very close to due to the nature of his conversation. He said something along the lines of there being Paedophile gangs in Portugal and that they had abducted Madeleine. I was so shocked by this, having originally thought that she had just wandered off.”

After she arrived about 23.00 S.B. went immediately to the apartment A5 where she found several people inside the apartment and outside of it. She entered in the flat but soon left without having spoken with anyone, because she was informed that elements of the GNR were in the principal reception. She went there to meet them.
When she came close to the elements of the GNR she found that behind her was
Gerry, Madeleine's father, accompanied by another man whose identity she doesn't remember. Then Gerry kneeled down, hit the floor with both hands, positioning himself as if he were a praying Arab, and screamed twice of anger, what he said being impossible to understand. Then Gerry stand up and accompanied her (the witness) and the other man in the car of the GNR to the apartment A5. S.B. walked Gerry to the GNR car, so he could deliver the requested documents. She states that she carried out these diligences, and other diligences, at the request of the GNR Commander as they used the deponent’s knowledge of the English language to translate the questions that were asked from the missing person’s family members, and the answers that were given. She remembers that Gerry gave the GNR Commander several photographs of the missing person. These were postcard-type photographs, taking their size and shape into account. They were actually photographs of the size and shape of a postcard, and they seemed to be all similar to her.

23.00/23.05 pm - A GNR patrol arrives at Ocean Club (two men); When they arrived they saw the girl’s father, a friend whom GNR Officer N. F. P. d. C. describes as tall and blond, an OC employee and a translator who was also an OC employee, named S.B.. He found it notable that when they were still at the main reception, the father kneeled down, laying his head on the ground and crying, at the same time as making an expression which GNR Officer N. F. P. d. C. did not understand.

Estimated time around 23.10 pm Both David Payne and Matthew Oldfield were seen by E.L.K. when she was on her way to the beach, the search area to which she was assigned by L. J. (child care director and search coordinator).

23:14 Gerry calls Kate (8 seconds)

23:17 Gerry calls Kate (31 seconds)

Estimated time 23.15 - After hearing about the circumstances of the disappearance (from the father with the help of translation) GNR Officer N. F. P. d. C. does not remember whether the word abduction was mentioned, and he went in his police car, to the apartment, accompanied by the father, the friend and the translator.

by **Tony Bennett** 21.05.12 7:59

After hearing about the circumstances of the disappearance (from the father with the help of translation) at a determined moment GNR Officer J. M. B. R. thinks it was the father who told the translator that it was an abduction, at least this is how it was translated. He then went to the apartment, accompanied by his colleague, the father and friend as well as the translator. When he arrived at the apartment he saw the mother there, who opened the wooden door, now referred to as the main door. When he entered, apart from the mother, there were three individuals, one female and two male, whom he cannot identify.

After the search, GNR Officer J. M. B. R. noticed a situation that seemed unusual to him, when at a determined moment, the girl’s parents kneeled down on the floor of their bedroom and placed their heads on the bed, crying. He did not notice any comments or expression from them, just crying. He says that at the main reception the father also knelt down, placing his head on the floor and crying. He did not hear the father say anything.

After the search of the interior, GNR Officer J. M. B. R. went to check the area around the apartments and the Tapas Bar, while GNR Officer N. F. P. d. C. remained next the apartment, just outside it. At that moment a female individual, he does not know whether she was a member of the group of friends, who was in the neighbouring apartment, said that she saw an individual carrying a child, running, and that because of the pyjamas she was wearing it could have been Madeleine. It was in these circumstances that abduction began to be talked about. He made a report about this situation and sent it to the police. This sighting did not seem to him to be very credible, because when he asked her about the physical characteristics of the individual, she said it was very dark, however she saw the pyjamas clearly.

S.B. translated the deposition from one of the ladies that belonged to the group of English people, namely one that she indicates as being a brunette. This lady told the GNR officers, and S.B. translated, that she had seen a man crossing the road, possibly carrying a child. S.B. found that situation strange because she was convinced that when she saw this man, the lady was positioned in a spot that has no viewing angle to the location where she had seen the man. She doesn’t know exactly where the lady was positioned when she saw the man passing by, but she knows that she indicated that she saw him passing on the street that lies in front of the window to the bedroom where Madeleine was, walking into the direction of the street that leads to the Baptista supermarket.

GNR Officer J. M. B. R. found the parents to be nervous and anxious, he did not see any tears from either of them although they produced noises identical to crying. He did not feel that this was an abduction, although this was the line indicated by the father.

S.B. also realised that from the very first moment on, both Gerry and the rest of the group members insisted in stating that Madeleine had been abducted, all of them using the word “abducted” instead of missing, and they all showed great interest in informing the press about the situation.

S.B. further recalls that she entered the room where Madeleine had been sleeping. She now remembers that the door was closed. The inside of the room was dark. The shutters were down, and light entered only through its holes. The windows were closed and the curtains slightly open. Gerry, who accompanied S.B. during this visit, with the GNR officers also present, said that it had been him who had closed the window because the babies were still sleeping inside, which S.B. could verify as true. Gerry mentioned that when he noticed that Madeleine was missing, he had found the window and shutters open, and the curtains fluttering.

S.B. recalls that the cots that were used by the babies were placed in the middle of the room and aligned, and therefore she found it strange that someone could have taken Madeleine from the bed where she was sleeping up to the window, because there was no space to get through. S.B. opened the bedroom’s wardrobe to check if eventually Madeleine was hiding inside. Then they all left the room, and someone closed its door again. The deponent remained in the living room for a while, with the GNR officers, Gerry and the other group members that were there in a frenzy, going in and out and speaking on their mobile phones. She noticed that none of the group members, including the child’s mother and father, were busy looking for her. The mother was sitting on the master bedroom’s bed, the father accompanied S.B. and the GNR officers and the other group members walked in and out and spoke on the phone, apparently concerned about informing the press about the event.

She thought that the child’s mother was downbeat with the situation, the father showed his concern and also asked both for the press to be alerted and for dogs to be brought in for the search. Concerning the others, she can only recall that Fiona and her husband, Payne, were hysterical about the situation.

At about 23.30 a white fair haired man aged about 30, one of the friends of the McCann group was seen by V. K. and her family when he asked them if they had seen Madeleine. They were near to the chapel.

23.20/23.30 Manager J.H. asked hotel manager E. L. K. to go to the apartment the girl had disappeared from and, on behalf of Mark Warner, provide all the help the family might need. She went to the McCann’s apartment, entered by the patio doors and introduced herself to Kate and Mrs Payne. She entered the apartment living room and Kate and Mrs Payne stayed in the main bedroom, from where she could hear them both crying.
The twins were still asleep in the children’s bedroom and the door was half open.
A short while later, Gerry returned to the apartment accompanied by Russell. They also entered by the patio doors. She doesn’t remember the exact sequence of events at this time, but she does remember that she phoned John, who informed her that the police were on their way.

23.30/23.40 A CID team leaves from Portimão to Praia da Luz.

John McCann stated on MSNBC that at ‘twenty to twelve’ 23.40 pm Gerry calls his brother John: "I've got crying for help from my brother and I'm stuck couple of thousand miles away from him. I can't do anything concrete. And then eventually he just said, "I don't know what to think. I think some paedophile or some other swine has taken Madeleine".

