Latest news with #Brueckner
Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Madeleine McCann breakthrough hopes as suspect may be held in jail longer
Christian Brueckner, a convicted paedophile and rapist, was named the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann back in 2020 - but police haven't been able to charge him due to lack of evidence Police could get an extra three months to charge the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann after a mystery donor withdrew her financial support for the paedophile. Christian Brueckner is currently imprisoned in Germany for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Praia da Luz, the same Portuguese resort town where Madeleine was last seen at her parent's holiday apartment. But prosecutors are becoming worried as they fear his seven-year sentence - which finishes in September - will come before they can make charges stick in relation to the British youngster's disappearance. Brueckner denies any involvement in her disappearance. A former female police officer's mystery donation had allowed him to be released in September after she settled an outstanding £1,300 court fine he owed. However, the officer - who worked for Germany's version of the FBI - has told prosecutors she made a "mistake" and is begging for the funds to be returned. According to The Sun, the request is being carefully considered, and officials are trying to find a way they can send the money back. Reports in Germany said: 'In an email to the Braunschweig Public Prosecutor's Office, the former BKA employee is now demanding repayment of the money. She stated that she was unaware that Christian B. had been convicted in previous cases, including forgery.' The ex-cop told officials: "I therefore wish to contest my declaration of intent to repay the payment and invalidate the legal transaction accordingly." The Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) (Federal Criminal Police Office) officer made the payment in relation to a Helmstedt District Court fine for drunkenness in traffic and forgery of documents from 2016, and a 2017 fine for assault in Braunschweig. The prosecutors say they have now found evidence "the payment was made by mistake" and that they're investigating how "the payment received in the criminal case against Christian B. can actually be credit toward the fine imposed there. Brueckner has been the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine since 2020 but he has never been charged in relation to the crime. Through letters, he's claimed his innocence, but has yet to provide an alibi and refuses to answer police questions. On the night of Madeleine's disappearance in 2007, investigators found that he made a 30-minute call from the area, and he re-registered his vehicle under a different name the following day. It's feared he will disappear as soon as he is given his freedom - meaning detectives only have a few months to uncover more evidence, and definitively link him to the case. Brueckner was only a teenager himself when he was handed his first conviction for child sexual abuse in Germany in 1994. He fled to Portugal the next year in a bid to escape his youth custody sentence, but was extradited to to Germany in 1999 to serve his sentence. Upon release from prison, Brueckner went back to Portugal, where he lived a nomadic lifestyle in a VW camper van. He stole from hotels and holiday flats to support himself financially. In 2005, he raped a 72-year-old American woman, an offence for which he was jailed 14 years later. Brueckner spent time in the Praia de Luz area of Portugal between 2000 and 2017. His home was just one mile away from the Ocean Club, where the McCann family were staying when Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007. Years later, investigators reportedly found his mobile phone had received a call close to the holiday flat complex around one hour before the three-year-old was reported missing.
