The main suspect of the disappearance of the British girl Madeleine McCann in 2007 was released from a German prison on Wednesday after serving a seven-year sentence for an unreeding sexual crime.
German prosecutors named Christian Brueckner as a suspect for the first time in 2020, when he was already serving time to rape a 72 -year -old woman in the same Algarve region in Portugal, where McCann disappeared.
“I can confirm that he was released at 9:15 am, local time, accompanied by a police escort,” said Marcell Farbowski, a prison spokesman in Sehnde, adding that Brueckner was taken by his lawyer.
Unique opportunity
Legacy Card: Far beyond a service
The reporters saw a car from prison.
Brueckner’s lawyer denies any connection with the McCann case. He did not immediately respond to a request for commentary on his client’s release.
Brueckner, 49, has convictions for child abuse and drug trafficking, as well as the rape of the woman, who has died.
Continues after advertising
Der Spiegel magazine reported that Brueckner’s release was linked to very strict conditions: his passport has been canceled, he will use an electronic label and should declare a place of residence from which he will not be able to leave without permission.
“This is an attempt by prosecutors to keep him in a kind of investigative detention, where they have access to him all the time,” said lawyer Philipp Marquort, according to Der Spiegel.
A three -year -old McCann disappeared from his room at a vacation resort while his parents had dinner meters away.
Continues after advertising
The United Kingdom, Germany and Portugal police, who identified Brueckner as the main suspect, has long been looking for proofs that call him conclusively to the case. The Portuguese and German police spent four days looking for evidence in the Algarve in June.
British police said on Monday that Brueckner refused his request for interrogation in connection with the disappearance. They said they would continue to seek any viable lines of investigation.
Brueckner lived in the Algarve between 1995 and 2007, where, according to judicial documents seen by Reutershe stole hotels and vacation apartments.
Continues after advertising
McCann’s parents continue to campaign for their daughter, who would now be 22, to be found and issue a statement every year on the birthday of his disappearance.
“We love her so much and miss you beyond the words,” they wrote on their site.