23.40 Gerry calls Trish Cameron (11.13 minutes)
"It was my younger brother Gerry distraught on the phone, breaking his heart. He said: 'Madeleine is abducted, she's been abducted'. 'They kept going back to check the kids every half hour. The restaurant was only 40 yards away. He went back at 9 o’clock to check the children. They were all sound asleep, windows shut, shutters shut'.
Kate then went over to the two-bedroom ground-floor apartment and 'came out screaming', said Mrs. Cameron. 'The door was lying open, the window in the bedroom and the shutters had been jimmied open'. "They think someone must have come in the window and gone out of the front door with Madeleine." (timesonline 6 may)
Sandy Cameron statement: “On the night of Thursday, May 3, 2007, Patricia received a telephone call from Gerry informing us of the disappearance of Madeleine. Gerry manifested all those emotions one expects from a father who has lost a child in the circumstances. He was distraught and spoke at the same time he cried. He seemed frustrated with the slowness of the searches in Portugal, with the fact that the borders had not been closed, and with the fact that sniffer dogs were not being used. Patricia and I contacted the British Embassy to try and help in this regard.”

Hotel owner P. R. W. arrived at the scene of the events at about 23.45, there were already many people and police officers.

23.52 Gerry calls Brian and Janet Kennedy (2.30 minutes)

Barman Millennium Restaurant L. M. d. S. B. was dining with his wife, son and friends in a restaurant in P da L, before 24.00 he received a call to his mobile from the fixed network phone in the Millenium restaurant, informing him about the disappearance. It was his colleague Nelson who contacted. He was not asked anything in particular, just informed, however he felt that he should go to the resort, which he did immediately, making himself available for whatever was needed. He remembered that there was great panic amongst all the people looking for Madeleine. He helped search, remaining at the OC until 05.00, searching the entire resort. They did not find anything to help locate the child.

at about 24.00, A. T. was at her desk at the Tapas bar, inside the resort, when at a certain time, one of the friends of the McCann couple, Russell, asked for a USB memory stick reader, in order to print photographs of Madeleine. Immediately the deponent replied that she did not have an USB reader, but that she had a printer with this hardware, which could read from memory sticks. She went to her room and returned to the Tapas with the printer where she printed out 20 to 30 photographs of the girl, using her own paper, in 10x15 format mentioned previously. The memory stick containing the photos belonged to the McCann couple, and came from their camera.

between 00.00 and 00.30, the police arrived, entered by the main door and went to the kitchen with Gerry. Hotel manager E. L. K. went to the bedroom where Kate and Mrs Payne were. Kate was still upset, crying and calling Madeleine’s name, shouting “where is she?” She also banged on the headboard. At that moment Hotel manager E. L. K. went to check on the twins in their room and they were ok. She remembers being in the main bedroom with Kate, Mrs Payne, Gerry, Russell and David who were sitting on the bed and she sat on the floor. At that moment David suggested that the press should be contacted. Russell disagreed, saying they should keep calm and let the police take care of the situation.
At that moment Kate appeared to lose control, crying and constantly asking “where is she?” whilst banging on the bed.
Gerry remained calm throughout. On one occasion Kate and Gerry both went to the main bedroom and Hotel manager E. L. K. could hear both of them crying.

0.00.27 am Kate calls Sue and Brian Healy (128 seconds)

0.05.00 am Gerry calls Brian and Janet Kennedy (3 seconds)

0.05.45 am Gerry calls Trish Cameron (3 seconds)

0.06.15 am Gerry calls Brian and Janet Kennedy (2.47 minutes)

0.13.14 am Gerry calls Trish Cameron (3 seconds)

0.13.50 am Kate calls Sue and Brian Healy (407 seconds)

0.21.36 am Gerry calls Trish Cameron (23 seconds)

0.23.12 am Gerry calls …. (3.55 minutes)

0.27.07 am Trish Cameron calls Gerry (2.28 minutes)

0.29.37 am Angela Morado at UK Consulate calls Gerry (4.53 minutes)

0.36.21 am Kate calls … (31 seconds)

0.37.05 am voicemail calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

0.38.40 am … calls Gerry (6.40 minutes)

0.39.58 am Kate calls voicemail (34 seconds)

0.40.50 am voicemail calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

0.45.15 am Brian and Janet Kennedy call Gerry (1.18 minutes)

0.45.49 am Kate calls voicemail (31 seconds)

0.47.23 am … calls Kate (2.39 minutes)

0.47.41 am Angela Morado at UK Consulate calls Gerry (2.15 minutes)

0.53.08 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

PJ Officer V. M. M. arrived on the scene at about 00.40/00.50.
At the scene, there were already some elements from the GNR and some people walking around the OC grounds, searching for the child.
In the apartment where the family was staying, there were different persons, including the friends of the girl’s parents, who were immediately invited to leave the apartment, in order to preserve the scene.
Inside the room that was indicated as being that of the missing girl, there were two children, babies, who appeared to sleeping in two cots placed in the middle of the room.
A request was made to the OC services director for the family to be re-allocated and accordingly the babies were taken out of the room, so that the site could be searched.
The OC services manager introduced him to the missing girl’s parents, who looked quite tired and anguished, particularly the mother who appeared more upset and was therefore less receptive to conversation, which led the witness to converse only with the girl’s father.
After the site had been isolated, he proceeded to make an inspection, together with the inspection and photographic report carried out by Deputy Specialist J.B..

Deputy Specialist J. B. arrived about 00.40/00.50.
When they arrived at the scene, which they immediately identified due to the presence of GNR officers, as well as quite a lot of people who were walking around the street searching for the child, they immediately went to the apartment in question, where they found several people, including some GNR officers, as well as the head of the Lagos GNR station.
He states that the people inside the apartment and close to it, entered and left the building and circulated in the whole apartment, completely freely, in other words, without there being any restriction or care in preserving the scene. .
He said that these people were the friends of the parents of the missing girl and a lady responsible for the resort called S.B..
He was shown the room the child had disappeared from, having noticed that people also entered and left that room without any care in the sense of preserving traces. Inside this room there were two children, babies, sleeping in two cots placed in the middle of the room.
It was requested that the babies were moved, which was done accordingly, the witness having subsequently put his gloves on to begin the on-site inspection.
At that moment one of the GNR officers told the witness that they had already searched for the girl in the wardrobes and other places in the apartment without having taken any care as to leaving their own traces or for destroying or adulterating any traces that might be of interest to the investigation. The witness states that, at a given moment, the father of the missing girl led him to understand that he had already contacted the Sky News TV station and informed them of the situation.
As much the father as the girl’s mother looked quite worried with the situation and he can even confirm that the mother was very agitated and out of control, crying a lot and shouting in an uncontrolled manner, saying in English “They have taken her”. He remembers that he remained on the scene until about 04.00.

Estimated time between 0.30 and 1.00 am Two timelines written by Russel O’Brien on the covers ripped off Madeleine’s stickerbook are provided to the GNR officers.

Sometime between 0.30 and 1 a.m Kate calls her parents: "I had a phone call from Kate asking me to contact Father P.S. He’s a friend of Kate and Gerry’s. Paul married Kate and Gerry and baptised Madeleine and she needed to speak to him".

Sometime between 0.30 and 1 am, A.G., the owner of a bar at the marina in Vilamoura got a phonecall from an old customer: P.P., the human resources director from a public English organism. She calls him, upset: "She told me the daughter of British friends of her, who were vacationing close to Lagos, had disappeared over 3 hours ago, that they were completely alone and that nobody was helping them to search for her". P.P. confirms she was at Kate's parents house at the time.

