Oscar Pistorius did not have a mental disorder when he killed his girlfriend, a psychological report said as his murder trial resumed.

That meant the Olympic athlete was criminally responsible for his actions when he shot her, the prosecution said.
The defence team has said Mr Pistorius was suffering from an anxiety disorder.
The athlete denies deliberately killing Reeva Steenkamp. He says he shot her accidentally in a state of panic after mistaking her for an intruder.
The prosecution says Mr Pistorius deliberately killed Ms Steenkamp following an argument.
Both prosecution and defence have accepted the results of the psychological report but it has not been published.
"Mr Pistorius did not suffer from a mental illness or defect that would have rendered him criminally not responsible for the offence charged," said state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, reading from the psychologist report.
Judge Thokozile Masipa said she had only received it on Monday morning and so had not yet read it, reports the AFP news agency.
On balance this was a good day for the defence.
The panel of experts may have concluded that Oscar Pistorius is neither mentally ill, nor unable to tell right from wrong, but his own psychiatrist actually said much the same, although she did conclude that he had an anxiety disorder.
Besides, we still don't know the details of the new report - only the short highlights helpfully selected and read out by the prosecution.
Then the athlete's doctor, Gerry Versfeld, provided some compelling evidence about the athlete's disability - and the pain and lack of balance he experienced on his stumps.
After that, the court heard a highly technical summary from acoustic expert Ivan Lin.
His main role was to raise doubts about the testimony of several neighbours, called by the state, that they had heard a woman screaming so clearly that they could even tell her emotional state.
Mr Lin suggested that it would have been very difficult, if not impossible, for any of those witnesses - given their distance from Mr Pistorius' home - to have heard with such clarity. The prosecution will cross-examine Mr Lin on Tuesday.
Before the case was adjourned until Tuesday, the defence called acoustic expert Ivan Lin to give evidence in the hope of discrediting prosecution witnesses who said they heard the scream of a woman on the night Ms Steenkamp was killed.
Earlier, the court heard from Dr Gerry Versfeld, who amputated Mr Pistorius' legs when he was just 11 months old. He was born without the fibulas in both of his legs but went on to become an Olympic athlete.
Dr Versfeld testified about the impact of the disability on Mr Pistorius, 27, and to what extent he could walk without his prosthetic legs.
He was on his stumps when he shot Ms Steenkamp and has argued that made him feel vulnerable when he heard a noise in the middle of the night.
During Dr Versfeld's testimony, Judge Masipa was asked to inspect Mr Pistorius' stumps but the public were prevented from seeing.
The defence is expected to finish presenting its evidence in the next few days.
The prosecution requested the evaluation after a defence witness said the double amputee was suffering from Generalised Anxiety Disorder (Gad).
Mr Pistorius, 27, underwent a month of tests as an outpatient at Weskoppies psychiatric hospital in Pretoria.
He has often displayed his emotions during the trial, and has sobbed and vomited in court.
Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was shot through a toilet door at Mr Pistorius' house in Pretoria on Valentine's Day last year.
The couple had been dating for three months.
There are no juries at trials in South Africa, so the athlete's fate will ultimately be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.
If found guilty of murder, Mr Pistorius, who went on trial on 3 March, could face life imprisonment. If he is acquitted of that charge, the court will consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison.


London 2012 Olympian Helen Richardson-Walsh has missed out on England's Hockey World Cup squad after back surgery.

The 32-year-old midfielder, who has 249 caps for England and Great Britain, was in the squad that played two matches against Canada last weekend.
But head coach Jason Lee decided he could not rely on her fitness for the tournament, which starts on 31 May.
Ellie Watton and Zoe Shipperley have made the 18-strong squad.
Beeston forward Watton and Buckingham defender Shipperley have 15 international caps between them, but there is experience elsewhere with captain Kate Richardson-Walsh having played in three previous World Cups.
England have been drawn in Pool B alongside Argentina, China, Germany, South Africa and the United States. The top two nations will qualify for the semi-finals.
"We're facing some of the best teams in the world and playing the USA in our first game on 1 June is significant as they come into the tournament off the back of winning the Champions Challenge at the end of last month," said Lee.
England World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Maddie Hinch (Holcombe), Kirsty Mackay (East Grinstead)
Defenders: Laura Unsworth (Holcombe), Kate Richardson-Walsh (Reading), Sam Quek (Reading), Hollie Webb (Surbiton), Sally Walton (Wakefield), Zoe Shipperley (Buckingham)
Midfielders: Georgie Twigg (Surbiton), Susannah Townsend (Reading), Susie Gilbert (Reading), Ashleigh Ball (Slough)
Forwards: Hannah Macleod (Leicester), Alex Danson (Reading), Sophie Bray (East Grinstead), Ellie Watton (Beeston), Lily Owsley (University of Birmingham), Nicola White (Leicester)


A Leeds filmmaker is preparing to tread the red carpet in Hollywood after being nominated for an Oscar at the 88th Academy Awards ceremony.

Jamie Donoughue is one of five nominees shortlisted in the best live action short film category for his movie Shok.
Set during the run-up to the Kosovo War, the 21-minute film is the true story of two boys whose friendship is tested to the limits.
Donoughue said being nominated was like being in a "whirlwind".
A former student at Ashville College in Harrogate, Donoughue said the film came about after he found himself unexpectedly stranded in Kosovo in 2010.
"I was a music video director for many years and wanted to move into drama so I went out to shoot a commercial in Kosovo and knew absolutely nothing about the country.
"I went for three days and during that time the Icelandic volcano erupted and I got stuck in the country for five weeks and couldn't get a flight out."
He added: "I met some incredible people who brought me into their families and lives and began to show me what happened and what went on over there.
"I felt I really had to do something to tell some of the stories."
Alongside fellow Leeds producers Harvey Ascott and Howard Dawson, Donoughue spent four years travelling back and forth to Kosovo, finishing the film last year.
The trio have been in Los Angeles since the beginning of the month preparing for Sunday's awards ceremony.
Donoughue said: "It's a bit like a presidential election. You have to lobby the film, go and screen it at events and do meetings and press conferences."
He said he had not had time to think about the prospect of winning and his thank-you speech.
"You only get about 50 seconds and if I had to do all the thank-yous there's no way I could fit it all in.
"I've got all my family ringing saying you're going to have to mention me."


Planned rail electrification has been hailed as the biggest investment in trains in Wales for more than a century and a major boost for passengers and business.

The UK government says its extension of electrification of the network to Swansea and the valleys will bring faster journeys and promote jobs.
The Welsh secretary said the direct investment is worth £350 million.
Ministers say it will help people get to work, and bring cleaner travel.
Work on electrification is expected to start sometime between 2014 and 2019, but the industry will determine the exact timetable "in due course", said the Department of Transport.
The UK government agreed last year to electrify the line as far west as Cardiff, and had faced heavy lobbying to extend the investment to Swansea.
The Department of Transport said Monday's announcement followed "detailed discussions" with the Wales Office and the Welsh government.
Transport Secretary Justine Greening MP said: "This will give two-thirds of the Welsh population access to new fleets of electric trains helping to generate Welsh jobs and growth by slashing journey times and boosting passenger and freight capacity."
The south Wales valleys and commuter lines to be electrified will include Ebbw Vale, Maesteg and the Vale of Glamorgan.
The investment will also fund smaller schemes improving access at stations, the freight network and passenger journey times.
Mrs Gillan welcomed the decision as "the most significant infrastructure announcement for Wales for decades."
She said: "It will see over £350 million directly invested into the Welsh railway infrastructure, and arrives on the back of the £1 billion investment into the electrification of the Great Western Mainline from London to Cardiff, and the £500 million investment into the western link to Heathrow.
"In total, Wales is set to benefit directly and indirectly from almost £2 billion from the UK government programme to modernise the rail network, and is the most significant infrastructure announcement for Wales for decades."
First Minister Carwyn Jones said he was "delighted" at the move which he said would strengthen the east-west economic corridor and enhance Swansea's role as an economic hub.
"Investing in our transport infrastructure is vital as we look to improve the economic competitiveness of Wales," said Mr Jones.
Welsh Transport Minister Carl Sargeant said the move would boost the mobility of valleys-based communities, and widen the employment catchment area for businesses looking to invest in the region.
"An electrified rail network is more economical to operate and maintain which will deliver value for money to the taxpayer," said Mr Sargeant.
"Passengers will travel in a more environmentally sustainable way and experience a quieter, faster journey with savings of up to 20% on existing timetables."
What it means for people and businesses:
Greener more cost efficient railway that is better for both passengers and freight.
Increased capacity giving people more reliable and more comfortable journeys
Improved journey times, bringing stations closer together, helping people to meet friends and family and business to engage clients more efficiently
Enhanced freight transport by rail, freeing up vital capacity on our roads.
What it means for the country:
Faster journey times, improving business productivity and opening up new markets for companies
Improved access to major international gateways
Meet projected rises in demand for travel into and between our major cities and economic centres
Support growth in rail freight, particularly container flows to and from our major ports.
Source: Wales Office
Mark Langman, Network Rail's route managing director for Wales, said the electrification of the Valley lines network would help unlock the economic potential of the region.
"This is a strong vote of confidence in the railway, and in our ability to deliver sustainable economic growth through development of, and investment in, the network," he said.
Mark Barry, a business consultant who wrote the South Wales metro report making the case for improved connectivity to help the economy, told BBC Radio Wales that Monday's announcement would provide a huge foundation for a radical change in Wales' economic performance.
"It's probably the most significant investment in Welsh rail since the Severn tunnel was opened," said Mr Barry.
The tunnel was built in the late 19th Century, and completed in the mid-1880s.
Extending the electrification of the main rail line will cut some 20 minutes from the three-hour journey between Paddington and Swansea.
As well as cutting journey times, the decision to electrify the main line to Swansea means newer, longer trains will be able to run on the line, powered by overhead cables.
The new trains will have nine carriages instead of the current eight, allowing more passengers to be carried on the line.
The Department of Transport announcement for south Wales involves overhead electrification of the following lines:
The decision comes after a week after the go-ahead was given to a £500m rail link to Heathrow.
From 2021 passengers from south Wales, the west of England and the Thames Valley on the Great Western main line will no longer need to travel to the airport via Paddington.


Dover had a scare at North Ferriby before eventually prevailing on the Villagers' turf.

Early on, Rory Watson saved Ricky Miller's penalty, denying the league's runway leading goalscorer.
But the south coast club continued to press and Aswad Thomas curled a shot on to the inside of the post.
North Ferriby hit Dover with a sucker-punch early in the second half when Curtis Bateson bent a delightful free-kick past Steve Arnold.
But midfielder Joe Healy scored his third in three games for the Whites, smashing in after a Watson punch fell conveniently into his path.
Two defenders then combined as Sam Magri teed up Thomas to strike home the Dover winner.
Report supplied by the Press Association
Match ends, North Ferriby United 1, Dover Athletic 2.
Second Half ends, North Ferriby United 1, Dover Athletic 2.
Substitution, Dover Athletic. Tyrone Sterling replaces Ricky Miller.
Substitution, Dover Athletic. Mitchell Pinnock replaces Joe Healy.
Substitution, North Ferriby United. Ross Armstrong replaces Curtis Bateson.
Substitution, Dover Athletic. Moses Emmanuel replaces Ross Lafayette.
Curtis Bateson (North Ferriby United) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, North Ferriby United. Sam Cosgrove replaces Ryan Kendall.
Goal!  North Ferriby United 1, Dover Athletic 2. Aswad Thomas (Dover Athletic).
Substitution, North Ferriby United. Matthew Templeton replaces Danny Emerton.
Goal!  North Ferriby United 1, Dover Athletic 1. Joe Healy (Dover Athletic).
Ross Lafayette (Dover Athletic) is shown the yellow card.
Goal!  North Ferriby United 1, Dover Athletic 0. Curtis Bateson (North Ferriby United).
Second Half begins North Ferriby United 0, Dover Athletic 0.
First Half ends, North Ferriby United 0, Dover Athletic 0.
Ben Middleton (North Ferriby United) is shown the yellow card.
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.


A major transport firm is considering moving its base from Dumfries to a site closer to the main A74(M) motorway.

Currie European operates a fleet of 250 trucks and 500 trailers across the UK and Europe.
It has 320 employees in total, with 185 of them in Dumfries where the company has been based since 1977.
Owner Tom Barrie said the distance from the motorway was a "significant drain" on profits and it was looking for a site in the region which was closer.
"In these challenging times it is important for us to run the business as efficiently as possible," he said.
"We are now exploring opportunities to relocate to a site along the M74 corridor to deliver modern premises fit for the 21st Century and consolidate our operations.
"This move will allow us to reduce unnecessary costs through increased driver productivity and decreased fuel consumption, which will ultimately improve our service to clients."
The company still intends to remain in south west Scotland.
Managing director Stephen Turner said: "We would encourage those with potential site opportunities in Dumfries and Galloway to contact us directly.
"It is an exciting time for the business, however, I'm keen to reassure our staff, clients and the community that we are committed to staying in the Dumfries and Galloway area and securing our long-term sustainability in the region.
"Moving forward we will now be engaging with the local community to update them on our proposals."


The government in the Philippines is facing calls for an inquiry after it admitted relocating homeless people temporarily during Pope Francis' visit.

Social welfare secretary Corazon Soliman said that nearly 500 people were taken from the streets of Manila to an upscale resort in the outskirts.
House of Representatives member Terry Ridon called for an inquiry, saying the move was a "clearing operation".
Pope Francis arrived in the Philippines last week and left on Monday.
Mr Ridon said the government relocation scheme was "truly horrendous, given the fact that Pope Francis visited our country to - first and foremost - see and talk to the poor."
The Philippine Star said he plans to summon Ms Soliman to explain her agency's actions before lawmakers.
Ms Soliman said in interviews this week that the homeless families were removed shortly before the pontiff arrived on 15 January.
Many of them lived along the Manila Bay seafront, the venue for Sunday's mass which drew a record crowd of six million.
On 14 January they were taken to the Chateau Royale resort, which charges hundreds of dollars for a room per night, and returned to the capital on Monday after Pope Francis had left.
The families are now temporarily residing at government facilities in Manila, Ms Soliman said.
She defended the move as an effort to protect them from large crowds and crime syndicates during the Pope's visit, adding that it was part of a scheme to eventually move them to rent-free temporary accommodation.
"Part of the orientation is to familiarise themselves with a room with a door and toilets," Soliman told the AFP news agency.
She insisted it was "not for keeping them out of sight", and said the Pope saw shanties and homeless people during his trip.
The controversy comes after reports that street children had been rounded up and put into cages in detention centres, which the government has denied.
Pope Francis had made poverty one of the central themes to his visit, calling for mercy and compassion for the poor and meeting and hugging street children.


African football legend Kalusha Bwalya says it is too early for Luis Figo to challenge for the presidency of football's world governing body Fifa.

Figo, 42, a former world player of the year, is one of three candidates who will challenge Sepp Blatter on 29 May.
"Luis Figo was a fantastic player, a world-class player," said Bwalya, Zambia Football Association president.
"I'd have loved to see Figo go into the Portuguese football association, learn the ropes then come out."
Bwalya, who is also the executive member of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), added: "There are other former footballers, like Davor Suker, who's heading an association in Europe [Croatia].
"It's the logical way but he [Figo] has decided to go for the big position. It's going to be very difficult in my opinion."
Bwalya, the 1988 African Footballer of the Year award winner, said most of the associations have already decided who they will vote for, for the Fifa presidency.
He said Africa has decided to back Blatter for another four-year term despite the Swiss having been at the helm since 1998.
"We as Africa - myself included - have said we will back Blatter for another term because he has the requisite passion to carry football in the next four years," Bwalya said.
"From where we're standing, it would have been better for him [Figo] to start at association level to know the challenges. He would have been better prepared.
"In this situation we have made a commitment to president Sepp Blatter. We are happy with the way he has run things."
Figo, 42, whose career included successful stints with Spanish clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid, will also face competition from Dutch football federation president Michael van Praag and Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein.
On whether he himself would consider running for either the Caf or Fifa presidency, Bwalya laughed off any immediate plans.
"Everything in its time," he said.
"I think we have good leaders in Issa Hayatou [caf president] and Sepp Blatter."
Meanwhile, Van Praag believes there is less chance of unseating Blatter with both himself and Figo standing for election on 29 May.
"What Figo thinks about that I don't know, but it would be much better for Europe if we presented one candidate," said the Dutch FA chief.
"Figo is more photogenic. All the South American member association presidents wanted to take their photo with him.
"But they didn't want to say if they would vote for him," he added.


A school has apologised after six-year-olds were given homework containing a swear word.

The task was copied and pasted from the internet but not checked before being given to a year-two class at Bishop King CE Primary School in Lincoln.
Kate Rouse, the school's head teacher, said the homework "wasn't appropriate" to give to the children.
However, she said it was a genuine mistake and no further action would be taken against the teacher involved.
It was titled "25 Day Handwriting Challenge" and asked children to "Handwrite what pisses you off".
"This member of staff is new to the school and naturally she is very upset about the situation," she said.
"As head teacher I will support all my staff and on this occasion that is no different and I will continue to do so."
The 25 Day Handwriting Challenge appears on several websites, although the original task appears to be aimed at teenagers or adults.
More child-friendly tasks include "Handwrite your favorite [sic] month of the year" and "Handwrite what color [sic] shirt your [sic] wearing right now".
Parent Jay McCulley told the Lincolnshire Echo he was "devastated and shocked" when he noticed the rude word, and his partner Jade Dixon "went absolutely mad".
However, parents speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire seemed ambivalent.
One mother said: "I was a bit shocked. Luckily enough she didn't read that much of it. She was so young she didn't quite understand it."
Another mother said: "I thought it was a joke. I haven't actually said anything to the teachers, I've not had a chance, but it's a mistake; mistakes happen I guess."
Another mother added: "The homework probably should be checked but I do think there is too much pressure on teachers.
"They have an awful lot to contend with and I must be honest, most of the teachers, in fact all of the teachers and the staff at this school have been, and are, fantastic."


Chinese police have arrested hackers after the US government supplied them with a list of cybercrime suspects, the Washington Post reports.

The hackers are believed to have stolen research and development information from several US firms.
The arrests came shortly before Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the US for talks - partly about cyber security.
The US and China have regularly swapped accusations about who is behind the cyberattacks they suffer.
Quoting anonymous sources, the newspaper said the stolen trade secrets and plans were passed to Chinese firms that are rivals of the US businesses which were hit. Some of the recipients are believed to be state-run organisations.
The arrests are believed to be some of the first China has carried out at the request of the US.
Security blogger Brian Krebs noted there had has been at least one previous case in 2010.
Susan Rice, US national security advisor, recently said that these attacks put "enormous strain" on diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Prior to visiting the US last month, Mr Xi said that the Chinese government did "not engage in theft of commercial secrets in any form" and denied there were any state-sponsored attacks on US firms or federal agencies.
The subject of cyber spying and hacking featured in the talks between Mr Xi and President Obama. During the talks the two nations are believed to have negotiated an understanding that China would move to stop attacks on US businesses. Trade sanctions had been threatened if China had not agreed to act.


Street signs in tribute to leading suffragettes who lived in Salford have had to be amended after a spelling slip-up.

The signs, to honour Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughter, were misspelt Parkhurst Close and Chrisable Walk.
Emmeline Pankhurst lived in Seedley where the new streets have been built.
Councillor John Warmisham, who had suggested the street names, said he was "gutted" by the error.
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The Labour councillor for Pendleton said the misspelling had been pointed out by a constituent and he raised the matter with Urban Vision who are responsible for naming streets in the city.
"They told me that they sent the correct spellings to the developers Countryside Properties so something must have gone wrong somewhere," he said.
Emmeline Pankhurst was the founder of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) that campaigned for women's suffrage.
Her daughters Christabel and Sylvia were also leading figures in the suffragette movement.
A spokeswoman for Countryside Properties said: "Our attention has been drawn to the spelling mistakes made on the new street signs at the new Liverpool Street development in Salford.
"Countryside accepts full responsibility for this matter and we would like to apologise for any offence caused. We took the signs down as soon as we realised the error and new ones will be in place as soon as possible."
iWonder: Did the suffragettes win women the vote?


A hospital's A&E department could close along with its £28m women and children's centre which opened two years ago, campaigners fear.

They say the move at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital could be made as part of a review of Shropshire's health care.
Gill George, Shropshire Defend our NHS chair, said it would be "life-threatening" for some patients forced to travel 18 miles to Shrewsbury's A&E.
NHS bosses said they were appraising things but had not made a decision.
This was "months away", they said.
For more on this story and other Shropshire news
The NHS Future Fit programme was launched in 2014 to review the health system across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and mid-Wales, and is set to finish in spring 2017.
The Defend Our NHS group said a decision to close the A&E and have a single department for the county at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital was taken at a "non-financial appraisal" meeting on Friday.
Ms George said: "An area of this size needs both A&Es and both hospitals, and we have opposed the closure of either A&E. But this is a particularly catastrophic outcome for people in Telford and Wrekin who are going to face journeys of over 18 miles in a medical emergency."
Campaigners say all planned care, such as routine surgery and cancer care, will be at Telford, meaning most people in Shropshire and Powys will face "unacceptable journey times".
An NHS Future Fit spokesman said the findings of two appraisals would go before its board next month. This would then make a recommendation to the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups.
"The NHS Future Fit programme still has a long way to go before a final decision is made. This includes a full public consultation that will run for a minimum of 12 weeks," he said.
Telford & Wrekin Council's Leader Shaun Davies said the proposals "make absolutely no sense" and the authority would consider seeking a judicial review if the decision was confirmed.


Dozens of abandoned cats living at a Cambridge rescue centre have lost their toys and scratching posts after they were destroyed by flooding.

The Blue Cross charity centre had to throw out all 90 posts when they became saturated by drain water after torrential rain early on Friday.
All the animals were safe, although 15 kittens had to be evacuated from the nursery which was covered in sludge.
The centre has appealed for help to replace the posts and toys.
There are currently 46 cats and kittens looking for new homes at the charity's Garlic Row centre, animal welfare assistant Claire Thomas said.
The animals did not seem "too traumatised" by the torrential downpour or standing water in their pens, she said.
However, staff were "gutted" when they saw the devastation caused by the overnight storm.
The rescue centre was among a number of businesses and organisations in Cambridge affected by the overnight storm.
Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge was forced to declare a "major incident" and cancel all planned surgery until Tuesday after an area where sterilisation equipment is stored was flooded.
The cat rescue centre has now been cleaned up and the destroyed posts, toys and blankets piled on the lawn.
It would not be sanitary to dry them out, Miss Thomas added, so they will all need to be replaced.
The Cambridge branch of charity Blue Cross cares for over 400 cats and kittens every year.


Thai officials say they have found two skeletons possibly linked to people smuggling, days after the discovery of 26 bodies in a mass grave.

Both skeletons were found in abandoned camps in Phang Nga province, the local governor said. One was tied to a tree.
Phang Nga is several hundred kilometres away from the site in Songkhla province where 26 bodies were found last week.
Three Thais and a Burmese national have been arrested in Thailand on suspicion of human trafficking.
The mass grave containing 26 bodies was discovered in an abandoned jungle camp close to the Malaysian border - an area regularly used by people-smugglers.
Separately, a second camp with at least another five graves has been found in Songkhla province, officials said on Tuesday.
The area is on a route regularly used by Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma).
Officials believe would-be migrants are held in the camps by traffickers who demand ransoms from their families.
Thailand has been strongly criticised for failing to act against trafficking networks, which typically hold thousands of people from Myanmar and Bangladesh every year for ransom, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Phang Nga.
Police said the Thais arrested on Monday included one local council member from Songkhla province and two village officials.
Rights groups have long alleged that officials and local police are aware of, or complicit in, the trade.
I had been in these mangrove swamps before, looking for the camps where distraught Rohingyas and Bangladeshis told us they had been held in dreadful conditions. Now we were back to find out who had not survived.
On another island, scattered human bones lay under the mangrove roots on the beach. There were clear signs large numbers of people had lived here - rusting food cans, mouldering shoes and threadbare tarpaulins.
The Thai authorities have known about these camps for years.
Local communities are paid off to keep quiet, or their young men employed as guards. Police and other officials get their cut of a business where traffickers pay $20,000 (Â£13,160) or more for a boatload of migrants, then try to recoup the cost by demanding big ransoms from their families.
Those who cannot pay are kept, and often terribly abused or killed. Last year a senior police officer told me about a huge transit camp right on the Malaysian border.
But they could not move against it - the area was controlled by the army, he said.
Thailand has a military government. If they really want to show serious purpose in shutting down the trade, they will have to take action against people in their own ranks.
The Burmese national was named as Soe Naing, known as Anwar. He was a "central figure who ran camps and sought ransoms", deputy police commander Anuchon Chamart told AFP news agency.
Another four suspects - also local officials - are being sought by police.
Many of the victims found in the camp are thought to have died from disease or starvation. A survivor told Thai media there were other mass graves in the area.
Every year thousands of people are trafficked through Thailand and into Malaysia.
Rohingya Muslims in particular have used the route to flee persecution and sectarian violence in neighbouring Myanmar.
In 2012, more than 200 people were killed and thousands left homeless after violence broke out between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar. Anti-Muslim violence has flared several times since then.
In December, the UN passed a resolution urging Myanmar to give access to citizenship for the Rohingya, many of whom are classed as stateless.


Non-league Aldershot Town will play Rochdale in the second round of the FA Cup after Mark Molesley struck a late winner against League Two Portsmouth.

Media playback is not supported on this device
Jed Wallace almost broke the deadlock midway through the first half of the replay but his brilliant volley was saved by Shots keeper Phil Smith.
Molesley wasted a good chance for the hosts after the break when he headed wide while Dan Holman had a shot saved.
But Molesley bundled the ball home after a huge scramble from a corner.
The goal came with 10 minutes remaining and sparked celebrations inside an atmospheric Electrical Services Stadium.
Media playback is not supported on this device
It was an incredibly scrappy goal, with Portsmouth spurning several opportunities to clear the corner.
The last of these fell to Alex Wynter, who was off balance on the line and could not manage to kick the ball to safety.
The first tie had finished 2-2, with Molesley also on the scoresheet at Fratton Park.
And after the victory on Wednesday, the midfielder said: "You can see what it means to everyone. The FA Cup gives a lifeline to so many clubs and boy do we need it. It was a gritty performance, a blood and thunder cup tie and that suited us."
The result means that Pompey are still looking for their first victory in the FA Cup since they defeated Tottenham in the semi-final of the 2010 competition.
The Shots can now look forward to testing themselves against a League One side when Rochdale visit on 7 December.
Aldershot Town manager Andy Scott told BBC Surrey:
"It's fantastic - we've played two games against a big club like Portsmouth and been the better side over those two games.
"It's been a fantastic effort from the lads and it's great to have another clean sheet. We are on a good run of form and that is absolutely brilliant.
"They've always believed in themselves and we have had a tough time but they keep working ever so hard in training and they are a great bunch to be around."
Match ends, Aldershot Town 1, Portsmouth 0.
Second Half ends, Aldershot Town 1, Portsmouth 0.
Attempt missed. Danny Hollands (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Nigel Atangana.
Foul by Danny Hollands (Portsmouth).
Nabi Diallo (Aldershot Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Corner,  Aldershot Town. Conceded by Alex Wynter.
Attempt saved. Miles Storey (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jed Wallace.
Foul by Jed Wallace (Portsmouth).
Jordan Roberts (Aldershot Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Jaydon Gibbs (Aldershot Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ricky Holmes (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Jaydon Gibbs (Aldershot Town).
Attempt missed. Ricky Holmes (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Danny Hollands (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Mark Molesley (Aldershot Town).
Substitution, Portsmouth. Miles Storey replaces Craig Westcarr.
Substitution, Portsmouth. Patrick Agyemang replaces Ryan Taylor.
Goal!  Aldershot Town 1, Portsmouth 0. Mark Molesley (Aldershot Town) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Glenn Wilson (Aldershot Town) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Joe Oastler (Aldershot Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Brett Williams (Aldershot Town) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Roberts with a cross.
Corner,  Aldershot Town. Conceded by Paul Jones.
Attempt saved. Dan Holman (Aldershot Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Jaydon Gibbs.
Attempt missed. Manny Oyeleke (Aldershot Town) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kieran Forbes.
Corner,  Aldershot Town. Conceded by Paul Robinson.
Substitution, Portsmouth. Ben Chorley replaces Jack Whatmough.
Attempt saved. Dan Holman (Aldershot Town) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Joe Oastler.
Jack Whatmough (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Jack Whatmough (Portsmouth).
Dan Holman (Aldershot Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt blocked. Nigel Atangana (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Jed Wallace (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Manny Oyeleke (Aldershot Town) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kieran Forbes following a corner.
Corner,  Aldershot Town. Conceded by Paul Jones.
Attempt saved. Brett Williams (Aldershot Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Nabi Diallo with a headed pass.
Danny Hollands (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Manny Oyeleke (Aldershot Town).
Joe Oastler (Aldershot Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ricky Holmes (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Joe Oastler (Aldershot Town).


