Madeleine McCann suspect could be freed in just WEEKS with court case on the brink
Christian Brueckner could be freed in just weeks as his court case could soon crumble
PA/Reuters
Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeline McCann, could be freed in just weeks with a court case on the brink of collapse.
The 47-year-old is currently facing trial in the German city of Braunschweig. The case, which is unrelated to Maddie, sees him accused of five counts of sexual assault in Portugal between 2000 and 2007.
However, the trial could soon collapse as prosecutors have filed a motion to have three “biased” judges thrown off the case.
Earlier this week, Judge Ute Inse Engelmann overturned an arrest warrant for Breuckner, ruling that the court had not heard enough evidence from witnesses and there was “no urgent suspicion” to justify him being kept behind bars.
Christian Brueckner could be freed in just weeks as his court case could soon crumblePA/ReutersHer ruling suggested that the 47-year-old would be cleared of the charges he is facing, and furious prosecutors slammed the decision.
They have filed a motion to have Judge Engemann and her two fellow judges taken off the case, citing “concerns about bias”, and requesting that the case be “re-appointed with imperial judges”.
The Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office also intends to file an appeal against the decision to lift the arrest warrant against Brueckner, Bild reported.
Following the application, a “chamber of representatives” in Braunschweig must now make a ruling, with a deadline of early August.
MADELEINE MCCANN LATEST:
Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner has been appearing in court in Germany - unrelated to the missing British girlReutersIf the requests are granted, then the trial will crumble and a retrial would have to take place.
Judge Engemann’s decision was announced in a brief press release from the court which said “the Chamber revoked the arrest warrant at the request of the defence”.
If Brueckner is found not guilty, he could be freed from prison in early 2025 - or on day release in mere weeks.
The convicted sex offender is on trial for the rape of a woman in her 70s in her home in the Algarve and the rape and sexual assault of a teenage girl.
Madeleine McCann was last seen in 2007 in PortugalPAHe also faces allegations that he raped a young woman at knifepoint in her home in 2004 - an act he is accused of recording on video.
Brueckner's lawyers say his current trial faces worldwide prejudice following constant allegations he took the toddler in 2007.
He has denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance.