Maddie suspect to call Mccanns’ cop as witness for his defence
Lawyer bids to discredit accuser
THE detective hired by the family of Madeleine Mccann may be called to give evidence in support of the man suspected of abducting her.
Christian Brueckner is on trial over a string of sex attacks in Portugal, one of which happened just weeks before the threeyear-old vanished.
His lawyer, Friedrich
Fuelscher, wants detective David Edgar to help him try to discredit key prosecution witness Helge Busching.
In 2017 Busching told Scotland
Yard of Brueckner’s alleged links to Madeleine.
He claims that when they discussed the case in 2008, Brueckner told him
Madeleine “didn’t scream”. Mr Fuelscher told the court that Busching claimed to have contacted Mr Edgar.
But he said he had been in touch with the detective who confirmed “100%” that he hadn’t spoken to Busching and didn’t know him. He said Mr Edgar had told him: “Brueckner was in our system. His name would have been of immediate interest.
“I would have immediately established his history of sexual offences.” The judge is now considering whether to allow Mr Edgar, 67, as a witness.
The Belfast-born retired Cheshire Police detective inspector told the Mirror he would be duty bound to go to court. He said he did not speak to Busching, adding: “I know that 100%. It was not my job to speak to people directly.
“It was like a police incident room. Callers were on the system whether information was relevant or not.
“I don’t have the records now. I handed everything over to the Metropolitan Police, lock, stock and barrel.”
Mr Edgar admitted there may have been some confusion due to the different investigations into the case by him, the Met and Portuguese police.
He added: “If I am called it would not be very pleasant but I would have to do it and give evidence. It will be down to the judge.”
According to Busching, who has terminal cancer, Brueckner had videos in his flat near Lagos, around seven miles from Praia da Luz, which showed him abusing an elderly woman and a child of about 13.
Madeleine vanished from her parents’ holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in May 2007 while they ate with friends in a tapas restaurant.
Brueckner, serving seven years for raping a pensioner in 2019, denies any involvement in her disappearance.
His trial for the string of sex attacks on women and children in Portugal between 2000 and 2017 will continue today in Braunschweig regional court.