Madeleine McCann suspect set to push for £200k in compensation as lawyers eye-up appeal
Defendant Christian Brueckner is the prime suspect in the long-unsolved case of Madeleine McCann's disappearance
GETTY
The main suspect in the Madeleine McCann case is set to push for £200,000 in compensation after he was released after being found not guilty in unrelated sex crime charges.
Christian Brueckner, 47, could be released as early as next year as his legal team also plans to appeal a separate conviction which is keeping him behind bars.
The 47-year-old was publicly identified by German authorities in June 2020 as the prime suspect in Maddie's case, though no formal charges have been brought against him.
Prosecutors for Madeleine have said that they have evidence against Brueckner, though they have said the clock is ticking to bring the charges forward.
Defendant Christian Brueckner is the prime suspect in the long-unsolved case of Madeleine McCann's disappearanceGETTYHe was cleared of two charges of rape and two of sexual abuse. However, he still has a year left to serve in jail for a seven-year sentence for rape in a different case - where he raped a 72-year-old American woman in the Algarave in 2019.
He is currently scheduled to be released in September 2025, though this could be earlier if an appeal is upheld.
A court source told The Sun: “Brueckner’s lawyer said in court he did not believe the 2019 conviction was safe and could be challenged after a witness was discredited.
“Appeals aren’t quick but there is a chance he is released sooner.
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Madeleine McCann was last seen in 2007 in PortugalPA“He’d also have a clear path to try for compensation.”
He had been accused of three rapes and two cases of child sexual abuse between 2000 and 2017, all of which occurred in Portugal, near the Praia da Luz resort where Madeleine went missing during a family vacation.
Brueckner's main lawyer Friedrich Fuelscher suggested in his closing remarks yesterday that he should be cleared due to a lack of evidence and that the convicted rapist was only on trial because of his connection with McCann's internationally recognised case.
The court agreed with Fuelscher's argument and found his client not guilty on all charges.
Christian Brueckner was on trial in Germany for an unrelated case
GETTYHe showed no emotion as the verdict was delivered.
Brueckner's lawyers have said that his trial faced worldwide prejudice following constant allegations he took the toddler in 2007.
The 47-year-old denies involvement in the McCann case and has never been charged.