Christian Brueckner, 48, has been accused by prosecutors of murdering the three-year-old in Portugal in 2007, but is now seeking early release from a 2019 prison term
The prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann might soon be released from prison, as authorities are hurriedly trying to charge the German citizen.
Prosecutors have levelled allegations against 48 year old Christian Brueckner, asserting that he murdered the three year old in Portugal back in 2007. However, the suspect, currently serving a sentence, is seeking an early discharge from his 2019 conviction after last year’s acquittal on unrelated offences.
Investigators are concerned that he could be back on the streets within a fortnight, prompting urgent meetings with key witnesses in the Madeleine case to gear up for the potential indictment of Breuckner.
An insider shared with The Sun: “Normally a move like his bid for an early release would be laughed out of court. But everyone is very nervous after what happened with his rape trial last year. The court was surprisingly favourable to him. Brueckner’s lawyers know they need to go for this now, in case an appeal against his acquittal is allowed. That will create a new arrest warrant and he’ll be stuck behind bars.”
Furthermore, the source conveyed that the team prosecuting the McCann case is anxious that once the suspect is freed, he may vanish without a trace, an outcome that would spell “disaster” for her parents, Kate and Gerry.
Following a German court’s decision to clear him of unrelated rape and sex abuse charges in Portugal between 2000 and 2017, Brueckner’s fate remains uncertain. He is currently serving a seven-year sentence for the 2005 rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, but is set to be released in September.
However, prosecutors are considering an appeal against the acquittal, and if successful, could lead to a retrial. In a surprising twist, Brueckner’s lawyers are pushing for his early release, leaving prosecutors “nervous” about the court’s potential decision, reports the Mirror.
If Brueckner is freed, Madeleine’s lawyers plan to appeal, which could delay his release by months. If that appeal is rejected, authorities will be forced to charge Brueckner in connection with Madeleine’s disappearance on May 3, 2007, in Praia da Luz, and issue a new arrest warrant to keep him behind bars.
