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Rebuttal of "Fact" 3

Page history last edited by Chinagirl 12 years, 9 months ago Saved with comment

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3. Kate McCann said that their friend Dr David Payne knocked on the front door of their apartment at about 6.30pm on 3 May, but was immediately sent away without ever entering. Dr Payne, however, said he came in, saw all three children dressed ready for bed, and stayed for at least several minutes.

  

Verdict - False and Inaccurate.  Also, the statements given by Drs Payne and McCann are so similar that it is unclear why this is even being touted as suspicious.

Source - Police files.

 


 

  

Summary of Verifiable Facts

  

  1. Both Dr Kate McCann and Dr David Payne are in agreement that the visit took place.
  2. Both Dr Kate McCann and Dr David Payne are in agreement about the time of the visit. The estimated duration of the visit, according to both of them, differing only by a couple of minutes.    
  3. The claim that Dr Kate McCann sent Dr Payne away "immediately" is without foundation.
  4. Kate said Dr Payne didn't "come in" to the apartment, whereas Dr Payne said he definitely did go inside although it may just have been 2/3 steps inside.  However, it is unclear why this is an issue as both agree that he remained in the general vicinity of the verandah door during their short conversation.

 

  

Discussion

  

The MMRG leaflet makes the following claims in this single "fact":-

 

1) Kate McCann said that their friend Dr David Payne knocked on the front door of their apartment at about 18:30 on 2007/05/03.

2) but was immediately sent away,

3) without ever entering.

4) Dr Payne, however, said he came in,

5) saw all three children dressed ready for bed,

6) and stayed for at least several minutes.

  

  

Extracts from the Police files 

 

 

Kates statement

This is dated 2007/09/06 at 15:00 and was given at Portimao. The following is a translation of the Police account of her statement:-

 

Quote:

 "While the children were eating and looking at some books, Kate had a shower which lasted around 5 minutes. After showering, at around 6:30/6:40PM and while she was getting dry, she heard somebody knocking at the verandah door.She wrapped herself in a towel and went to see who it was. This door was closed but not locked as Gerry had left by this door. She confirmed it was David Payne, because he called out and had opened the door slightly. David’s visit was to help her to take the children to the recreation area. When David returned from the beach he was with Gerry at the tennis courts, and it was Gerry who asked him to help Kate with taking the children to the recreation area, which had been arranged but did not take place. David was at the apartment for around 30 seconds, he didn’t actually enter the flat, he remained at the verandah door. According to her he then left for the tennis courts where Gerry was. The time was around 6:30-6:40PM."

 

 

Compare Kate McCann and the MMRG versions.

 

MMRG Claim. 

1) Kate McCann said that their friend Dr David Payne knocked on the front door of their apartment at about 18:30 on 2007/05/03.

 

False. Kate McCann said that Dr David Payne knocked on the veranda door.

 

MMRG Claim.

2) but was immediately sent away.

 

False. Nowhere does Kate McCann say she "sent" David Payne away. Nor does she use the word "immediately" with regard to how quickly he left. 4 months after the fact, she recalled the length of his visit as "30 seconds" but nevertheless, describes a scenario where she and David Payne had enough of a conversation to convey the fact that Gerry McCann was playing tennis and had asked David Payne to check in on her and help her to take the children to the recreation area.

 

3) without ever entering.

 

This is correct - according to the police account, Kate said Dr Payne "remained at the verandah door" although she earlier said that he had "opened the door" and had called to her.

 

 

Dr Paynes Statement

This is a more detailed "Rogatory" interview and was made 11 months after the fact.  It should be noted that several times during the interview, he emphasises the fact that his memory is not clear on certain facts.

 

Compare David Payne & the MMRG versions.

 

MMRG claims.

4) Dr Payne, however, said he came in,

 

More precisely, what he said was: "No, definitely was inside the apartment, you know whether it be two or three steps into the apartment or you know however many, but I was definitely in the apartment.”

 

MMRG claims.

5) saw all three children dressed ready for bed,

 

True, but Kate McCann does not dispute this so why is it an issue? 

 

MMRG claims

5) and stayed for at least several minutes.

 

What he actually said "I’d say three minutes, five maximum.”

 

 

Conclusions

 

The real mystery is - why does the Madeleine McCann Research Group regard very minor discrepancies between the two statements as worthy of being questioned by the media?   Surely the important fact is that David Payne is an independent witness who claims to have seen Madeleine McCann alive and well at 18:30 on the evening she disappeared - NOT whether he stood one inch or one foot from the door or whether his short conversation Madeleine's mother lasted for two minutes or five?

 

 

 

  

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