Scottish Sun
03-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Hopes for Madeleine McCann breakthrough as Brueckner could be kept in prison LONGER – giving cops vital time to nail him
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MADELEINE McCann suspect Christian Brueckner could face three extra months behind bars after the woman who paid his fine asked for her money back. The mystery donor - an ex-cop who investigated the suspect - settled a £1,300 outstanding court fine allowing Brueckner, 48, to walk free in September. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007, while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz in Portugal Credit: PA 6 Christian Brueckner is believed to be the lead suspect in the girl's disappearance Credit: Dan Charity 6 Officials recently went on a renewed search for DNA evidence in Portugal Credit: Dan Charity But the former German FBI agent has now emailed prosecutors pleading she has made a 'mistake' - and begged for the funds to be returned to her. Officials are taking the request seriously and were last night looking at how the funds could be sent back. Watch The Sun's exclusive documentary on the Maddie case here If they succeed it would secure crucial extra time for McCann investigators before their prime suspect walks free. Reports in Germany said: 'In an email to the Braunschweig Public Prosecutor's Office, the former BKA employee is now demanding repayment of the money. 'She stated that she was unaware that Christian B. had been convicted in previous cases, including forgery.' The ex-cop is said to have told officials: "I therefore wish to contest my declaration of intent to repay the payment and invalidate the legal transaction accordingly." The payment cleared a 2016 Helmstedt District Court fine for drunkenness in traffic and forgery of documents and a 2017 Braunschweig court levy for assault. Before the ex-cop paid the fine, convicted paedophile Breuckner had only been able to pay £210 of the total and faced being kept behind bars until late January. The fine-payer insists she had "never had personal contact with Christian B." Mystery female donor who paid £1,300 fine to free Madeleine McCann suspect Brueckner is former COP who investigated him Maddie prosecutors said it was investigating "the extent to which the payment received in the criminal case against Christian B. can actually be credited toward the fine imposed there." It stated that it had found evidence "that the payment was made by mistake." Brueckner will now walk free when his sentence for raping an American woman, 72, in Praia da Luz, in 2005, ends. He has been named publicly as the prime suspect over the May 3 2007 disappearance of Maddie, of Rothley, Leics., since 2020 but never been charged. He has used letters to deny the claims but has refused to answer police questions or provide an alibi. His phone was in Praia da Luz on the night Madeleine vanished and made a 30-minute call from the area. His Jaguar was re-registered into a name the day after the disappearance. A Sun investigation this year revealed bombshell new evidence - including Brueckner's obsession with snatching and abusing small, young, blonde girls. 6 Brueckner appeared in court earlier this year over verbal assaults on prison guards Credit: Rob Pattinson 6 Maddie has now been missing for 18 years Credit: AFP 6 The search last week was focused on a handful of derelict building Credit: Dan Charity We also placed him at key police locations of interest, including a lake where cops dug for evidence. And we showed evidence he was at the scene of an al-but-confession when he allegedly said Maddie 'did not scream,' in 2008. Our probe - aired on Channel 4 - revealed the existence of a hard-drive and laptop containing crucial picture evidence on the case. Police maintain they have physical evidence Maddie is dead - but no forensic links. German police have recently stressed the value UK authorities could provide by getting involved in the case again before Brueckner's release. He has refused to rule out leaving Germany and insisted he will go to ground on his release. If he travelled to a non-extradition country all hopes for McCann justice could disappear with him.
The Irish Sun
03-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Hopes for Madeleine McCann breakthrough as Brueckner could be kept in prison LONGER – giving cops vital time to nail him
