Madeleine McCann Prime Suspect to Be Freed from German Prison in Weeks
German prosecutors warn that their prime suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance remains dangerous as he nears release, outlining efforts to impose legal restrictions.
German prosecutors confirm that Christian Brückner, the prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance of toddler Madeleine McCann, will be released from prison by September 17 at the latest.
Brückner, 48, is serving a sentence in northern Germany for a separate rape conviction. Hans Christian Wolters, the lead prosecutor on the McCann case, told INLIBER that despite assessing Brückner as a danger to society, legal constraints require his release.
The German national has never been charged over Madeleine’s disappearance and denies any involvement. The then-three-year-old vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007, triggering one of Europe’s most high-profile missing persons investigations.
German prosecutors cite evidence placing Brückner in the area when Madeleine went missing, but say it falls short of securing a conviction. “He is not just our number one suspect, he’s the only suspect,” Wolters said. “We have evidence indicating his responsibility for Madeleine’s disappearance and presumed death, but not enough for a guilty verdict at this stage.”
Differences between the German and British legal systems mean Germany treats the case as a murder investigation, while UK authorities still record it as a missing persons inquiry. Portuguese police also named Brückner as a formal suspect, or “arguido”.
Wolters added that Brückner was recently deemed a threat by an expert assessment and that prosecutors are seeking court-imposed restrictions upon his release, potentially including electronic monitoring. A closed hearing will decide these conditions.
Brückner, a former drifter and convicted sex offender, has prior convictions for child sexual abuse in 1994 and 2016. German investigators have linked his mobile phone data and a vehicle sale to their case. He is currently jailed for raping a 72-year-old American tourist in Portugal in 2005.
A June search of land between the McCanns’ former holiday apartment and Brückner-linked addresses yielded no new breakthroughs, though seized items remain under analysis. Wolters said further searches are not ruled out.
The imminent release of Christian Brückner, deemed dangerous yet uncharged in Madeleine McCann’s case, underscores the legal barriers in pursuing justice.
This topic was reported by BBC.
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