A German paedophile has been named by Portuguese authorities as an official suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann, nearly 15 years since she vanished.
Lawyers for 43-year-old Christian Brueckner confirmed that he has been made an "arguido" (defendant), the Mirror reports. It comes just a month before the 15th anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance in Portugal on May 3, 2007.
Madeleine disappeared while her family - including her mother Kate who is from Huyton - were on holiday in the European country. Despite strenuous efforts to locate her and several updated appeals, no trace has been found of the toddler from Leicestershire.
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Maddie's parents, Kate and Gerry, both 48, were made arguidos in September 2007. But their status was lifted in July 2008 when Portuguese police archived the investigation.
This has important legal ramifications, because whilst in Germany there is no time limit for a murder charge, in Portugal there is a strict 15 year limit. This move allows the investigation to continue further.
Brueckner’s lawyer, Friedrich Fuelscher, said: "The step taken by the Portuguese authorities should not be overrated. Without knowing the Portuguese legal situation in detail, I assume that this measure is a procedural artifice to stop the statute of limitations threatening in a few days."
The 45-year-old was first named in the summer of 2020 as a prime suspect by German police, after mobile phone records placed him in Praia da Luz on the night Maddie vanished. But despite further extensive inquiries he has never been charged.
Recently, the Portuguese authorities confirmed that they will continue their inquiries amid reports that Scotland Yard’s Operation Grange investigation will be wound up this autumn.
Brueckner is currently serving a rape sentence at a high security prison in Oldenburg, northwest Germany. He also still faces charges for the rape of Irish national Hazel Behan in Portugal in 2004. German paper Bild revealed the latest development of the long running mystery.
Maddie disappeared in May 2007 from a holiday apartment as her parents, from Rothley, Leicestershire, enjoyed a tapas meal nearby. This all comes after fears the 15-year limit on prosecutions meant the perpetrators behind Maddie's disappearance might have gotten away with it.
The McCann's family lawyer Rogerio Alves warned in July 2020 the limit meant that they were running out of time to take action. The Mirror previously reported how Brueckner's once-friends suspected him of being behind the disappearance.
Christian Post said he thought his former pal snatched Maddie. The 54-year-old said Brueckner would boast of burgling holiday flats during chilling “night-crawls” across the Portuguese resort.
He told how the chief suspect in Madeleine’s disappearance had up to 100 passports from properties he raided. And he admitted he regrets not tipping off police about his crimes, but insisted he is willing to try to help bring him to justice over the missing toddler.