MADELEINE McCann suspect Christian Brueckner could face three extra months behind bars after the woman who paid his fine asked for her money back. The mystery donor - an ex-cop who 6 Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007, while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz in Portugal Credit: PA 6 Christian Brueckner is believed to be the lead suspect in the girl's disappearance Credit: Dan Charity 6 Officials recently went on a renewed search for DNA evidence in Portugal Credit: Dan Charity But the former German FBI agent has now emailed prosecutors pleading she has made a 'mistake' - and begged for the funds to be returned to her. Officials are taking the request seriously and were last night looking at how the funds could be sent back. If they succeed it would secure crucial extra time for read more news Reports in Germany said: 'In an email to the Braunschweig Public Prosecutor's Office, the former BKA employee is now demanding repayment of the money . 'She stated that she was unaware that Christian B. had been convicted in previous cases, including forgery.' The ex-cop is said to have told officials: "I therefore wish to contest my declaration of intent to repay the payment and invalidate the legal transaction accordingly." The payment cleared a 2016 Helmstedt District Court fine for drunkenness in traffic and forgery of documents and a 2017 Braunschweig court levy for assault. Most read in The Sun Before the ex-cop paid the fine, The fine-payer insists she had "never had personal contact with Christian B." Mystery female donor who paid £1,300 fine to free Madeleine McCann suspect Brueckner is former COP who investigated him Maddie prosecutors said it was investigating "the extent to which the payment received in the criminal case against Christian B. can actually be credited toward the fine imposed there." It stated that it had found evidence "that the payment was made by mistake." Brueckner will now walk free when his sentence for raping an American woman, 72, in Praia da Luz, in 2005, ends. He has been named publicly as the prime suspect over the May 3 2007 disappearance of Maddie, of Rothley, Leics., since 2020 but never been charged. He has used letters to deny the claims but has refused to answer police questions or provide an alibi. His phone was in Praia da Luz on the night Madeleine vanished and made a 30-minute call from the area. His Jaguar was re-registered into a name the day after the disappearance. A Sun investigation this year revealed bombshell new evidence - including Brueckner's obsession with snatching and abusing small, young, blonde girls. 6 Brueckner appeared in court earlier this year over verbal assaults on prison guards Credit: Rob Pattinson 6 Maddie has now been missing for 18 years Credit: AFP 6 The search last week was focused on a handful of derelict building Credit: Dan Charity We also placed him at key police locations of interest, including a lake where cops dug for evidence. And we showed evidence he was at the scene of an al-but-confession when he allegedly said Maddie 'did not scream,' in 2008. Our probe - aired on Channel 4 - revealed the existence of a hard-drive and laptop containing crucial picture evidence on the case. Police maintain they have physical evidence Maddie is dead - but no forensic links. German police have recently stressed the value UK authorities could provide by getting involved in the case again before Brueckner's release. He has refused to rule out leaving Germany and insisted he will go to ground on his release. If he travelled to a non-extradition country all hopes for McCann justice could disappear with him. Timeline of Maddie's disappearance May 3, 2007 Madeleine McCann disappears from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, sparking a January 15, 2016 Neighbour reports a possible 'grave' at Brueckner's abandoned factory in East Germany. Cops find disturbing February 16, 2016 Christian Brueckner is convicted for abusing a girl of five in a park after images found on his laptop. He was sentenced to 15-months behind bars but was already on the run by then. May 3, 2017 Around this time, He reports an alleged confession by Christian Brueckner. September 27, 2018 On-the-run Christian Brueckner is arrested over outstanding drugs claims in Italy. He is extradited to Germany the following year. December 16, 2019 Christian Brueckner was convicted, in Germany, for the 2005 rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, after his DNA was matched to a hair found on her bed. He was sentenced to seven years behind bars. June 4, 2020 German prosecutors reveal to the world they have a suspect in custody under investigation for the abduction of Madeleine McCann. For the first time they claim German media later name him as June 23, 2023 In his first interview, witness Helge B alleges to German newspaper Bild that Christian Brueckner all-but-confessed the Madeleine abduction to him, by allegedly saying 'she didn't scream' as they talked about the case, at a music festival, in Spain. February 16, 2024 Brueckner goes on trial accused of none-McCann allegations of rape and sex assault, in Braunschweig, Germany. Prosecutors hope for a conviction to keep him behind bars permanently and lead to McCann charges. October 8, 2024 Prosecutors launch an appeal, however. Decision pending. September 17, 2025 Date on which Prosecutors require an arrest warrant for a retrial over claims from last year - or over the McCann case. June 1, 2025 Police order a renewed search for clues in Praia Da Luz on the Algarve in Portugal. It lasts for just three days.
