- Christian Brueckner could soon be released from prison
- A judge revoked his mandatory prison order
- He was named the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann
An order keeping the main suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, Christian Brueckner, behind bars has been dramatically overturned, dealing a crucial blow to investigators.
Convicted paedophile and rapist Brueckner, 47, was served with the court document last year when he was due to be released from jail and it was used to keep him in custody while he stood trial for unrelated sex offences.
In June 2020, he was named the prime suspect in the 2007 “kidnapping and murder” of Madeleine McCann by German police, but has not been charged with any crime in connection with the case since.
He was due to be released from prison early last year after being convicted of raping an elderly American woman in Praia ds Luz, Portugal, the same area where Madeleine disappeared when she was three.
The documents – described in Germany as an arrest warrant – were issued to keep him in prison to face three charges of rape and two of child sexual abuse, which are said to have been committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017 and his trial for them began in February.
Convicted paedophile and rapist Christian Brueckner, 47 (pictured), was served with the court document last year when he was due to be released from jail.
Brueckner is the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann
Several witnesses were heard at the trial in Braunschweig, near Hanover, Germany, including two men who claim Brueckner was involved in Madeleine’s disappearance and a Scotland Yard officer investigating the case.
Judge Ute Engemann’s decision, taken at the request of Brueckner’s legal team, was announced in a brief press release from the court which said that “the Chamber revoked the arrest warrant at the request of the defence.”
There was no immediate comment from prosecutors in the sex cases or Hans Christian Wolters, spokesman for the German investigation into the McCanns, but it is understood they may appeal.
Brueckner last appeared in court in Braunschweig, Germany, on Friday in a wheelchair after injuring his ankle and the application for the order was filed by his legal team last month.
Speaking to MailOnline, Brueckner’s lawyer Philipp Marquort said: “This is great news for us and it’s the end of the case – 99% certain.
There was no immediate comment from prosecutors in the sex cases or from Hans Christian Wolters, spokesman for the German investigation into the McCanns.
The trial in Braunschweig, near Hanover, Germany, has heard from several witnesses, including two men who claim Brueckner was involved in Madeleine’s disappearance.
He was due to be released from prison early last year after being convicted of raping an elderly American woman in Praia ds Luz, Portugal.
‘You only have to look at the quality of the evidence presented so far to see that there is no case to answer.
‘His legal team is delighted with the news and I will now call Mr Brueckner to tell him. His lead lawyer (Friedrich) Fulscher is on holiday.
“That means the prison where he’s serving time has to start preparing him for release, which technically should be next spring or summer, but there’s a good chance it could happen later this year.”
The news was announced in a court press release and full details are expected to be announced at the next hearing on Friday.
In a text message to MailOnline, Mr Fulscher said: “I’m the best,” adding a sunglasses emoji.
It’s still unclear exactly what will happen in this saga after today’s dramatic twist, but it’s possible Bruckner will be released imminently.
And his legal team is certainly expected to start pushing for this to happen immediately.
If he is released, it would potentially be much harder for authorities in Portugal, Germany or the UK to pursue him over the Madeleine case, as he could revert to the nomadic lifestyle he led when he was previously released, although he would still have access to legal remedies to put obstacles in the way of anyone trying to investigate him.