At about 01.00 Matthew Oldfield was with J. H. (resort manager) when they knocked on Jeremy Wilkins’s door to ask if he had seen anything. It was them who told what had happened. Jez did not take part in any searches. He offered his help but was told it was not necessary.

1.02.08 am … calls Kate (2.23 minutes)

1.16.11 am Gerry calls A. M. UK Consulate(1.57 minutes)

1.29.58 am Phil McCann calls Gerry (3.36 minutes)

At about 1.30 that morning Kate called Father P. S. in a state of great agitation. He tried to calm her as well as he could saying that Madeleine could have had a bout of sleepwalking and that she would be all right. He remembesr that Kate was worried by the fact that Madeleine was wearing short sleeved pyjamas and that she could catch a cold. He felt that only a mother could think like that and say such a thing. He could perceive the trauma that Kate was experiencing from her voice. He led with prayers and other situations in his role as priest.
Gerry phoned him on the same night and he also seemed to me to be quite traumatised and at the same time very upset and angry. His Scottish accent, which was normally very slight, became so heavy that his sentences were almost incomprehensible

by **Tony Bennett** 21.05.12 8:00

1.43.55 am … calls Gerry (3.29 minutes)

Estimated time: between 1.30 and 2.00 am Hotel manager E. L. K. remembers the police asking everyone to leave the apartment. She received a call from John informing her that he had arranged for another apartment for the McCanns. She went to reception and helped Lyndsey to move the two cots to the new apartment
The McCanns went to the new apartment and she remembers seeing Kate and Mrs Payne seated on the sofa, each holding one of the twins.

S. B. states that right after the PJ’s elements arrived, the child’s parents removed the twins from the cots where they still slept, and took them into the apartment on the first floor. At Kate’s request, the deponent removed the soft toys and a blanket from the cots, and also took them to the first floor. The babies’ cots were left only with the mattresses.

2.07.03 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

2.18.29 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

2.20.03 am Kate calls … (0 seconds) SMS

2.21.12 am Kate calls … (0 seconds) SMS

2.23.27 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

2.27.28 am Kate calls … (27 seconds)

Before 2.30 am (the time he left the scene) GNR Officer J. M. B. R. refers to a situation when he was searching outside, near the pool, that someone from the OC whom he cannot identify, passed him a mobile phone, as a British Consulate employee who spoke in Portuguese, wanted to talk to the authorities. Upon speaking to him, he told him that the investigation and subsequent actions were under the responsibility of the PJ.

about 02.00/02.30, as the child had not been found, PJ Inspector M. J. P. d. L. Q. decided to contact SEF at Faro airport with the aim of alerting them in case anyone would board accompanied by some child, whoever she was and those accompanying her should be duly identified, however the various calls made were not attended. In the face of this situation he contacted the Faro Station from the police and told them what was going on and asked them to alert the SEF.
He also decided to alert the GNR in Lagos so that they would send out a warning so that the car and foot patrols that were out on the ground would pay attention and identify cars with people out driving at that time who were accompanied by a child (children).

2.38.58 am Lynda and Mark call Kate (9.45 minutes)
“On the morning of 4 May 2007 the mother of Kate telephoned my mother who, in turn, telephoned me. My mother told me that something terrible had happened, that somebody had taken Madeleine. I later sent a text message to Kate that same night and
I spoke with her on the telephone. She was hysterical, saying only that she wanted to be able to hug Madeleine. She was worried by the fact that there were only two police officers in the place and thought that the police were not helping her with anything. She continued to speak about Madeleine, of the cold that she could feel since she was dressed only in pyjamas and continued to look at the situation from the perspective of Madeleine. She told me that Gerry was outside to find the girl and during the following day we spoke on the telephone and we frequently sent messages [to each other].”

2.53.49 am Kate calls Michelle and Jon (16 seconds)

GNR Officer N. F. P. d. C. refers to a situation at about 02 or 03.00, that the parents asked for a priest and his colleague had tried to contact one on his mobile, but did not manage to find one.
Hotel Manager E. L. K. remembers that on the night Madeleine disappeared, Kate wanted to contact the local priest, but it was not possible to reach him by phone.
S. B. mentions that at around 3 a.m. Madeleine’s parents asked for the presence of a priest on location. They didn’t explain the reason why they wanted a priest, but the deponent found the fact strange as there were no indications that the little girl was dead, and that’s the circumstance under which usually the presence of a priest is requested.

3.05.03 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

3.06.17 am Kate calls … (0 seconds) SMS

3.06.54 am Kate calls Michelle and Jon (5 seconds)

3.07.38 am Kate calls Jon Corner (3 seconds)

3.07.57 am Kate calls Michelle’s cellphone (3 seconds)

3.08.33 am Kate calls Michelle and Jon (3 seconds)

3.09.05 am Kate calls Michelle and Jon (4 seconds)

3.10.29 am Kate calls … (10 seconds)

3.20.21 am Kate calls Michelle and Jon (14 seconds)

3.23.28 am Jon Corner calls Kate (184 seconds)

3.28.46 am Jon Corner calls Kate (416 seconds)
Michelle Thompson statement: “Kate must have tried Jon’s mobile once as we stirred when it rang at about 03h20. Jon spoke briefly with Kate and then called her around 03h30. I knew that Kate and Gerry were on holidays in Portugal. Kate was very anguished and on the telephone and told me that she had checked on the children every half-hour. It was around 22h00, and when she went to check on the children she found that someone had entered the apartment and taken Madeleine from where she slept; that Madeleine had been abducted. The person must have entered, passed by the twins and taken her.
Kate continued that when she entered the apartment via the patio doors, a breeze hit her in the face as if a door or window was open. When she entered the children’s room, the window was open, the blind had been forced and Madeleine had disappeared. Kate urged me to call all the close family and to ask them to pray for Madeleine. My family is catholic and Kate knew this. Even though I am catholic, I have to admit that Kate has more faith than I. I did not speak to Gerry that night.”

3.31.13 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

3.55.21 am Jon Corner calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

3.55.56 am Kate calls Jon Corner (0 seconds) SMS

4.03.44 am Jon Corner calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

4.05.40 am Kate calls Jon Corner (0 seconds) SMS

4.12.33 am Kate calls Jon Corner (0 seconds) SMS

4.14.41 am Gerry calls … (01 seconds) SMS

4.15.23 am Gerry calls … (01 seconds) SMS

4.15.43 am Gerry calls … (01 seconds) SMS

4.19.02 am Sue and Brian Healy call Gerry (01 seconds) SMS

4.20.34 am John McCann calls Gerry (01 seconds) SMS

4.22.12 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

Hotel manager E. L. K. left the new apartment at 04.30 in the morning after instructions from J.H. She was the last to leave, the police had already left, but she left her number saying that she was available for anything that might be needed.

4.31.30 am Jon Corner calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

4.31.41 am Jon Corner calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

4.36.30 am … calls Kate (17.27 minutes)

4.52.16 am Kate calls Jon Corner (0 seconds) SMS

4.55.54 am Kate calls … (0 seconds) SMS

During the early morning in question PJ Inspector M. J. P. d. L. Q. received some telephone calls from people whom, with the exception of one, expressed themselves in Portuguese to ask whether an English girl had really disappeared in Lagos and about what was being done with relation to this and he informed them that this was true and that inquiries were being made in order to find her. One of these calls, from the person who did not express themselves in Portuguese but in English and which was received between 04.30 and 05.30, was made by someone who identified themselves as being from the Sky News TV chain and who requested the same information mentioned earlier.

