Report in today's Belfast telegraph

by Woburn_exile 08.07.13 19:19

Just noticed this report:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/irish-couple-may-hold-key-evidence-in-madeleine-mccann-case-29397648.html

The Smith family told police how they had left Kelly's Bar in the resort at around 10pm
They then passed a man walking down the middle of the street who was carrying a girl aged about three to four years old.
It was claimed that the child's head was lying against the man's left shoulder and her arms were hanging down alongside her body.
Madeleine was almost four when she was reported missing by parents Gerry and Kate McCann.
The Smiths returned home the day after the incident and it was only after they had seen the media reports of Madeleine's disappearance that they noted the encounter's significance. They later travelled back to Portugal to give police a statement.
So far, the review team has examined more than 30,000 documents generating almost 4,000 fresh lines of inquiry, but still have one-third of the information to examine.

I wonder who this could have been. Are the McCanns pursuing this lead with exceptional vigour? Its the sort of thing that the "review" was set up to examine.
shark

by lufc50337 08.07.13 19:23

Woburn_exile wrote:Just noticed this report:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/irish-couple-may-hold-key-evidence-in-madeleine-mccann-case-29397648.html

The Smith family told police how they had left Kelly's Bar in the resort at around 10pm
They then passed a man walking down the middle of the street who was carrying a girl aged about three to four years old.
It was claimed that the child's head was lying against the man's left shoulder and her arms were hanging down alongside her body.
Madeleine was almost four when she was reported missing by parents Gerry and Kate McCann.
The Smiths returned home the day after the incident and it was only after they had seen the media reports of Madeleine's disappearance that they noted the encounter's significance. They later travelled back to Portugal to give police a statement.
So far, the review team has examined more than 30,000 documents generating almost 4,000 fresh lines of inquiry, but still have one-third of the information to examine.

I wonder who this could have been. Are the McCanns pursuing this lead with exceptional vigour? Its the sort of thing that the "review" was set up to examine.

This sighting is getting more press lately than it ever has

by Sceneset 08.07.13 21:23

...except the part where Mr Smith explains why he was alerted; because as he watched Gerry carry Sean he was immediately struck that he was looking at possibly he same man.

by Clouseau 08.07.13 21:45

If you are 60% to 70% sure that means to me he aint got a clue . Lets not forget this is a man who he says he knows Murat and saw him pi**ed up in a bar one night not wearing any glasses when we are led to believe since Mr Murats accident he has never been without them.

by jd 08.07.13 21:57

The daughter saw the face....

Aoife Smith...Date of Diligence: 2007.05.26

the individual was male, Caucasian, light-skinned, between 20/30 years of age, of normal physical build, around 1,70/1,75 metres in height. At the time she saw his face but now cannot remember it. She thinks that he had a clean-shaven face. She does not remember seeing tattoos, scars or earrings. She did not notice his ears. His hair was thick-ish, light brown in colour, short at the back (normal) and a bit longer on the top.

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

Why didn't the mccanns seize upon this and try to jog her memory? Create a photofit etc

Answer: because they could't 'control' what she saw unlike with jane tanner

by Beanie 08.07.13 22:30

jd wrote:The daughter saw the face....

Aoife Smith...Date of Diligence: 2007.05.26

the individual was male, Caucasian, light-skinned, between 20/30 years of age, of normal physical build, around 1,70/1,75 metres in height. At the time she saw his face but now cannot remember it. She thinks that he had a clean-shaven face. She does not remember seeing tattoos, scars or earrings. She did not notice his ears. His hair was thick-ish, light brown in colour, short at the back (normal) and a bit longer on the top.

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

Why didn't the mccanns seize upon this and try to jog her memory? Create a photofit etc

Answer: because they could't 'control' what she saw unlike with jane tanner

Good point. Perhaps they also hoped if they ignored this sighting it would slip under the radar.