Filip Singer / EPA
Christian Bruckner, the main suspect in the Maddie case, was present in court this Friday.
The German authorities expressed concern about Christian Brueckner’s imminent liberation, fearing that the main suspect of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, which occurred in 2007 in the Algarve, and described as “dangerous,” escape from the country.
German prosecutors believe that Christian Brueckner48, killed AA British Madeleine McCann, three, in the Portuguese tourist resort, in a case that has intrigued the world for almost two decades and remains unresolved.
However, by lack of sufficient evidence To formalize an accusation, it can do nothing to prevent Brueckner, which has a history of violent sexual crimes, to leave the German prison freedom in which he is detained Until September 17.
Brueckner has always denied any involvement In the case of Maddie. According to, his defense lawyer did not respond this week to requests for comment from the agency France-Presse.
The prosecutor responsible for the process, Christian Woltershe said he believed that the man, identified by the German authorities only as Christian B.continues to be “fundamentally dangerous”. A psychiatric expert who recently evaluated him concluded that“It is to be expected to practice new sexual crimes”.
“Did not do any therapy Or similar treatment in prison, which means that from our point of view we have to assume that it will again repeat, ”said Wolters.
The Public Prosecution Service has requested that liberation be accompanied by measures as or use of electronic bracelet and the obligation to communicate your residence. Still, even if these conditions are applied, Brueckner will be “basically a free man”Stressed the prosecutor.
“I assume you will leave Germany. Because of all media attention, not to have to deal with it constantly, ”added Wolters.
Madeleine disappeared from the family vacation apartment in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, in May 2007, while her parents had dinner in a restaurant nearby.
Despite a vast international search operation, numerous clues that have not taken anywhere and Years of intense media attentionit was never found Any trace of the child.
By 2020, in an advertisement that had huge impact, German prosecutors, who was known to attend the region at the time, as the main suspect.
Prosecutors claim to have Not specified “concrete tests”but admit that are not enough to ensure a condemnationwhich is why they never advanced with formal accusations regarding Maddie’s death.
Brueckner currently is a sentence in Germany for violation From a 72-year-old American, in the same area of the Algarve where Madeleine disappeared.
In October 2022, it was still accused of five crimes Separated from violation and sexual abuse of minors, allegedly committed between 2000 and 2017, but was acquitted of these accusations earlier this year.
The Braunschweig Public Prosecution Service, where this trial took place, filed an appeal and requested the repetition of the case in another court. However, a decision should not be known before next year.
“We just hope that, If we need him again, it is possible to locate it”Wolters said.“ We asked for the court inform by the court if you want to travel abroad… but of course, in principle you cannot prohibit a free man from moving from one country to another. ”
The prosecutor added that the investigation to the McCann case remains underway.
“I can just say that in five years of investigation, we found nothing that refut the suspicion against Christian B.”, Stressed the prosecutor.“ That is, We found no proof that the innocentno alibi, no indication that I could not be in that place.
“For us, Christian B. is responsible for the death of Madeleine “And it’s solely responsible,” concludes the prosecutor.