One-Day Cup holders Gloucestershire remain winless in this year's competition as Paul Stirling's ton helped Middlesex to victory at Bristol.

The hosts struggled to 254-8, despite Gareth Roderick (64) and Hamish Marshall (74) putting on 114 together.
Middlesex were 17-0 when rain interrupted play, and they were set a revised target of 208 from 35 overs.
Stirling (125no) got his ninth career List A century off 87 balls as the visitors won with 21 balls to spare.
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Sale Sharks have appointed ex-England captain and British and Irish Lions prop Fran Cotton as their new chairman.

Ex-Sale player Cotton, 69, spent time on the board in 2007 but has taken up his new position after Sale's takeover by investment company CorpArq.
Owner of CorpArq, Simon Orange, is confirmed as the Sharks co-owner along with Ged Mason who is chief executive at recruitment company Morson Group.
Director of rugby Steve Diamond also takes a position on a 10-man board.
Former Sale players Mark Cueto, Steve Smith and Mike Blood, along with Mike Ingall, Dermot Power and Jon Dorsett, who will be chief executive, will also work under Cotton.
They all met for the first time this week to discuss their plans for the future of the club.


A postcard from serial killers Fred and Rose West appears to show they were part of a sex ring with child abusers David and Pauline Williams.

The cryptic card was sent to the Williams couple, whose former home in Bradninch, Devon, is being excavated by police searching for a baby's body.
It was written to the "West Williams Menagerie" in 1990 and suggests the Wests were on a canal holiday.
David and Pauline Williams lived near the Wests in Gloucester in the 1990s.
David Williams was jailed for life in 2015 and his wife Pauline for 12 years for putting 10 girls and boys through rape, sexual assault and beatings.
Devon and Cornwall Police officers are excavating at a bungalow they lived in for about two years before they were sentenced.
The postcard, made public by the Crime Through Time Collection at former Littledean Jail in Gloucestershire, was written by Rose West.
It includes the line: "Colin says the 'birds' are very friendly here. Loads of wildlife", and is signed "Mum & Dad".
Andy Jones, from the museum, said: "It shows in coded form and innuendo that the Wests ran a child sex ring and the Williams were part of it.
"They talk about the Williams menagerie - a menagerie means animals."
He said there was also a "strong reference" to an orgy.
He believes the Wests had left their children with the Williams couple, as the postcard refers to daughter Mae.
"It's compelling evidence of a strong connection between the two families," he said.
David Williams, who ran a pub in Gloucester where Fred West drank, boasted in court last year of his connections with the Wests.
David and Pauline Williams, who are both in their 50s, started abusing children in the late 1980s. One victim was seven years old.
They also ran the Victoria Inn in Exeter after moving to the city in the 1990s, where they went on to abuse a string of teenagers.
Fred West was awaiting trial on 12 murder charges when he hanged himself in prison in January 1995.
Rose West was convicted of 10 murders in November 1995 and is serving life.
The charges related to the deaths of young women over a 20-year period.


Thirty-two workers at a new Isle of Wight ferry firm have been made redundant four days before Christmas after the company went bust.

Scoot Ferries, based in Cowes, cancelled all sailings over the weekend after buyout talks failed.
Staff received their P45s at a meeting earlier. One worker said he felt "let down" by the management.
Chief executive Zoë Ombler blamed a lack of sustainable investment and "a fair amount of bad luck".
Worker Jon Gayle said: "We've got four days until Christmas, I haven't got any type of security to fall back on.
"It feels awful for the dedication and time and effort I've put into this company to be let down so astronomically.
"I think poor management led to bad decisions and we've all taken the brunt of it."
Chief executive Zoë Ombler said: "Running a ferry company is an expensive business and it's fair to say we were under capitalised from day one and desperately looking for additional investment.
"I'm devastated for the sake of all of my team and our loyal customers who were let down tremendously badly."
She admitted the firm had made mistakes but said there was still support for the service.
David Meany, of Ashtons Recovery LLP, has been appointed as official receiver and said he was hopeful a new buyer could be found to take on the firm.
He added: "We've been in discussions with two or three potential parties this morning, we're not sure at the moment whether they are looking at buying the company or buying the business and assets."
Scoot Ferries started running services between Yarmouth and Lymington, as well as Portsmouth and Cowes, earlier this year.
Angry customers who had booked journeys took to social media on Saturday to complain about a lack of information from the firm.


Prosecutors have set out new guidelines on whether messages posted on social media should be treated as a crime.

Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland said the test was simple: "If it would be illegal to say it on the street, it is illegal to say it online."
The Crown Office said it would not pursue satirical or mildly offensive humour or provocative statements.
But it promised a "robust" response to hate crime, stalking or credible threats of violence
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has previously sought clarity on where the legal boundary lies in such matters.
The guidelines state that communications should be considered for prosecution if they:
The Lord Advocate said the aim was not to deny freedom of speech, but the law would target internet trolls posting sectarian, homophobic or violent messages or pictures.
In an interview with the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, the Lord Advocate was asked how "grossly offensive" could be defined when it could be seen as relative.
He replied: "The guidance sets out that it would not include, for example, humour, satirical comment, which is part of the democratic debate, so there's guidance to prosecutors as to what's not included.
"It doesn't include offensive comment because we recognise that, in a democratic society, with use of social media you can have offensive comment which wouldn't be criminal but it's really the category above the high bar grossly offensive which has a significant effect on the recipient of the comment.
"We've all seen on the media reports of what you described, internet trolls, where this kind of comment, grossly offensive comment, is sent out to directly wound and has quite a significant effect."
He added: "There's very detailed guidance of all the factors that prosecutors will take into account when they assess whether or not to raise criminal proceedings in relation to grossly offensive comments posted on social media."


A wily raccoon went on the rampage around a family's home after finding its way inside through a catflap.

Marek Chapanionek initially thought the intruder was a cat, but soon realised the unusual visitor was a more exotic species.
The critter stole a cereal bar from his wife's handbag before running upstairs and opening a chest of drawers.
He eventually trapped the animal in a hallway, where it took a nap before the RSPCA arrived in the morning.
Mr Chapanionek, who first spoke to the Northampton Chronicle, managed to take photos of the furry house guest as it made itself at home.
He said he heard noises on Monday night which alerted him to the raccoon's presence in his home on Denton Road in Horton, Northamptonshire.
More news from Northamptonshire
"I noticed this dark thing coming out of my wife's handbag, and thought, 'That's quite a large cat'... that's when our own cat Dotty legged it out of the house," he told the BBC.
The raccoon began walking towards him, holding the cereal bar it had found in the bag, before running up the stairs.
Having failed to open the wrapper, the raccoon went into an empty bedroom, opened a chest of drawers and began rooting through clothing.
Mr Chapanionek said he managed to get it downstairs and trapped in a corridor.
"But I had to wedge a chair under the door handle as it knew how to open them," he said.
His wife Caroline managed to sleep through the commotion "until she heard me making frantic telephone calls, trying to get through to the RSPCA", Mr Chapanionek said.
Clearly worn out by its antics, the raccoon took several naps in a corner, as Mr Chapanionek slept in the lounge "to make sure it didn't escape".
The RSPCA arrived the following morning and took the raccoon away.
It is not yet known where the raccoon - which is native to North America - came from.
However, an RSPCA spokesman said: "When raccoons are found stray, it is usually because they have been kept as a pet and have either escaped or been abandoned deliberately.
"They are wild animals and we would strongly discourage people from buying or keeping one as a pet."


Scottish football could be moving towards a player draft system under new proposals put forward by the Scottish FA and backed by national manager Gordon Strachan.

Its aim is to get younger players more competitive game time.
The plan foresees Scottish Premiership clubs providing around five under-20's players for a lower league draft pot.
Club representatives were told about the plans during a presentation at Hampden Park on Wednesday.
It was headed up by Strachan and SFA performance director Brian McClair.
The SFA will now look to set up a steering group and invite club representatives to take part before reporting back with a firm proposal.
In a system similar to American Football's National Football League college draft, club picks could depend on league position - with the team at the bottom of the Championship possibly having first pick of the player pool.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, one Scottish Premiership chairman described the proposals as "innovative and interesting" and said all ideas on the table should be listened to.
The draft plans were one of many proposals discussed as the SFA pushed forward with its review of the game's youth development system.
It is understood that the SFA is also keen to cut the number of so-called elite players in the current youth academy system in an attempt to create better competition and a best versus best environment.
Celtic manager Ronny Deila says he is always willing to cooperate with other clubs when it comes to loaning out talented youngsters and is generally keen to see young players gain experience at other clubs.
"It is the first time I have heard about it, so it is hard for me to say something about it, but in general it is important the youngsters get experience and a chance," Deila said.
"That is why we loan out a lot of our younger players when they come to a stage that they have trained with the first-team, played in the under-20s and then need a new step between playing under-20s and playing for Celtic."
"It is always positive to cooperate with different clubs and do the best for Scottish football.
"For us, we haven't had any problem getting players out on loan. We have a lot of good players here.
"A lot of the other teams in the different divisions want to have them. For us, it is about us getting the right ones into the right places. Everything is about relations."
Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Hughes has, however, dismissed the notion of a draft system and insists that, in order to improve Scottish football, the emphasis has to be on coaching youngsters' technique and getting them playing day in day out.
"I think that's a lot of rubbish. It was never on the agenda. I don't where that's come from," Hughes told BBC Scotland.
"We need to be coaching technical ability - forget tactics. Every footballer should be double step-overs drag backs left foot right foot, technical right up to they're 12 years old.
"I don't think it's about elite academies. I don't think it works. Play for Boys' Brigade, play for the boys clubs, play for your school.
"Do you know why school football's great? Because you never got coached - you just went and enjoyed yourself and played football.
"Kids getting too much football? You're having a laugh. Should be playing football every night and every day.
"Whole society's changed. Need to get back to that, need to encourage them. But most important, you need to teach technique."