6.02.08 am Mum mob calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

6.04.11 am Kate calls Mum mob (0 seconds) SMS

6.05.29 am Kate calls Amanda home (7.02 minutes)

6.08.17 am Jon Corner calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

6.18.17 am Kate calls Jon Corner (0 seconds) SMS

6.34.53 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

6.35.23 am Kate calls … (0 seconds) SMS

6.39.38 am Kate calls Jon Corner (0 seconds) SMS

6.47.42 am Jon Corner calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

6.47.54 am Jon Corner calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

6.48.05 am Jon Corner calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

6.59.12 am Jon Corner calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

6.59.44 am Kate calls Jon Corner (0 seconds) SMS

07.00 am GNR Officer P. J. F. N. saw the McCann couple at about 07.00 alone in the street next to the site where they were stationed.

7.06.06 am Sue and Brian Healy call Gerry (01 seconds) SMS

7.09.04 am John McCann calls Gerry (3.26 minutes)

7.15.19 am Gerry calls Angela Morado UK Consulate (4.51 minutes)

7.23.20 am … calls Gerry (5.53 minutes)

7.41.14 am Jill mob calls Kate (3.30 minutes)

7.44.48 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

7.46.36 am Kate calls … (0 seconds) SMS

7.48.12 am … calls Kate (373 seconds)

7.51.14 am … calls Kate (1.26 minutes)

8.06.14 am mum mob calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

8.07.52 am Kate calls mum mob (0 seconds) SMS

8.11.35 am Jill mob calls Kate (1.56 minutes)

8.21.21 am Jill mob calls Kate (153 seconds)

8.27.26 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

8.28.30 am Kate calls … (0 seconds) SMS

8.29.56 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

8.31.00 am Kate calls Michelle mob (3 seconds)

8.31.21 am Jill mob calls Kate (2.33 minutes)

8.34.09 am Kate calls … (32 seconds)

8.34.19 am Kate calls Jon Corner (61 seconds)

8.34.59 am voicemail calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

8.35.15 am Gerry calls Angela Morado, UK consulate (1.43 minutes)

8.35.21 am Kate calls voicemail (20 seconds)

8.36.03 am Kate calls voicemail (37 seconds)

8.45.20 am Kate calls … (136 seconds)

8.50.27 am Gerry calls Angela Morado, UK consulate (4.47 minutes)

8.51.42 am Kate calls … (0 seconds) SMS

8.52.41 am Kate calls Jon Corner (73 seconds)

8.56.15 am Kate calls Nuala (47 seconds)

8.57.17 am Jill mob calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.01.55 am … calls Gerry (1.46 minutes)

9.04.16 am … calls Gerry (1.28 minutes)

9.05.38 am anonymous number calls Gerry (2.12 minutes)

9.09.32 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.09.44 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.09.56 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.10.39 am Kate calls … (0 seconds) SMS

9.12.04 am Geteesha mob calls Kate (262 seconds)

9.14.28 am UK consulate in Portugal calls Gerry (3.58 minutes)

9.16.07 am … calls Gerry (1 second)

9.25.51 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.26.03 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.29.18 am Jill mob calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.33.11 am Michelle & Jon call Kate (5.35 minutes)

9.34.42 am Voicemail calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.45.21 am Fiona & Richard call Kate (1.45 minutes)

Estimated time 9.45 am Social worker Y. M. met the McCann couple next to the apartment from where the child had disappeared, accompanied by a third person, a male, who seemed quite familiar to her.
- This third person of the group appeared to be an intimate (friend) of the family as he was the one who, when the media arrived, began to explain what was happening and answering questions, thereby saving the couple from this upset. Afterwards, she further confirmed his closeness to the family when she saw him taking care of the couple’s twins, also small children.
- She identified herself and presented her credentials and immediately began talking to the mother of the missing child as she was visibly upset with the situation.
- During the conversation the mother told her that she did not understand why a couple had abducted her daughter.
Because she found it strange that Kate told her that her daughter had been taken by a couple, she tried to separate her from the other two individuals so that she could speak to her with more privacy, suggesting to Kate that they (Y and K) should enter the apartment, Kate aggressively rejected this idea and told her that they could speak on the street.
The witness then asked whether anyone from the Medical Centre had been with Kate as she was very agitated and needed some support, she was told they hadn’t.
At this point, Kate told her that her daughter had disappeared 13 hours ago. It was about 10 in the morning.
- However, the third individual overheard this conversation and interrupted Ms. Martin and took the McCann couple away from her.
- This same individual came shortly afterwards to tell her that the couple did not want to talk to her any further and did not require her help—an action that appeared quite strange to her.
- Meanwhile, she heard comments next to the complex reception that the British Consul was coming to the site and she decided to wait for this person in order to offer her help.
- During this time, she saw the third individual two more times. Firstly, when he was accompanying an older woman and the McCann twins, demonstrating in this way, the trust that the couple had in him by letting him take care of their two children.

On the second occasion, he accompanied what appeared to her to be plain clothed police officers.

--YVONNE describes the third individual as follows:
Aged about 35 years
Of about 1,80 metres in height
Of normal physical appearance
Having short, dark hair
Using graduated glasses of small dimensions with rectangular lenses
Having a round face
Presenting a scar above his eyebrow and on his left cheek
Speaking with a Southern English accent
Wearing light trousers, cream or beige coloured, and a dark polo shirt.
– When she was back home, following the case on English television, she saw the same individual and this time, her initial doubt faded and she concluded that she had seen the face in the course of her professional activity in child protection, not being able to discern if he was a suspect/arguido or witness
- She clarifies that she is capable of making a photographic identification of the individual, and emphasises that with the identified photo it is possible to access the database of the British Police and ascertain whether the individual is related to any crimes involving children

9.46.24 am Jill mob calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.47.48 am Kate calls voicemail (58 seconds).

9.49.50 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.50.23 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.50.38 am Kate calls … (0 seconds) SMS

9.58.53 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.59.20 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.59.31 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

10.01.06 am … calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

10.00 am, 12 hours after the disappearance, the British Consul from Portimão arrives. PJ tell him all that is going on. He is not satisfied and is heard talking on the phone saying the "PJ are doing nothing. " (GA)

****************************

on 4 May, the parents authorized the police to look at their cellphones to check for calls made and received:

Kate's phone: no calls made from 27April to 4 May; she received no calls from 11h22 on 2 May until 23h17 on 3 May

Gerry's phone: nothing prior to 00h15 on 4 May

However, inside Kate's phone there is a record of a call received from Gerry at 11h17, 3 May. But no record of the call on Gerry's phone. It had been erased. (GA).

*********************************

by Kazlux

Thank Kazlux Joana & astro.

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by Hummingbird 21.05.12 9:38

Am I missing something here, why does the timing at the beginning where the OC staff are noticing activity state it is 21.20 isn't that 9.20pm?

I thought M was reported missing by KM at 10pm (22:00)

Also it states in here that 'Gerry mentioned that when he noticed that Madeleine was missing the shutters were open.........' I thought KM found her missing?

