McCann suspect to stay detained

BERLIN: The European Court of Justice yesterday rejected an appeal against a rape conviction by the prime suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann, meaning he will have to remain in jail for now.

The suspect’s challenge had been against a conviction in Germany for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in Portugal in 2005. It is entirely separate to the inquiry into McCann’s 2007 disappearance.

But investigators in Germany were watching the case anxiously as it has a bearing on whether the German suspect identified only as Christian B. could be released from prison in the coming months.