Detectives investigating the New Year's Day fire in which a man died and his girlfriend was seriously injured are following a "definite line of inquiry".

They are treating the death of Cameron Logan, 23, as murder.
His girlfriend, Rebecca Williams, was initially in a critical condition after the blaze at Mr Logan's family home in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire.
The latest development emerged after it was confirmed that Ms Williams, 24, had spoken to police from her hospital bed.
The fire was deliberately started at the house in Achray Place in the early hours of New Year's Day.
Ms Williams, a journalist with Global Radio, was rescued from the building but she was left fighting for her life.
She is being treated at a hospital in Glasgow, where her condition is said to be improving.
Mr Logan's parents were treated for the effects of breathing in smoke after the fire.
Police have made several appeals to trace potential witnesses to the crime, which they are treating as a murder and three attempted murders.


A Californian cyber-security firm is to set up a European research and development centre in Belfast which will create 120 jobs.

Anomali specialises in threat intelligence and analysis, working with organisations which include the Bank of England.
The company was founded in 2013 and its investors include GV, formerly known as Google Ventures.
The jobs are expected to be in place by the end of 2019.
They are being supported with a Â£780,000 grant from Invest NI.
Invest NI is also making a Â£5.5m grant to the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) at Queen's University, Belfast.
It forms part of a Â£38.5m research programme at CSIT.
Invest NI chief executive Alastair Hamilton said CSIT is undertaking "a very complex technology project which will be undertaken by a team of experts over a five year period".
Belfast has developed a significant cyber-security cluster with investments by firms like WhiteHat Security, Proofpoint and Black Duck Software.
Consultancy firms like Deloitte also have a cyber-security function in the city.
CSIT plays a key role in the cluster providing a stream of post-graduate qualified workers, running a business incubator and developing new security tools.
Its director, Dr Godfrey Gaston, said the money from Invest NI had helped attract further investment from funding bodies like InnovateUK and businesses such as Allstate and Equiniti.


The home of Eric Morecambe's widow was broken into while she attended the unveiling of a statue of her late husband, the BBC understands.

Joan Bartholomew, 89, was in Blackpool when burglars targeted her home in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
Police said items of jewellery, including rings and watches, were stolen some time between Thursday and Sunday.
The statue of Morecambe and Wise marks their first stage appearance together.
Mrs Bartholomew's son, Gary, who was also at the unveiling on Friday at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, told the Lancashire newspaper The Visitor that thieves may have been aware of his mother's trip via social media.
"They must have known she was away," he said.
"There wasn't masses of damage.  My mum is a very realistic person, she doesn't like to make herself into a victim. It's just the way it is."
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise
The 8ft (2.4m) tall bronze statue was created by sculptor, Graham Ibbeson, who also made the statue of Eric in the comedian's hometown of Morecambe in 1999.
It cost Â£75,000 and was funded by donations.
Mr Ibbeson said: "I am delighted to have brought the boys back together so the nation can see them as they should be - Eric and Ernie alongside one another."


New laws on domestic violence would be introduced by a Labour government to prevent abusive partners avoiding prosecution, the shadow home secretary has said.

Yvette Cooper says a commissioner would also be appointed by Labour to oversee "national standards" in such cases.
Ms Cooper says more offenders are now avoiding court action as "community resolutions" are instead being used.
Police have disputed the claim they are not taking violence seriously.
The Home Office, meanwhile, said the use of the resolutions - which can include apologies or compensation - for serious crimes was "not acceptable".
Community resolutions are used by police to resolve low-level or minor offences through "informal agreement between the parties involved", instead of through the court system.
They are aimed at first-time offenders and can be used where there has been an admission of guilt and after the victim's views have been taken into account.
Data compiled by Labour from 15 of the 43 police forces showed there were 3,305 uses of community resolutions for domestic violence in 2013 - up from 1,337 in 2009.
In a speech in Birmingham to mark Labour's summer campaign, Ms Cooper said the data is "deeply worrying" and suggests ministers are "turning their backs" on victims of domestic violence.
She also repeated Labour's promise to ban the use of the resolutions for domestic and sexual violence.
Speaking earlier on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Cooper said the aim of Labour's planned legislation was to ensure police intervened in cases of domestic violence.
Ms Cooper said in her speech that community resolutions can be "very effective", but added that they should not "be used for violent offences, and especially not for domestic violence".
She also accused the government, saying it "just doesn't take violence against women seriously".
"For the police to simply take a violent abuser home to apologise risks making domestic violence worse and makes it even harder for victims to escape a cycle of abuse," she said.
Advice from the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) suggests community resolutions are suitable for crimes such as criminal damage, minor theft and anti-social behaviour.
Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan from Greater Manchester Police, Acpo's lead on restorative justice, told Today community resolutions were given in less than 1% of cases categorised as domestic violence.
He added the method is "specifically attuned to low level domestic abuse particularly where victims want that course of action".
A Home Office spokeswoman said a review had already been conducted into the inappropriate use of community resolutions.
She also said every police force in England and Wales had been written to by Home Secretary Theresa May instructing them to produce a domestic violence action plan.
"It is not acceptable for the police to use out-of-court settlements for serious criminality and that is why the government is already reviewing how they are used," the spokeswoman said.
The Home Office is yet to respond to a consultation on the use of out-of-court disposals, which ended in January.
Sandra Horley, chief executive of national domestic violence charity Refuge, said: "These types of remedies may be effective for some crimes - but domestic violence is not one of them".
"When women make the extraordinarily brave step of reporting their partners to the police, they must feel confident that they have the full weight of the law behind them."
Hilary Fisher, of the charity Women's Aid, said: "Women tend not to call and ask for help until they've experienced violence for over five times, sometimes up to 30 times."
She said weak punishments would not deter these serial perpetrators who would think "if the police don't take it seriously why should I?"


An independent review is to be carried out into an agreement aimed at protecting remaining bank branches in towns and villages.

The industry-wide protocol, signed in March 2015, requires banks to investigate alternative arrangements before closing the last bank in town.
Those options included free-to-use cash machines, banks on wheels and the use of local Post Office branches.
The review is expected to report by the end of the year.
It will led by Professor Russel Griggs, who previously reviewed the major banks' lending code.
"It is vital that the protocol meets its aim of minimising the impact of bank branch closures on customers and local communities," he said.
"This review will not only be looking at how the processes behind the protocol are working in practice, but also crucially the outcomes that they are delivering."
Before the protocol was signed there was a voluntary agreement to assist vulnerable customers when towns and villages become bank-free.
Banks should now consider the proximity of alternative branches as part of a 12-week consultation before a closure. Proximity can be very different, depending on the mobility of customers, ranging from young car drivers to older people reliant on public transport, so the age profile of the branch's customers will be part of the review.
Under the current agreement, signed by banks, the government and consumer groups, there is no punishment if banks fail to provide alternatives when the last branch closes.
The Campaign for Community Banking Services (CCBS) says many hundreds of communities in the UK have lost all their banks.
Derek French, from the campaign, said: "In practice the protocol, and the necessary published impact statements, are proving to be of little value to communities suffering branch closures as they deal only with post-closure provision.
"At the moment many communities see it as a box ticking exercise rather than a serious attempt to put in place reliable sustainable alternatives to branches for those that need them."


Everyone has an opinion about her and lots want to help, but a woman with amnesia in the US remains unidentified.

