Hi, first time commenting on here but have been following as I live locally and walk, run, drive down this route a few times a week. How Sarah ended up in the car us what baffles me most on this case. I think this would be too long of a gap. The drive between poynders court and that junction is about 1 minute (especially at night). Additionally, that car is turning right at the junction which would be odd as this is in to more residential streets towards Balham and streatham hill. In order to carry on the south circular towards Kent it would be straight on at this junction for the quickest route.
A few other things to note from a locals perspective, not sure if they are helpful, but JMO.
1. I don’t think the reporting of the location has been that helpful to ensure they get all witnesses. Initially the route was always described as Clapham junction to brixton. Technically it’s sort of correct, but most people would be thinking of a different route in their head. A better description would have been to say from Clapham South, down the south circular east bound towards the top of brixton hill. Poynders road name not always used either - normally south circular or A205.
2. randomly, phone reception in the area can be poor on certain networks. I am on EE and have very bad reception. Not sure if that impacts how phones ping at all.
3. yes, it is a busy road, but at night in lockdown it has been noticeably quieter. Additionally, you can sometimes get some fairly big (by London standards) gaps in traffic due to how the traffic signals work on the whole stretch of the road. But still, this is normally only for 15 seconds or so at most.
4. there is a ring doorbell on one of the houses where it is cavendish road, on the opposite side to where SE would have been walking, and just before the sharp bend in the road round to the left. In my own opinion this may be the most likely one to have picked her up.
5. Whilst there are only 2 busses that go down to the junction near Clapham South tube, there are a couple of others that turn off down kings avenue from the south circular - the 417 and 137. So there is a chance of more bus cam footage being available further up the road.
6. For how main a road it is, there are not loads of cameras down it due to limited number of shops, offices etc. It is mostly residential in that area with quite a few blocks of flats set back from the pavement.
just such a tragically sad, and baffling case. I truly hope they find all of the answers, and get justice for SE.