MADDIE SUSPECT ‘BURGLED HOTEL ROOMS’
Brueckner also had videos of sex attacks, pal tells judge
He hit her with a ruler as she was tied to a table MANFRED SEYFERTH
claimed. Seyferth, who spent time with the drifter in the Algarve in the early 2000s, described him as big-headed and arrogant.
The 68-year-old was the first witness to give evidence yesterday in Brueckner’s trial in Braunschweig, northern Germany.
Brueckner, wearing a grey blazer and cream trousers, entered courtroom 141 shortly after 9am.
He shook hands with his lawyer Friedrich Fuelscher before sitting down with the rest of his legal team.
Seyferth came in to court 15 minutes later and sat at the witness stand in the well of the court.
Judge Uta Engemann then began questioning him about his time in Portugal and dealings with Brueckner.
Seyferth described the German as “slimy” and told how Brueckner spoke about carrying out hotel burglaries in Portugal.
Asked by the judge to give more details, he replied: “Just that he did that and that he worked as a waiter in hotels.”
Judge Engemann asked: “Did he say anything about his burglaries?”
He replied: “No, I did not concern myself with it.”
British expat Ken Ralphs claimed earlier this week that Brueckner worked in the bar at the Ocean Club.
Seyferth told the court how he had seen videos of Brueckner abusing a pensioner and a young girl.
He said he found cassettes with his friend Helge Busching in Brueckner’s “chaotic” farmhouse in Praia da Luz.
The pair had gone to the property, on the outskirts of the resort, to steal diesel while Brueckner was in jail.
Seyferth said the first alleged victim was an Italian woman in her 60s, who was naked and tied to a table.
He said he recognised Brueckner’s voice as he hit her with a ruler, telling the court: “It was clearly him.”
Seyferth said the second alleged victim was a German girl aged around 16 who was tied to a post in the farmhouse.
He said Brueckner danced around his victim before forcing her to
perform a sex act on him. He told the court: “She said it was a rape.”
Seyferth said they also found a pistol in the ramshackle house.
Images from inside the property, including the pole he allegedly tied the teenager to, were shown in court.
Under cross-examination, he admitted talking to co-witness Busching – who will give evidence later in the trial – by phone on Thursday. Brueckner was charged with the offences in October 2022 but the case was delayed following a legal row over jurisdiction.
Madeleine disappeared from her parents’ holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in May 2007.
Kate and Gerry Mccann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, were dining with friends in a nearby tapas restaurant at the time.
The couple haven’t given up hope that their daughter – who would now be 20 – will one day be found alive.
Brueckner was named as a suspect in 2020 but denies any involvement in the crime. The German, who will not give evidence in court, is serving a seven-year prison term for rape and drug trafficking.
His trial resumes in a fortnight.