The unknown woman has taken the name Sam and is using Facebook to help track down her true identity.
Her slight Australian accent and her apparent memories of Australia have sparked social media interest.
Australian diplomats are assisting in the search for "Sam" along with many Australians who are exchanging clues about her identity.
There are more than 18,000 likes on her Facebook page, and thousands of messages of support, many from Australia.
Believed to be in her 50s, Sam was reportedly found on the street by fire-fighters in the southern Californian town of Carlsbad in February.
In a TV interview with NBC in the US on Tuesday, she said she did not recall who she was or where she was from.
On Facebook, she said she could remember dreams of swimming at a beach in Perth, in Western Australia, as well as in the Australian holiday spots of Cairns and Byron Bay, and Hawaii. She also speaks French.
NBC said she had a "thick" Australian accent, but many Facebook users disagreed.
Jaymi Sheppard from Western Australia, said Sam sounded more English than Australian, while Annette Smith from Melbourne postulated that Sam could be from the Pacific Islands, perhaps New Caledonia or French Polynesia.
"Her memories of Australia sound touristy but if she's from the islands would explain her accent and speaking French and a few other details," Ms Smith wrote on Sam's Facebook page.
One Sydney speech scientist said clues to Sam's identity might be found in her "hybrid" accent.
"Some features of her accent are characteristic of Australian English but there are others that are not," Macquarie University's Prof Felicity Cox told Nine News.
Prof Cox suggested the way Sam spoke the phrases "dreaming about Australia" and "my family immediately says" registered a typical Australian English pattern but she pronounced "got" different to an Australian.
"The vowel she uses is more of an American sound, a 'guh' rather than 'goh'," she said.
Some, like Lesley Newbound, suggested Sam's smallpox vaccination scar could indicate she had migrated from England to Australia as a child.
Others have even suggested names, with one naming a woman called Debbie, an Australian travel specialist who recently relocated from South Africa to the UK, as the possible real Sam.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) told the BBC it had been providing consular assistance in the case since March.
According to her Facebook page, doctors have told Sam her that a large tumour may have erased her memories.
After she was taken to hospital in California, she was rushed to the emergency room, where staff apparently discovered she was suffering from ovarian cancer.
In her television interview, Sam said she couldn't remember anything. "There is this thick fog over my memory, that's over my brain, that I can't see through," she told NBC.
Interpol has added her to its international missing person database. It describes her as 1.7m (5ft 6) tall and weighing 91kg (200lbs). Her hair, before she lost it to chemotherapy, was white, her eyes are brown and she has a chip on one of her front teeth.


Manchester City spoke of the need to "develop a holistic approach" as one of the reasons for sacking manager Roberto Mancini - but more basic forces were at work in his dismissal.

When Mancini looks back on his City career one date will be forever ringed on his calendar. It is a date that brought an unwelcome symmetry to his time at Etihad Stadium.
It was on 13 May 2012 that the Italian enjoyed his finest moment when Sergio Aguero scored 100 seconds from the end of the season against QPR to give City their first title in 44 years.
And it was on the unhappiest of anniversaries, one year later, that Mancini's slow march towards the exit door was confirmed.
If ever there was an example of how swiftly the scenery can shift in the modern Premier League it is the dismissal of a manager just 12 months after he delivered the greatest moment in City's modern history.
For all the fine words and expressions of admiration for Mancini contained in the farewell statement, he has gone simply because City believe results this season, and circumstances surrounding them, deliver proof that he was not up to the job of taking this fiercely ambitious club where they want to go.
There will be sympathy for Mancini, especially from City fans who supported him so vociferously throughout the FA Cup final defeat by Wigan at Wembley, as they will rightly remember him as the manager who - albeit briefly - freed them from the years of living in Manchester United's shadow.
City's statement, made when it became obvious Mancini was a lame duck after speculation that he was about to be sacked and replaced by Malaga's Manuel Pellegrini went unchecked, carried a ruthless tone.
It is clear the club's Abu Dhabi owners expected a more robust title defence rather than the concession to United. They certainly expected a more distinguished Champions League campaign than the horror show which saw them fail to win any of their six games, albeit in a group containing Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax.
The only target he hit to the satisfaction of those in Abu Dhabi was Champions League qualification and that, combined with other factors, was not enough to save Mancini.
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Mancini's confrontational style, with public criticism aimed at goalkeeper Joe Hart among others, is neither here nor there if he can use a Premier League title as his shield but it is another matter in a season dotted with the sort of limp efforts such at that served up in the cup final defeat against Wigan.
Talk of tensions behind the scenes was rife and at times City have looked a team lacking spirit - yet when they won so impressively at Manchester United in April it was a vivid reminder of why they were the champions.
There was also a shift in emphasis at City that did not work in Mancini's favour. Chief executive Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain arrived to bring their Barcelona experience to bear, to cast some Catalan colours on the Etihad canvas.
It would appear the style of the statesmanlike Pellegrini, who it is said regards the concept of entertaining and attacking football as non-negotiable, is an easier fit to this template than Mancini.
Having won the Premier League, the Champions League will have been fixed in the mind's eye of owner Sheikh Mansour and chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak. City's lamentable group phase, coupled with Mancini's unimpressive record in the competition with Inter Milan, will have hardened the belief that someone else was needed for this job.
Pellegrini has a decent record in the competition - he took unfashionable Villarreal to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2006 - where they lost to Arsenal - before the Gunners also knocked them out in the last eight a year later.
His one season in the Champions League with Real Madrid saw a defeat in the last 16 at the hands of Lyon, but he was only denied from taking Malaga to the last four this season by Borussia Dortmund's remarkable fightback which saw them score twice in stoppage-time.
Sadly for City and Mancini, so aware of the rather undignified departure of his successor Mark Hughes in 2009, things were allowed to get messy and a few items of dirty laundry were aired in public.
"The key thing in the statement is the holistic side of it. I think what has gone against him is his man- management style. There are issues other than the performance that have undermined him.
"When you look at the flashpoints Mancini has had this season, that gives you an indication of the difference in holistic approach that City are looking for."
This surfaced in a tense briefing in Wembley's media theatre on Saturday when Mancini effectively, and unnecessarily, named and shamed the club's communications department for failing to kill off speculation about Pellegrini. He now knows why this was impossible.
And Mancini only needs to recall the circumstances of his own appointment, in through the back door as Hughes was going out of the front, to know there is an element of 'live by the sword die by the sword' in management.
As stated previously Mancini will have his sympathisers - and rightly so. He may have spent close to £300m but it bought the success that had eluded City for so long.
This season, however, shone a harsher spotlight on some of those purchases. The Mario Balotelli experiment ended with his sale to AC Milan after a series of non-performances, Edin Dzeko has looked a poor return on £27m and Samir Nasri has once again under-performed.
Mancini's departure also tells a tale of missed opportunity. In some respects City had the Premier League at their mercy last summer after winning the title but a sudden complacency seemed to take hold.
And this is where Mancini will forever complain about the hand he was dealt. It was obvious, and made obvious by him on countless occasions, that he wanted better signings than those that arrived last summer.
Mancini wanted Robin van Persie (although it was clear from very early on that he wanted Old Trafford), Eden Hazard and Daniele De Rossi. They either moved elsewhere or stayed put.
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In their stead came an unremarkable stream of signings in the shape of Jack Rodwell,Maicon, Scott Sinclair, Javi Garcia and the outstanding exception Matija Nastasic. Strictly B-List when Mancini insisted he always wanted a stellar cast.
Place these circumstances together and you have route that led to Monday night's conclusion.
The next step is expected to be the arrival of Pellegrini. City have made their intentions clear. Sir Alex Ferguson calls Manchester United "the bus that waits for no-one" - Begiristain and his cohorts want to build a similar vehicle across the city.
A fierce Premier League response will be demanded while there must be no more embarrassments in the Champions League. There will not be a demand to win it but there must be no repeat of this season's shoddy effort.
Mancini is not a figure who attracts sympathy but there was something almost poignant about his last public words as Manchester City manager, sitting rain-soaked in front of the media at Wembley.
Asked about Pellegrini and his future he said: "We will see if it is true in the next two weeks. If it is not true you have written stupid things in the last six months. If it is true I'm stupid because I don't understand this."
Now he knows.


Crawley midfielder Gwion Edwards has joined League One side Peterborough for an undisclosed six-figure fee.

Ex-Swansea trainee Edwards, 23, has agreed a three-year deal with Posh.
"We have been tracking Gwion for quite a while now. He is a clever footballer and he has had two good years with Crawley, especially last year," boss Grant McCann told the club website.
"He will suit the way we play. He is a special talent and I am confident we can make him better in the future."
Crawley head coach Dermot Drummy told his club's website: "I spoke to Gwion about extending his contract beyond the end of next season but he made it clear he wanted a new challenge.
"It's obviously disappointing to see him go because, even from the short time I worked with him, I could see his qualities."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


Tyrone counted the cost of their first McKenna Cup defeat in six years as a suspected cruciate damage for Connor McAliskey was among four injuries they sustained against Cavan.

McAliskey was forced off late on after Michael Cassidy, Rory Brennan, and Ronan O'Neill had picked up earlier injuries in the 1-13 to 0-11 defeat.
"It's threatening at the minute," said Mickey Harte of McAliskey's injury.
"We probably won't know until there's a scan done."
A cruciate ligament injury would almost certainly rule out McAliskey from football for a number of months and possibly for the rest of 2017.
Debutant Cassidy hobbled off with an ankle injury early in the game and his replacement Brennan was then forced off before half-time with a shoulder problem.
To cap off a bad day on the injuries front for the Red Hands, Harte added that forward Ronan O'Neill "didn't look that healthy" at the end of the game.
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Like Cavan, Tyrone finished the game with 14 players with Mattie Donnelly sent off three minutes from time after being adjudged to have caught Seanie Johnston with a blow to the face.
Cavan's Niall McDermott had been dismissed 10 minutes earlier after picking up his second yellow card.
Manager Harte felt that Donnelly's dismissal - which could rule him out of Tyrone's two remaining Section C games - had been harsh although video evidence showed him raising his hand towards Johnston's face in the off-the-ball incident.
Johnston clutched his face after falling to the turf following the incident although the extent of the contact was not clear from the match footage.
"I did see what happened to Mattie Donnelly and I certainly didn't think it was a red card," said the Tyrone boss.
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"Seanie Johnston went to step inside him and he (Donnelly) threw out his hand, just to try and tackle him or stop him and somehow touched him round the face somewhere.
"It appeared to be very bad at the time but shortly after that didn't appear to be that bad."
Cavan's win saw Mattie McGleenan's side became the first team to beat Tyrone in the McKenna Cup since Derry's final triumph over the Red Hands in the 2011 competition.
Harte said his team's McKenna Cup fate is now "out of our own hands".
"Even if we win our last two games (Ulster University and Donegal), we'll still be depending on other people for results.
"It's not a good place to be. You like to always be in control of your own destiny."


