As with everything connected with the MM case from start to finish, what has happened is absolutely unique. Particularly what is happening before anyone is even charged with crime against her.
If you're referring to HCW's 2020 announcement that CB was the prime suspect in the MM case I don't believe that was when the German police "set off gung ho". Were there not years preceding that announcement where they were quietly gathering evidence against him?
They were quietly doing something yes. Then they announced in June they were certain. So certain did they sound people listening thought charges must be imminent. Then it just turned into tabloid hysteria again, as had happened so many times previously. Nothing has changed since. Even by late July 2020 the ITV documentary had a weary, 'we've seen all this before' tone to it.
After the BKA inv, after their appeal, after all this, if not CB, who was?
But that argument - if not him, who? - has been the reason for so many miscarriages of justice over the years, in all countries. It's dangerous when investigators start thinking that way. We've seen it many times in the UK e.g. the prosecutions of Barry George, Colin Stagg and - imo - Michael Stone.
"quietly doing something"? If not building a case against their suspect then what?
We know they managed to secure prosecutions in the other cases they've investigated allegedly involving CB. I've absolutely no idea what they've been doing for six years re: MM.
The argument goes if the BKA can prove murder then they don't need to go to the route of abduction, which is all very well but it's joining the investigation 10 years after the fact (alleged sort of confession after a beer or three in 2008) is there any sign that the BKA have actually visited Luz to see where the phone call was made, the actual lay of the land, Ocean club complex etc?
It was me, here in the forum, not them.
There will be more masts around now? Difficult to recreate the conditions existing in 2007 I reckon. Tricky imo.
Snipped, that sums up the difference of opinion imo, as of this moment CB is innocent of all wrong doing in anything related to Madeleine , the criticism levelled at those who hold the line of innocent before guilty is in itself extraordinary ,showing a level of opprobrium to those that hold the view.
We're all as keen as you are to know what they mean by 'material evidence'. Whatever it is it doesn't seem to have impressed the Braunschweig court though.
I'll refer to the Ricky Neave case, cold case investigators revisited the scene using pictures from the initial investigation, it's how they trapped the killer.
One really doesn't know how hard they've looked.
Put it this way - do you think it's likely that June 2020 was when they decided to name CB as the prime suspect in the MM case without conducting any prior investigation into his possible involvement in the case?
I don't know what they had done. We know they definitely talked to one or two or more of CB's former acquaintances, who told them they were certain he killed MM. And now the German investigators are also certain. After three years we still don't know if there's anything more to it than that.
Yes to implicate him. I was just mentioning that along the way, IMO, they should have tried if the info they collected, their scenario on CB would not be denied or countered by any other clue/data. Was this poor or dependent on further external support? IMO they "only" want the "final piece", to charge beyond the slightest doubt.
The final piece is only likely to be a remains imo and if it's unobtainable?
IMO until such a time as it's shown that they simply decided to pin the MM disappearance on CB for no other reason than someone told them he did it, I will continue to give the German police and prosecutor the benefit of the doubt that they know what they are doing. I really don't see any point in criticising them from a position of ignorance though of course everyone's entitled to voice an opinion even an uninformed one.