One of the restaurant staff mentions that the table was occupied by 3 couples and that they had suddenly left - I thought it was 4 couples + 1. Where was the other couple that night?

Gerry requests the services of dogs that very first night - thought he didn't think that dogs were reliable!!

These are the FIRST statements made by witnesses and people who were there that night on the actual night Madeleine went missing, in my mind they are the best statements as everything is fresh in their minds, they haven't slept and dreamed of other things they haven't had time to go away and think about it and change it and so on.

So why are the timings so different and why is it saying that Gerry noticed Madeleine missing?

by sweetex 21.05.12 16:23

Hummingbird wrote:Am I missing something here, why does the timing at the beginning where the OC staff are noticing activity state it is 21.20 isn't that 9.20pm?

I thought M was reported missing by KM at 10pm (22:00)

Also it states in here that 'Gerry mentioned that when he noticed that Madeleine was missing the shutters were open.........' I thought KM found her missing?

One of the restaurant staff mentions that the table was occupied by 3 couples and that they had suddenly left - I thought it was 4 couples + 1. Where was the other couple that night?

Gerry requests the services of dogs that very first night - thought he didn't think that dogs were reliable!!

These are the FIRST statements made by witnesses and people who were there that night on the actual night Madeleine went missing, in my mind they are the best statements as everything is fresh in their minds, they haven't slept and dreamed of other things they haven't had time to go away and think about it and change it and so on.

So why are the timings so different and why is it saying that Gerry noticed Madeleine missing?

I was wondering about that too - for a long time actually.

The thing is also - if Madeleine was found missing at 10:00 the Smith sighting can not be credible at all. Their sighting was at 9:55.

There is also the statement of Steven Carpenter and his wife (don't remember her name now) but they said they left tapas at 9:15 and when to cross the street, his wife heard someone calling "madeleine".

I believe it happened earlier than what they say.

by sweetex 21.05.12 16:30

"Between approximately a quarter past nine and half past nine we left the Tapas bar to go home, we walked across the MW reception area, crossed the road and a semi circular path to return to the apartment, were we put the children to bed and a short while later did the same ourselves. I do not remember seeing or hearing anyone during our return to the apartment. When I crossed the road outside the MW reception I remember there were cars parked, I remember taking some time to see if I could cross the road because there were cars parked to my left and I was carrying I****. They were about six metres away from me and i calculate that some (inaudible) metres from the back of Gerry's apartment, I do not remember anything about these cars, it was normal for cars to be parked there and in the morning they were no longer there. My wife mentioned on the following day that she vaguely remembered someone calling "Madeleine, Madeleine", this was after we had crossed the road from the MW reception and before entering our apartment."

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by **tigger** 21.05.12 16:47

After 22:00 R. R. S. B. and his wife were still sitting on the veranda in the B. family apartment. They heard noises downstairs and afterwards found out that a child had disappeared. Gerald was seen and spoken to by N.B. and R.R.S.B. They heard him calling for Madeleine when they were sitting on N.B.’s balcony, not far from the McCann’s apartment. They both went down to talk to Gerald and helped in the search.

Between 22H00 and 22H30, waiter J. J. M. B. was in the kitchen, and was alerted, by a colleague, to the fact that a guest entered the restaurant screaming, and at this point, the entire group left in a panic; his colleague proceeded to tell him that the (screaming) individual indicated that a child had gone missing.

M. M. M. d. S. declares that on the night 03-05-07, she left the apartment at around 21H58—she remembers the exact time because she asked her friend the time and she responded after checking this on the telephone in the lounge;
. They left the building and the deponent and her boyfriend took the Opel Frontera, previously indicated, which was parked out front of the apartment, in the private parking area of Block 6 where her friend’s apartment was located;
. She declares that the night was good with a breeze, and that it was dark;
. After leaving Block 6, they turned right and after left, passing in front of the block occupied by the McCanns. She states that she saw no movement of people, and that in the immediate areas of the blocks she saw no vehicle with the exception of a small car, that appeared to her grey in colour, parked close to the window of the McCann apartment;
She declares further that she mentioned this fact to her boyfriend and that it wasn’t yet summer given the movement on the roads, and at that hour movement was nill;
States that she looked at the exit of the apartment and that from the flat above the McCanns, she saw light, and also in from of the apartment, but she could not define, concretely, where she saw the light when she passed the McCann apartment;
Next to the tree, she did not detect any movement of people or vehicles, and nothing struck her as abnormal in that zone that would have raised her suspicions; unquote

These three statements are in direct contradiction to all the noise and excitement that went on from 9.15 onwards.
9.58 all quiet.
10.00 alert in the Tapas Bar
After 10.00 pm. neighbours on balcony alerted by noise.
From then on we've have the 'normal schedule' .

But with everything earlier than that, the meeting with Jeremy Wilkins can't be fitted in at 9.15?

by Guest 21.05.12 18:58

The Jez Wilkins meeting could have been anytime between 8.45 and 9.15 according to his rogatory statement..............

Q. Relative to the time I met Gerry McCann on the Thursday night of May 3, 2007;
As stated in my original deposition, I believe that I left the apartment around 20h30. I calculate that I met Gerry on the road between 20h45 and 21h15. I am aware of the importance of this hour and am also aware that the media announced our meeting time as 21h05. Even if this were correct, I have no idea from where such information originated. It is not possible to give you a more exact time.
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by **tigger** 21.05.12 20:02

candyfloss wrote:The Jez Wilkins meeting could have been anytime between 8.45 and 9.15 according to his rogatory statement..............

Q. Relative to the time I met Gerry McCann on the Thursday night of May 3, 2007;
As stated in my original deposition, I believe that I left the apartment around 20h30. I calculate that I met Gerry on the road between 20h45 and 21h15. I am aware of the importance of this hour and am also aware that the media announced our meeting time as 21h05. Even if this were correct, I have no idea from where such information originated. It is not possible to give you a more exact time.
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If yet more went wrong than we know about, it's no wonder that Gerry kept talking about a 'disaster'. Only thing I don't understand is the fact that there seemed to be no noise at 9.58, the 10.00 alert seems fine, but all this activity before that time?
Kate saying she'd been taken by a paedophile as early as 11.00sh?

by Hummingbird 21.05.12 20:42

tigger wrote:
candyfloss wrote:The Jez Wilkins meeting could have been anytime between 8.45 and 9.15 according to his rogatory statement..............

Q. Relative to the time I met Gerry McCann on the Thursday night of May 3, 2007;
As stated in my original deposition, I believe that I left the apartment around 20h30. I calculate that I met Gerry on the road between 20h45 and 21h15. I am aware of the importance of this hour and am also aware that the media announced our meeting time as 21h05. Even if this were correct, I have no idea from where such information originated. It is not possible to give you a more exact time.
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If yet more went wrong than we know about, it's no wonder that Gerry kept talking about a 'disaster'. Only thing I don't understand is the fact that there seemed to be no noise at 9.58, the 10.00 alert seems fine, but all this activity before that time?
Kate saying she'd been taken by a paedophile as early as 11.00sh?

Is this maybe because they were all in the apartment at this point? Just a thought, she saw a light on - still doesn't make sense at all need to re read it!!

by **Tony Bennett** 21.05.12 20:50

Hummingbird wrote:
tigger wrote:If yet more went wrong than we know about, it's no wonder that Gerry kept talking about a 'disaster'. Only thing I don't understand is the fact that there seemed to be no noise at 9.58, the 10.00 alert seems fine, but all this activity before that time?
Kate saying she'd been taken by a paedophile as early as 11.00sh?