Devon's entire library service is to be turned into an independent organisation in a bid to save £1.5m over the next two years.

Councillors have approved plans for a community-owned "mutual" that would be commissioned by Devon County Council to run the service on its behalf.
In February, the authority approved £46m of cuts for 2015-16 after a drop in government funding.
But union Unison warned that job posts and libraries could still close.
Andy Bowman, from the union, which represents library staff, said: "The authority could cut back the amount of money it pays for the 'mutual' library service, forcing it to cutback on the number of libraries and staff.
"It's abdicating its responsibility to this new body and distancing itself from the bottom line decisions as to who has jobs and what libraries stay."
However, the Conservative-led council said that in response to "overwhelming support" from communities who wanted to work more closely with the libraries, the new organisation would "continue to deliver an affordable, sustainable and innovative library service".
Conservative councillor Roger Croad, cabinet member with responsibility for the library service, said: "We have seen library closures happening across the country, and we want to avoid that happening here."
The authority has cut £3m from its library service budget over the past three years.


A Spanish civil servant who failed to turn up for work for "at least" six years has been caught after becoming eligible for a long service award.

Joaquin Garcia, 69, was fined â‚¬27,000 (Â£21,000; $30,000) after the award brought his long absence to light.
Mr Garcia, whose job was to supervise the building of a waste water treatment plant, has since retired.
He denies the allegations and his lawyer says he has gone into hiding after suffering a media "lynching".
Mr Garcia said he had been a victim of political bullying in the job and moved to a post where there was no work to do.
He was paid â‚¬37,000 a year before tax by a water company run by local authorities in the south-western city of Cadiz. A court found in the authority's favour and ordered him to pay the fine ,which is equivalent to one year's salary after tax and was the most that the company could legally reclaim.
He has written to the mayor asking not to have to pay the fine, and will ask for a review of the judgement.
Spanish newspapers have dubbed him "el funcionario fantasma" - the phantom official.
The court heard that the boss of the water company had not seen Mr Garcia for years despite occupying an office opposite his.
The water company thought he was supervised by the local authorities and vice versa.
The deputy mayor noticed his absence when Mr Garcia became eligible to receive a plaque for 20 years' service.
Mr Garcia says he was bullied due to his family's politics, and was sent to the water company to be out of the way. He found there was no work to do there.
People close to him told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo that he was reluctant to report it as he had a family to provide for, and worried that at his age he would not get another job.
They said he did go to the office, although not for full business hours every day, and that he dedicated himself to reading philosophy.


Colombia's Farc rebels have begun an indefinite, unilateral ceasefire.

The group unexpectedly announced on Wednesday that it would begin a truce for an unlimited time from Saturday.
The move has been welcomed by the UN and the European Union. However, Colombia's government said it would not join the rebels in the truce.
Hours ahead of the ceasefire, the army said Farc had killed five soldiers in an ambush. The rebels attacked a patrol in a rural area of western Colombia.
President Juan Manuel Santos described Farc's ceasefire declaration as a "gift... full of thorns".
He has rejected rebel calls for a bilateral truce, warning that this would give them the chance to re-arm.
He also condemned the ambush, saying the soldiers had died "defending the security of their fellow Colombians".
Representatives of Colombia's government and the Farc have been holding talks in the Cuban capital, Havana, for more than two years.
The talks were almost derailed in November after the Farc captured a Colombian general, Ruben Dario Alzate, prompting President Santos to suspend the negotiations.
The rebels released the general unharmed in an effort to revive the talks.
Earlier this week, they announced that they would observe a truce starting at midnight local time (0500 GMT) on Saturday. It should become a formal armistice and would only end if they were attacked, they said.
The Farc have declared ceasefires in the past, but these have been temporary. It has also staged similar attacks to the one on Friday, just before the commencing its ceasefires.


Community health councils (CHCs) in Wales are to re-launch themselves at their annual conference after admitting many patients do not know they exist.

The watchdogs want higher profiles as bodies which can raise concerns about the NHS when things go wrong.
Peter Meredith-Smith, CHCs board director, admits public awareness is "poor" and a "real weakness".
"It is disappointing that we have been described as 'the best kept secret in Wales,'" he told BBC Wales.
The conference in Cardiff on Thursday marks the 40th anniversary of the watchdogs, but will set out challenges on how they need to change.
The CHCs believe too few patients know they exist and they also need to be easier to access and to work together more effectively.
"If the CHC is to effectively discharge its role as the patient watchdog for Wales, then the patient and the public need to know we exist, what we do and how to contact us," said Mr Meredith-Smith.
"Recent healthcare-related reviews have found that general awareness of CHCs is poor.
"That is a real weakness which we intend to address with vigour and it is a prominent factor in our three-year strategy."
Mr Meredith-Smith said the biggest concern of patients is pressures on accident and emergency departments.
Reorganisation of hospital services had led to concerns, especially in rural areas where distance and transport issues can be "exceptionally worrying".
The patients' watchdog is looking to work more closely with regulator Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW) in future.
CHCs will unveil a formal link with HIW, which is responsible for inspecting and regulating healthcare in Wales.
The patients' body has already held joint inspections at 38 GP surgeries last year during a pilot project.
The desire to revamp how they operate is set against a background of:
CHCs were scrapped in England but kept in Wales.
New legislation is also due to come into effect next month which aims to bring a more consistent approach in how the network of eight CHCs work across Wales.
The CHC board will be challenged with giving the organisation more of a focus.
It also hopes to work more closely with the Older People's Commissioner and the care social services inspectorate.


An elite unit of soldiers in Ivory Coast has mutinied, firing into the air at their base in the south-eastern town Adiake, near the border with Ghana.

Residents have stayed indoors and shops and schools have closed.
The Ivorian special forces, who report directly to the president's office, have accused their commanders of stealing part of their salaries.
It comes a month after regular soldiers staged a mutiny over pay and conditions.
"Gunfire began earlier in the special forces' camp and then the town began panicking as armed soldiers left the barracks," a high school teacher told the Reuters news agency.
The BBC's Alex Duval Smith in the main city of Abidjan says the special forces number up to 800, are rarely seen in public and are considered loyal to the government.
A delegation from the chief of staff's office has flown by helicopter to the base to negotiate with the commandos, she says.
Local media reports one soldier as saying that he has received only $80 (Â£64) of his $400 monthly salary.
Adiake is home to a maritime base that trains commandos and provides coastal surveillance.
Last month, the government agreed to the demands of the other mutinous soldiers, some of whom were former rebels who backed President Alassane Ouattara.
But the payout has angered other segments of the military, raising fears of a resurgence of the violence seen during Ivory Coast's 10-year civil war, which ended in 2011.


A hearing into the circumstances that led to Nick Blackwell undergoing brain surgery will be held in January, the British Boxing Board of Control says.

Blackwell needed an emergency procedure to reduce brain swelling following an unsanctioned sparring session.
The 26-year-old retired from boxing earlier this year after he had to be put into an induced coma following a defeat by Chris Eubank Jr.
Blackwell remains stable in hospital but is yet to regain consciousness.
The former British middleweight champion is no longer being sedated, but he had a section of his skull removed to ease swelling on his brain. His recovery time and prognosis remain unclear.
The BBBofC's initial investigation has found that Blackwell was involved in a gym sparring session with a licenced boxer on 22 November.
BBC Wales Sport understand he is a professional fighter rather than an amateur.
Blackwell complained of headaches after the sparring session and was taken to hospital where it was determined surgery was necessary.
BBBofC secretary Robert Smith told BBC Wales Sport: "We are calling people we know were involved and we are calling people we believe were involved.
"We are looking at arranging a hearing that will happen early in January. It is a matter we are taking extremely seriously.
"We want to hear from Nick as well, health permitting."
Smith said the board would not yet discuss possible sanctions against those involved, although promoter Frank Warren has called for them to have their licences revoked.
"We will wait and see what happens at the hearing, I don't want to speculate on possible punishment," Smith added.
Blackwell's former trainer Gary Lockett, who was unaware Blackwell was sparring, says he is facing a long road to recovery.
"This is not a quick process, we are looking at several months," he said.
Lockett has called on the people who let Blackwell spar to be banned from the sport.
"I can't believe the boxer he sparred with, and the coach or coaches involved, would ever allow Nick to spar when he's had a brain injury," Lockett told BBC Radio Wales.
"In due course, I hope they are dealt with by the British Boxing Board of Control in the correct manner."


A strap for a medieval false leg has been uncovered by archaeologists digging at Gloucester Cathedral.

Metal pieces from a prosthesis band were found with a skeleton in the old lay cemetery.
Experts say traces of bone and possibly wood, found with the band, suggest it supported a prosthetic leg.
Helen Jeffrey from the cathedral said: "We are astonished they found it, it was clogged in mud and looked like little pieces of stones."
The excavation is part of the ongoing Project Pilgrim scheme to redevelop parts of the cathedral.
The pieces, including a metal buckle and a fragment of the strap, were unearthed in the dig south-east of the building's South Porch.
Ms Jeffrey added: "We expected to find some burial sites and skeletons as it used to be a lay cemetery and these little pieces of iron were found in a grave with a skeleton.
"It was just a real puzzler and we had it taken away to be analysed - something similar is on display in London."
The object is expected to go on display at the cathedral in the future.


Japan has launched a cargo ship which will use a half mile- (700m)-long tether to remove some of the vast amount of debris from Earth's orbit.