The Independent
23-06-2025
- The Independent
Main suspect in Madeleine McCann disappearance could be free within months
An outstanding fine against the main suspect in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann in Portugal has been paid off, German prosecutors said Monday. It means he could be released from prison in a separate case in mid-September instead of January 2026. Prosecutors in Braunschweig confirmed that an unpaid fine of about €1,450 against the suspect — a German national identified by media as Christian Brueckner — has been paid, German news agency dpa reported, without giving further details. The payment moves forward his potential release date to 17 September. Brueckner has not been charged in the McCann case, in which he is under investigation on suspicion of murder. He spent many years in Portugal, including in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz around the time of Madeleine's disappearance. He has denied any involvement in her disappearance. Investigators in the UK, Portugal and Germany are still piecing together what happened on the night 3-year-old Madeleine disappeared. She was in the same room as her brother and sister — 2-year-old twins — while their parents, Kate and Gerry, had dinner with friends at a nearby restaurant. The outstanding fine was in connection with earlier cases against the suspect related to forgery and bodily harm, the weekly Der Spiegel reported. He faced spending an extra 111 days in prison because he could not pay the money himself. Der Spiegel reported that a former employee of Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office paid the fine, but she had told the magazine she had tried to rescind the payment when she found out what it was really for. In January this year Braunschweig Chief Public Prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters admitted there was no current prospect of charging Brueckner over Madeleine's disappearance, as police were still trying to secure forensic evidence linking him to the case. Then in March, Wolters confirmed to The Independent that Brueckner had filed a motion for early release. German police were in early June granted permission to undertake a widespread search of key areas in Portugal in a hunt for evidence, including Madeleine's body. The search, running from 2 June to 6 June, focussed on an area around the spot where Brueckner had been living at the time of Madeleine's disappearance. German authorities called the search 'very constructive' and said it ended as planned.
Daily Mirror
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Mystery woman who paid fine to free Madeleine McCann suspect is ex-cop
Christian Brueckner was facing extra time behind bars because he could not pay a fine. But now a former technician in Germany's BKA - their equivalent of the FBI - has paid the cash A former police officer has paved the way for the release of Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner by secretly paying his court fines. German authorities hoped outstanding levies for an offence in jail would keep the 48-year-old rapist and paedophile behind bars until January. But they were dealt a blow when a mystery woman paid the £1,300 fines needed for him to be freed on the earliest possible date in September. And now it has emerged the anonymous donor is a former employee of the Bundeskriminalamt - Germany's equivalent of the FBI. Her actions means investigators will miss out on crucial extra time to bring charges over Madeleine's 2007 disappearance. Brueckner is nearing the end of a seven-year jail term for raping an American pensioner in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz. German prosecutors named him as their prime suspect in the Madeleine case in June 2020 but have yet to charge him. In May he was convicted for verbally assaulting prison guards and also has outstanding fines for assault. The mystery woman, a former technician from the BKA, transferred €1,447 (£1,238.27) to pay the fines earlier this month. According to Der Spiegel she is a former surveillance operative who once worked in audio intelligence. She was allegedly upset after investigators bugged Brueckner's jail cell without permission. The woman claims she only meant to pay a fine relating to insulting a prison officer and did not realise the charges included assault. She described it as a 'misunderstanding'. Brueckner is now due to walk out of prison on September 17 and has boasted of planning to go into hiding. Politicians and victims' groups want an inquiry into how a woman once trusted with surveillance operations ended up helping Brueckner. 'This is not just a scandal – it's a catastrophic failure of judgement and oversight,' one MP told Der Spiegel. 'The police must explain how this could happen under their watch.' Earlier this week it was reported Brueckner is planning to move to Germany's 'billionaire playground island' when he is released from jail. His lawyer Friedrich Fuelscher has claimed Brueckner plans to stay in Germany after his release - and has already chosen a new home. 'According to my information, he plans to settle in Schleswig-Holstein,' Fuelscher told Bild. And Brueckner has a very specific location in mind - the exclusive North Sea island of Sylt. 'Sylt has appealed to him in the past,' Fuelscher added. Sylt is Germany's northernmost island, nestled in the North Sea just off Schleswig‑Holstein. It has been connected to the mainland by the Hindenburgdamm causeway since 1927. In the 1960s Sylt reinvented itself into a jet‑set playground for rich movers and shakers, and it is still this way today. Despite a lengthy police investigation, detectives appear to be no closer to charging him over Madeleine's disappearance. He was cleared last October of a string of sex crimes he was accused of carrying out in Portugal. Prosecutors are awaiting the outcome of an appeal against those verdicts lodged in Germany's Federal Court of Justice. Brueckner denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. German search teams spent three days hunting for evidence in Portugal earlier this month. Brueckner was living in a ramshackle farmhouse on the edge of Praia da Luz when Madeleine vanished from the holiday resort in May 2007.
