Yes he would have seen the news just as many people do which certainly coloured his expectations when GM and KM were under suspicion. But it cannot be denied that his family noticed a man carrying a child. They noticed enough to comment that she had bare feet. And to notice how she was carried.
Given how dark it would have been and given the fact they wouldn't have paid much attention as they'd assumed he was a parent - he gave a description that neither eliminates or condemns CB - which is as you would expect for what would be assumed to be an innocent encounter.
It could have been a boy but for the fact he had a granddaughter that age. I think that does make you more alert to similar.
At the moment there are no reports of CBs known vehicles in the vicinity during the relevant time frames. I would have expected them to be noticed. There don't seem to be any relevant vehicle sightings for that time frame.
MMs abduction was widely reported as was this sighting. Even if it had been a boy - surely someone would have come forward by now to say could have been them?
So I do think it is an important sighting. And probably be interesting to map where it was in relation to the appt and to where CB could have concealed his van ?
P.J. POLICE FILES: MARTIN SMITH & FAMILY STATEMENTS