Is this maybe because they were all in the apartment at this point? Just a thought, she saw a light on - still doesn't make sense at all need to re read it!!

If you look at the events up to 10.00pm, there appears to be a consensus that the McCanns and the Tapas group had ALL left the table quite some time BEFORE 10.00pm. If so, that clearly conflicts with the account of Dr Kate McCann leaving the table at around 9.55pm, and then raising the alarm by rushing down to the Tapas table at around 10.00pm. Beyond that simple factual observation, I had better not comment any further

by Hummingbird 21.05.12 21:13

Tony Bennett wrote:
Hummingbird wrote:
tigger wrote:If yet more went wrong than we know about, it's no wonder that Gerry kept talking about a 'disaster'. Only thing I don't understand is the fact that there seemed to be no noise at 9.58, the 10.00 alert seems fine, but all this activity before that time?
Kate saying she'd been taken by a paedophile as early as 11.00sh?

Is this maybe because they were all in the apartment at this point? Just a thought, she saw a light on - still doesn't make sense at all need to re read it!!
If you look at the events up to 10.00pm, there appears to be a consensus that the McCanns and the Tapas group had ALL left the table quite some time BEFORE 10.00pm. If so, that clearly conflicts with the account of Dr Kate McCann leaving the table at around 9.55pm, and then raising the alarm by rushing down to the Tapas table at around 10.00pm. Beyond that simple factual observation, I had better not comment any further

Quite and these are the original statements of people who are not influential or friends!! Something most odd here and will read through again!

by Hummingbird 22.05.12 17:01

I have been reading through these statements again and again and again and every time it is the statements of those early on who are quite clearly saying the timing was BEFORE 10pm.

What I really don't understand is the waiter saying - 'the 3 couples had left' Now why would he say 3 couples it was always every night 4 couples + one grandmother! So we are led to believe. Was it so that on the night of the 3rd May only 3 couples + Granny went down to dinner and if so which couple do we think was missing?

Also this statement seems so wrong to me between 21.30 and 22.00 (well before the time we are led to believe M went missing) the fitness instructor approached the table 'they've left you alone then? she responded more or less with these words 'No they went to see of the little girl was there'

Does this sound slightly more the thing a granny would say, especially one who is holidaying with the parents of the child and the child who is apparently missing.

'I went to the table as the lady was alone and seemed to be very distressed, even pacing around as if she didn't know what to do. I asked if she was alright? She was visibly worried and said that one of the children she was holidaying with had gone missing the parents and the others had just run off to help see if they could find her' I told her not to worry that they would surely find her, perhaps she was just hiding and playing a little game, and offered to stay with her for a while, but she said she'd be fine and thanked me for the offer'

I know if I was left at the table whilst everyone was searching for a three year old child I would not just be sitting there I would at least go and ask the staff if they had seen a little girl and anyone who was dining there for that matter, and why did she have to stay behind, I seem to remember it was to stay with cameras and phones etc but surely they would be the last things on your mind...................... Oh and why was she not terrified about her 2 grand daughters safety? Very odd.

by jd 22.05.12 22:31

It is odd and these thoughts have gone through my mind too. Dianne Webster is an interesting part..... that she stayed at the table (the phones were in the apartment and not at the table) seemingly not that panicked, and I believe her statements are the only Tapas 9 ones that is truthful even though economical with it. Her behaviour does say a lot

I have often been a bit perplexed that the staff were saying much earlier times to the Tapas 9, but then we get statements like Jez Wilkins very first one on 4th May saying things like "1. that yesterday, between 20h30 and 21 hours, while he was in "THE TAPAS" bar, he noticed a person of around 1.70, with long blond hair, apparently of the "rasta style", and dressed in green military-style clothes". Personally I believe the very first statements are the most revealing, the rest they have had time to think and change it to what they need to. I think the staff etc would be honest so carefully read what they say for indications of the truth of events

I don't understand the 3 couples either. Maybe as there was 2 people missing at the time (kate mccann and jane tanner) he saw 2 less people and made an assumption it was a couple than who it was that was actually missing perhaps? Maybe it was 3 couples at dinner though

by sweetex 23.05.12 6:57

jd wrote:It is odd and these thoughts have gone through my mind too. Dianne Webster is an interesting part..... that she stayed at the table (the phones were in the apartment and not at the table) seemingly not that panicked, and I believe her statements are the only Tapas 9 ones that is truthful even though economical with it. Her behaviour does say a lot

For what it's worth, Dianne Webster said in her statement that she stayed at the table to be there if Madeleine was wandering around the complex. They thought she might come look for her parents at the Tapas. Who knows if that is true. Then again, I believe Dianne Webster's statement to be the most truthful. She was also the one that told the PJ and it is in her statement that she had tried to open the window from outside and couldn't.

by **tigger** 23.05.12 7:10

Hummingbird wrote:
I know if I was left at the table whilst everyone was searching for a three year old child I would not just be sitting there I would at least go and ask the staff if they had seen a little girl and anyone who was dining there for that matter, and why did she have to stay behind, I seem to remember it was to stay with cameras and phones etc but surely they would be the last things on your mind...................... Oh and why was she not terrified about her 2 grand daughters safety? Very odd. Unquote

Nothing ever fits does it? Allegedly they were so 'into' each other, that they took no mobiles or even watches with them to the Tapas. So unlikely they took cameras.
Did any of these people ever grow up? 'Into each other' is teenage speak.
So nothing of that evening really fits the storyline. Which makes me think the T7 weren't aware of 'the narrative' - just asked to come along and back them up?

by russiandoll 23.05.12 9:20

" to be into" an activity e.g a sport, is to be extremely interested in it.
For a person, it is usually an idiom for an expression of romantic or sexual interest." I am so into him, he is something special.."
Again, showing a distinct lack of a grasp of decent English, expressing your extreme liking for a group of people you only socialised with in the evenings, many of whom were acquaintances rather than friends.
unless they were, as a group...into each other........and into le swing !

by **tigger** 11.06.12 16:34

Perhaps the accidental meeting with JW changed the original schedule for the evening. The following just wild theorising:

Supposedly quarter hour checks.
9.15 meets JW thinks now it's a brilliant alibi if JT sees abductor whilst seeing both of them as well.
This would replace a JT sighting which would have been later, better tied in with the Smiths' sighting.
Never mind, Gerry will now get the stand-in child and by 9.30 according to witnesses is shouting for 'Madeleine' because the girl isn't where she should be - the original time would have been nearer ten o'clock.
Gerry finally finds the girl, wearing his cream trousers (JT also has the abductor wearing cream and a dark top so Gerry should be wearing roughly the same)
he walks down PdL - hoping to see a couple or a single person leaving one of the many bars or restaurants there.
Bad luck again, is seen and surrounded by an Irish family about 9.55. He returns the girl and gets back to Tapas or 5a - the alarm may have been raised in his absence - some ten minutes after ten or so.

They are now also stuck with MO's check which never happened, it must be adjusted to allow the child to be gone by 9.15.