The tether, made of aluminium strands and steel wire, is designed to slow the debris, pulling it out of orbit.
The innovative device was made with the help of a fishing net company.
There is estimated to be more than 100 million pieces of space junk in orbit, including discarded equipment from old satellites, tools and bits of rocket.
Many of these objects are moving at high velocity around the Earth at speeds of up to 28,000km/h (17,500mph) and could cause catastrophic accidents and damage to the world's orbital telecommunications network.
The junk has accumulated in the more than 50 years of human space exploration since the Soviet-launched Sputnik satellite in 1957.
Collisions between satellites and the testing of anti-satellite weapons have made the problem worse.
The automated cargo ship - called Stork or Kounotori in Japanese - which is carrying the junk collector is bound for the International Space Station and blasted off from Tanegashima Space Center in the North Pacific.
Researchers say the lubricated, electro-dynamic tether will generate enough energy to change an object's orbit, pushing it towards the atmosphere where it will burn up.
A 106-year-old Japanese fishing net maker, Nitto Seimo Co, collaborated with Japan's space agency to develop the mesh material, Bloomberg reported last month.
The experiment is part of an international initiative designed to make space safer for astronauts by getting rid of space junk.
It is hoped that it will also provide better protection for space stations and weather and communications satellites worth billions of dollars.
The junk collector is the latest in a series of ideas put forward to tackle the problem, including harpooning, sweeping, lassoing and dragging debris into the atmosphere for burning.
Experts say there are big financial benefits in reducing the risk for the multi-billion dollar space industry, but they caution that the Japanese scheme will only work for bigger pieces of junk.


Forensic science standards risk slipping since work was transferred to in-house police labs and private firms, the spending watchdog has warned.

The National Audit Office said there was too little data on forensic services used by forces and companies risked being pushed out of the market.
Crime scene evidence was analysed by the Forensic Science Service in England and Wales until it was axed in 2012.
The Home Office said it monitored the forensic science market closely.
Police are commissioning more work from their own laboratories - with an estimated Â£122m being spent this year - but the NAO said many in-house labs did not meet accreditation standards.
The NAO said the Forensic Science Regulator, which monitors the work, does not have complete data on which police labs are accredited and has no statutory powers to enforce them to comply with standards.
Reflecting concerns from within the forensics community, the NAO paper said: "If suppliers did pull out of the market this could present a risk of service interruption, and lack of capacity could hold up criminal cases or cause them to collapse."
The report raised doubts about the effectiveness of Home Office oversight, pointing to what it describes as a lack of data on forensics spending by police forces.
The Home Office collects figures on forensic services procured through a tendering system called the National Forensic Framework but this framework is not compulsory and the department lacks data on those procured outside the system.
The Commons Science and Technology Committee has warned of risks to forensic provision in two previous reports.
Committee chairman, Labour MP Andrew Miller, told BBC News: "What the NAO have identified does not surprise me at all.
"Should it worry us? Yes. How can anyone be certain, given the confusion, as to what is going to happen to the integrity of our whole criminal justice system when you can't identify what the costs are - and therefore where benefits lie?"
There are concerns in the private sector that police labs are able to operate more cheaply, creating an "unequal playing field".
December 2010 - The government announces plans to close the Forensic Science Service (FSS), a government-owned company (GovCo) which employs 1,600 staff. The government says it is losing about Â£2m a month.
July 2011 - An MPs' inquiry concludes that the government did not consider the wider impacts of closing the FSS, and that financial reasons took precedence.
October 2011 - In its official response to the inquiry, the government argues that allowing the FSS to enter administration would have caused serious damage to the criminal justice system.
March 2012 - The FSS officially shuts its doors, with operations transferred to private companies and in-house police labs.
July 2013 - A follow-up inquiry by the Commons Science and Technology Committee concludes that major crimes could go unsolved unless the government does more to support forensic science.
November 2013 - The government launches a consultation over plans to boost the powers of the forensic regulator in England and Wales.
A Home Office spokesman said: "Police reform is working and we continue to ensure forces have access to the best possible forensic services, whilst protecting taxpayers from the Â£2m losses that were made by the Forensic Science Service each month.
"'Police spending with private forensic suppliers has reduced for a number of reasons; such as falling crime, lower costs due to improved processes and greater competition.
"It is for police and crime commissioners and chief constables to decide how to spend their budgets. However, we monitor the market closely to make sure it remains competitive and it continues to provide forces what they need."
Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own publicly-funded forensic science providers; the Scottish Police Services Authority Forensic Services and Forensic Science Northern Ireland.


Whatever happened to interplanetary travel, hover cars, and hypersonic jets?

Once it seemed as if there were no limits to how far or fast we could travel, such were the leaps in technological development in the 19th and 20th Centuries.
Inventors dreamed up all sorts wonderful vehicles, from rocket-propelled bicycles to flying cars, propeller-powered railways to monowheels.
In 1895, HG Wells even imagined a machine that could travel through time.
Steam power, the internal combustion engine and flight promised unprecedented levels of mobility and freedom.
Nation competed with nation to travel further, higher and faster by land, sea and air.
Speed was king.
And when the nuclear age dawned it seemed as if we had another, almost limitless power supply at our disposal, prompting thrilling designs for nuclear-powered rockets, cars, planes, trains and boats.
"On that train all graphite and glitter; undersea by rail; 90 minutes from New York to Paris... What a beautiful world this will be, what a glorious time to be free."
So sang Donald Fagen in the song I.G.Y. [International Geophysical Year] from his 1982 album, The Nightfly, evoking the technological optimism of his childhood in 1950s America.
In 1957, the year the song is set, the USSR launched the world's first earth-orbiting satellite, Sputnik 1.
Mankind seemed to be one step away from becoming Masters of the Universe.
"People were looking at the pace of technological development and as we got into quantum physics it even seemed that the notion of teleportation was plausible," says Glenn Lyons, professor of transport and society at the University of the West of England.
"There were certainly some leaps of faith."
So why did so many of those wide-eyed visions for tomorrow's transport never come to pass?
"The reason they didn't happen is the same reason why they won't happen in the future - technological utopianism," says Colin Divall, professor of railway studies at York University.
"There's always a vested interested in overhyping new transport schemes, because inventors are looking for investment."
And there's the rub - money, or lack of it.
George Bennie's Railplane - a suspended carriage driven by propellers fore and aft - made it to the prototype stage near Glasgow in 1930, but did not then get commercial backing. Bennie went bust in 1937.
"Bennie's train did work as did other prototypes, such as the hovercraft on a track in the late 1960s, but they were never commercially viable," says Prof Divall.
Rene Couzinet's elegant and intriguing Aerodyne RC-360 "flying saucer" failed to win government support and never got off the ground - literally.
Concorde, the elegant delta-winged supersonic passenger jet capable of 1,350mph (2,173kph), was noisy, polluting and pricey. It made its last flight in 2003.
Space travel in particular has proved astronomically expensive - pun intended - which is why no-one has revisited the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
Nasa's 1972-2011 space shuttle programme cost nearly $200bn (Â£132bn) in total for 135 missions - or about $1.5bn per flight.
Gravity, it seems, is a very tough nut to crack.
Tomorrow's Transport is a series exploring innovation in all forms of mobility against a backdrop of global warming and rising population.
Alan Bond, founding director of Oxfordshire-based Reaction Engines, believes his company has developed a jet engine capable of powering a passenger plane at Mach 5 - five times the speed of sound - meaning a flight from London to Sydney would take under five hours.
"But at the moment no-one has moved on that because it's going to be very expensive to develop - there has to be a strong commercial incentive," he says.
Innovation costs, and if the invention doesn't solve a pressing problem for the majority of people at a price they can afford, it's unlikely to take off.
It also doesn't help if your futuristic transport project ends up killing people.
The sinking of the "unsinkable" Titanic in 1912, with the loss of more than 1,500 lives, did little to increase the popularity of luxury ocean liners.
But it did usher in a number of new maritime safety regulations and ultimately did little to halt the mid-20th Century boom in ocean travel.
However, when the majestic Hindenburg, the largest hydrogen-filled zeppelin ever made, caught fire and crashed to the ground in 1937, killing 36 people, the disaster effectively ended the use of airships as passenger transport.
Air travel in particular demanded stringent global safety standards to win public trust, leading to a conservatism in design and a cautious, iterative approach to technological development.
The iconic Boeing 747 "Jumbo Jet", first flown commercially in 1970, looks almost identical to the 747s flying today, 45 years later.
Similarly, motor cars of the early 20th Century were more distinctive and diverse than they are now, but the need for global safety standards saw a gradual homogenisation in design.
Of course, global warming caused by manmade greenhouse gases has imposed severe strictures on all future transport projects.
Transport contributes about 25% of global carbon dioxide emissions, yet the global population continues to rise along with demand for mobility.
Car technology may have come on in leaps and bounds, but our potholed roads are gridlocked and many megacities around the world are wreathed in lethal pollution.
Our wantonness with hydrocarbons has become self-destructive and cannot continue, argue many.
So the race is on to switch to alternative low-carbon fuels - conventional electric batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, and compressed air to name a few.
There is also a lot of work going on to make our existing vehicles more efficient - using more lightweight materials, for example - and making use of data analytics to improve how we operate and integrate our urban transport systems.
But in the digital age, are we beginning to think differently about transport?
"Our cities will increasingly function through the mass movement of information rather than the movement of vehicles," argues Prof Lyons.
Others disagree, believing the human need to travel, explore and trade will always keep us on the move.
Over the coming weeks our Tomorrow's Transport series will be exploring how we are responding to these challenges and featuring forthcoming innovations in planes, trains and automobiles.