Am I getting anywhere here?
Gerry should now have an alibi for both sightings.
One by JT and JW and one by the Tapas 7 who said he was at the table.
Time table needs adjusting to allow MO not to have seen Maddie in person.

by Hummingbird 11.06.12 17:35

tigger wrote:Perhaps the accidental meeting with JW changed the original schedule for the evening. The following just wild theorising:

Supposedly quarter hour checks.
9.15 meets JW thinks now it's a brilliant alibi if JT sees abductor whilst seeing both of them as well.
This would replace a JT sighting which would have been later, better tied in with the Smiths' sighting.
Never mind, Gerry will now get the stand-in child and by 9.30 according to witnesses is shouting for 'Madeleine' because the girl isn't where she should be - the original time would have been nearer ten o'clock.
Gerry finally finds the girl, wearing his cream trousers (JT also has the abductor wearing cream and a dark top so Gerry should be wearing roughly the same)
he walks down PdL - hoping to see a couple or a single person leaving one of the many bars or restaurants there.
Bad luck again, is seen and surrounded by an Irish family about 9.55. He returns the girl and gets back to Tapas or 5a - the alarm may have been raised in his absence - some ten minutes after ten or so.

They are now also stuck with MO's check which never happened, it must be adjusted to allow the child to be gone by 9.15.

Am I getting anywhere here?
Gerry should now have an alibi for both sightings.
One by JT and JW and one by the Tapas 7 who said he was at the table.
Time table needs adjusting to allow MO not to have seen Maddie in person.

Yes I think you are getting somewhere with this - if GM did take a subs child on a little walk that night then JT daughter would fit would she not as remember JT was apparently in her apartment when she heard quote ' Kate & Fiona calling for Madeleine at 10 - 10.15' It would make sense as to why JT and ROB made out that one of theirs was ill and had to keep going back.
JTs eldest child was used as a sub and then ROB and JT had to make sure they were there to hand her over and receive her back and make sure no one saw it happening.

That would be why as soon as ROB arrives at the table after his 30 min absence it was KM cue to go and find MM missing! She knew when the right time was to go by his return.

Yes JW was a spanner in the works as GM & JT were ready to do a swap over and JW arrives on scene, and halts the process for a while. JT stupidly still claims that she saw a man at this time with a child which is what she had been told to say but as we all know by now she can't have seen anyone unless GM & JW were both in a time warp!

by Smokeandmirrors 11.06.12 19:32

Tony Bennett wrote:This excellent analysis of the key witness statements about events from 9pm on 3 May until the end of 4 May was compiled in, I think, early 2009 by Kazlux, astro and Joana Morais, and can be found still, I believe, on Joana Morais' blog. It may well be on the mccannfiles site as well. I reproduce it here as a research tool for this forum. In doing so, I make no comment on it, fearing that any comment which does not unequivocally back the McCanns' account of events could be deemed libelllous and a contempt of court. So the information below (in several parts) can be used by McCann-sceptics and McCann-believers alike to support their respective understandings of these events:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

21H20, Executive Chef A. E. G. F. P. heard some clamour, which made him leave toward the restaurant, a few meters away, and was then informed that a child had disappeared.
at around 21:40, he left the restaurant passing through the same esplanade where moments before, he had seen the same table occupied by the three couples, empty, who had left in the meanwhile various items, principally clothing. He was told by his colleagues that the child who had disappeared was a child of one of those couples;

Property manager B. J. J. W. heard about the news being investigated on the evening of 3rd May at about 21.30 – 21.40 from P.B., a Dutchman and owner of the Atlántico restaurant, who passed by the witness near the Baptista supermarket, in P da L and who asked for his help in searching for Madeleine. He then went to the place where the events occurred which was at about 21.45 – 21.50. At this time various local people and MW staff were present. When questioned he said that the police had not yet arrived and that about 5 minutes had passed.

Dinner finished at around 21H45 and some minutes passed where waiter R. A.E D. L. O. looked towards the table but saw no one—his colleague told him that all the guests of that table left rapidly and abruptly. He remembers having heard shouts in the direction of the McCann apartment;

23:14 Gerry calls Kate (8 seconds)

23:17 Gerry calls Kate (31 seconds)

Estimated time 23.15 - After hearing about the circumstances of the disappearance (from the father with the help of translation) GNR Officer N. F. P. d. C. does not remember whether the word abduction was mentioned, and he went in his police car, to the apartment, accompanied by the father, the friend and the translator.

This part in red is the most interesting IMO. Also the ensuing night long of phone calls made by the McCanns. At this stage they should still have been considering a "woke and wandered" scenario and should not have been waking up various people in England when they should have been frantically searching. This part of the story is most telling and the earlier reports by witness placing the incident at least a half an hour earlier should be revisited by SY. This jumping of the gun re: the numerous phone calls telling the world and his dog that there had been an abduction when no-one knew anything of the sort at that stage should have been acted on by the Police right away.

Add this to the interview when Gerry was keen to correct Sandra Figuerlas (sp?) that the checks were not every 15 mins but every half hour (he seemed quite annoyed that the frequency had been more generously estimated which is most strange in itself) and they look fishier than fishes in Grimsby Fish Market.

Although we are all getting mightily frustrated that the media and the review seem to be ignoring the elephant in the room, when you see, set out in order, various statements and then the weird responses in interviews, I really can't believe that things are not being added up behind the scenes and that some sort of long-game isn't being played out. Add in also the fact that the McCanns proclaimed that the profits of the book were for the Fund yet did not submit them into the fund accounts. If we can all see it, surely investigators must, too.

by russiandoll 11.06.12 22:30

Have believed for some time that it was JTs daughter carried by GM when the Smith family saw a man with sleeping child.
JT and ROB absence from table at time of alleged events was not to do with looking after their ill child imo.
JW threw the carefully prepared scenario out of whack hence the making it up as they went along in a hurry and all the inconsistencies.
But the big q for me......why is this couple esp JT going to such lengths for the McCanns, not close friends?
Or were they? Should it be taken at face value that the Paynes were the only ones the McCann couple were close to?
The tapas lot lied about other things, have they been truthful re their relationships with K and G and if not why not?

by Guest 11.06.12 22:35

I have been saying from the very beginning: look at Tanner.
It's make-believe that she didn't know or like Gerry very well.
IMO, of course, IMO.

by Ribisl 11.06.12 23:56

Only if we could eliminate all the red herrings and blue whales (and the smelly sea bass too), we may begin to see some simple but irrefutable sequence of events that really occurred that night. Alas, that wouldn't help the fund, would it?

I do not subscribe to the subs theory, but the idea of Gerry pretending to be an abductor and deliberately trying to be seen by some unsuspecting witnesses by carrying a subs child down to the beach while all the commotion is going on back at the OC really overstretches my imagination. Why expose yourself to the possibility of being identified by a stranger turned witness? If Smith family's recollection is accurate and it was indeed Gerry carrying a child that night, it could only have been Madeleine imo, dead or alive. I would like to hear some convincing arguments to counter this premise.

Over to you, tigger dance

by roy rovers 12.06.12 0:08

Because he was the only person available and willing to play the abductor and if recognised he and the sub had alibis back at the OC. Sounds as plausible as anything but IMO the Smith sighting was indeed a red herring / blue whale etc.

by Ribisl 12.06.12 0:41

roy rovers wrote:Because he was the only person available and willing to play the abductor and if recognised he and the sub had alibis back at the OC. Sounds as plausible as anything but IMO the Smith sighting was indeed a red herring / blue whale etc.

A real life abductor tends to plan things out in advance and would have had the escape route carefully studied which would not involve exposing himself in such a careless manner. Gerry Mccann is not so stupid to believe this was how an abductor would have behaved if he was indeed simulating an abduction. Sorry, I don't find your argument plausible at all. Much more logical and safer to stick to an unknown, unseen abductor theory.

However, I do agree the Smith sighting could be a real stinker of sea bass sarcastic

by Liz Eagles 12.06.12 1:21

Ribisl wrote:
roy rovers wrote:Because he was the only person available and willing to play the abductor and if recognised he and the sub had alibis back at the OC. Sounds as plausible as anything but IMO the Smith sighting was indeed a red herring / blue whale etc.
A real life abductor tends to plan things out in advance and would have had the escape route carefully studied which would not involve exposing himself in such a careless manner. Gerry Mccann is not so stupid to believe this was how an abductor would have behaved if he was indeed simulating an abduction. Sorry, I don't find your argument plausible at all. Much more logical and safer to stick to an unknown, unseen abductor theory.

However, I do agree the Smith sighting could be a real stinker of sea bass [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I have two trains of thought Ribisl. Snatching a child in an opportunist crime like snatching a DVD player is absurd imo. Being paid to snatch a child by rich weird people with proclivities is very possible.

by **tigger** 12.06.12 7:24

Ribisl wrote:Only if we could eliminate all the red herrings and blue whales (and the smelly sea bass too), we may begin to see some simple but irrefutable sequence of events that really occurred that night. Alas, that wouldn't help the fund, would it?

I do not subscribe to the subs theory, but the idea of Gerry pretending to be an abductor and deliberately trying to be seen by some unsuspecting witnesses by carrying a subs child down to the beach while all the commotion is going on back at the OC really overstretches my imagination. Why expose yourself to the possibility of being identified by a stranger turned witness? If Smith family's recollection is accurate and it was indeed Gerry carrying a child that night, it could only have been Madeleine imo, dead or alive. I would like to hear some convincing arguments to counter this premise.

Over to you, tigger

But the egg man is even more ridiculous and imo being recognised was no great risk. The lighting in town wouldn't be all that bright, Gerry had 8 Tapas to testify he was with them at the time if he was 'identified'.
I think Pat timed it at a fairly leisurely 10 minutes walk.
It's interesting that they didn't make use of the Smiths' sighting as soon as they could - must have been officially known by the end of May when the Smiths gave a statement. Did the PJ tell them?
That may be because of the timing or because Gerry was still worried about it or because the timing was so far out from egg man.
So in theory the commotion might have begun early because of the JW meeting which would fit much better. There was no definite time schedule otherwise they need not have drawn one up later.

One could have a scenario where the T6 (DW knew little or nothing) were asked to back them up as and when required. So G and K might be absent from the table quite early which is why the waiter said the three couples were gone.
I will try to turn this into a timeline - see if it fits.

I always feel there's a lot of Delboy in Gerry. Ask yourself, would Delboy have concocted such an idiotic scheme? A resounding yes!

The only object of the whole exercise was to convince the police it was an abduction where there was no evidence for an abduction.
An abductor, means of ingress and witnesses of suspicious individuals with or without a child were imperative for the story to have a chance.
Therefore a window which was impossible for the child to exit, toys which she was never without had to be added.

You know, it's the damn shutters, it they'd been believable all would have been fine.
When the shutters had to be ditched, the patio doors opened as if by magic. (although RM says they were shuttered!) But that took away the solid base of the abduction argument. Now the patio door allowed the child to exit by herself. Disastrous.

I'll try and see if the earlier witness statements can be 'married' to the rest. JW being a moveable feast and there were reports of Gerry early on trying to stretch the time they spent together - so that does look as if he tried to get the two sighting closer together.
Phew! fan

by gbwales 03.09.13 19:00

21H20, Executive Chef A. E. G. F. P. heard some clamour, which made him leave toward the restaurant, a few meters away, and was then informed that a child had disappeared.
at around 21:40, he left the restaurant passing through the same esplanade where moments before, he had seen the same table occupied by the three couples, empty, who had left in the meanwhile various items, principally clothing. He was told by his colleagues that the child who had disappeared was a child of one of those couples;

Property manager B. J. J. W. heard about the news being investigated on the evening of 3rd May at about 21.30 – 21.40 from P.B., a Dutchman and owner of the Atlántico restaurant, who passed by the witness near the Baptista supermarket, in P da L and who asked for his help in searching for Madeleine. He then went to the place where the events occurred which was at about 21.45 – 21.50. At this time various local people and MW staff were present. When questioned he said that the police had not yet arrived and that about 5 minutes had passed.

Dinner finished at around 21H45 and some minutes passed where waiter R. A.E D. L. O. looked towards the table but saw no one—his colleague told him that all the guests of that table left rapidly and abruptly. He remembers having heard shouts in the direction of the McCann apartment;

Between 21.30 and 22: Fitness instructor/Waiter J. R. S. went over to the table and joked with (Diane Webster): “They’ve left you alone?” She responded more of less with these words: “No, they went to see if the little girl was there.” I responded that I hoped they would find her somewhere in the apartment. At saying this, I saw the man. Who I knew later to be Madeleine’s father, running to the pool and to the children’s play area in the Tapas zone as if looking for someone. It immediately hit me that after talking to the older woman, that the little girl had not been found. I offered to alert the workers at the Milenium Restaurant and the man agreed. He then left again running to continue searching. I believe that this was between 21H30 and 22H00 but do not remember with certainty.

These times, if they are to be believed (and why shouldn't they be... let's face it they come from completely disinterested parties with no reason to lie or mislead) throw a couple of points into sharp relief....

1 - The gap between raising the alarm and actually calling the PJ now stands at the best part of an hour and a half, surely....?

2 - JT would have seen the kidnapper possibly 5 minutes before the alarm appears to have been raised. And doesn't think to mention what she has only just seen.

Both strike me as quite bizarre.

by **tigger** 03.09.13 19:27

You've hit on an interesting point. Perhaps the early and later witness statements would make sense if separated into disinterested and interested parties.
Imo MW adjusted a number of witness statements within a short time. MW also had Bell Pottinger in place by Saturday.

So it would be useful to know which statement was given at what time.

by Monty Heck 03.09.13 20:45

About 22.55/23.00 manager E. L. K. went to the McCann’s apartment to obtain the girl’s description and of the clothes she was wearing when she disappeared. When she arrived at the apartment, there was a lady on the terrace, whom she now know to be Kate McCann, accompanied by the wife of one of her friends, David Payne. Kate could not say a word, looked very upset and about to cry. It was Mrs Payne who provided her with the details that she needed.

Re the passage above in red, in less than an hour since discovering her daughter missing, KMcC was so incapable of speech she was unable to assist the search by providing a description of her own child or the clothing she was wearing when last seen. Allowing for very natural feelings of fear, panic or upset, it would be imperative for a parent to rally her/himself to meet such basic requests regardless of how they were feeling, yet not in this case. Why was KMcC so paralysed at such an early point as to be completely unabe to provide even a description? And yet when not critical, speech seemed to quickly return, as evidenced by the volume of phone calls made and received throughout the remainder of that night. Phone calls made and answered between bashing walls and furniture in rage, then praying and keeping vigil, and also checking the twins' vital signs during that night. Yet despite apparent recovery, there seems to have been something of a recurrence the following morning, when YM tried to offer assistance.