Maddie suspect on video weeks before she vanished
THE prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann inquiry was filmed at the wheel of his battered VW camper van just weeks before the youngster vanished, it emerged yesterday.
The footage revealed Christian Brueckner in the distinctive white and yellow vehicle, which he allegedly told friends he had “converted to hide children”.
Brueckner – who has a black necklace and is wearing a grey sweatshirt – can be seen laughing and joking in the video as he squats down in the back of the van looking at a map.
German police believe he may have used it to abduct the youngster who vanished from the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007.
Last month they issued an appeal for information about the T3 Westfalia which Brueckner used to drive back and forth between Germany and Portugal.
The video – which was taken on March 30, 2007 – was filmed by three German travellers who Brueckner picked up in Spain and drove to Portugal.
One man in the film, known only as Tomas, said he was horrified after Bruckner had been identified as the prime suspect in the case.
He said: “It makes me sick to think that the little girl could have been taken away in the same van a month later.
“He seemed like any other ordinary young man. He was cheerful and joked a lot and was happy to give us a ride in hisVW van.
“He didn’t mind us filming him and taking his pictures. He was happy to pose and must have known we could never suspect what a terrible man he really was.”
Tomas, 35, said Brueckner was “chatty, cheerful and willing to help” during drive.
He added: “He laughed a lot, gave us high fives and seemed to enjoy chatting to us. He would repeatedly give us the peace sign by making a ‘V’ with his fingers.
“When I look back, it is almost that he tried too hard to be our friend and wanted to be liked.
“He told us to call him the ‘Happy Hobby Hippy’ because he liked to hang out with people who were hippies and it was his pastime.”
The revelation comes after police unearthed a secret cellar during a the three-hour
THREE Lions boss Gareth Southgate has told the Duke of Cambridge of his “remorse and responsibility” over his Euro ’96 penalty miss.
In a talk about mental health, the ex-Aston Villa and England player spoke of how the feeling he had “failed under pressure” stayed with him.
Gareth said: “You walk away from the stadium feeling that ultimately you are the person who is responsible for that finishing. I never felt anger, actually I just felt regret, remorse, responsibility.”
He still has regrets that the team “missed the opportunity to win a 175mile three-day digging operation allotment in Hanover.
Brueckner lived “off grid” on the site when he returned to Germany days after Madeleine disappeared.
Three skiploads of soil and rubble, along with items recovered during the
Missing since 2007...Madeleine major tournament and those guys didn’t get another chance”.
Hosts and favourites England lost in a semi-final shoot-out to eventual winners Germany. Heartbroken Gareth was consoled by coaches Terry Venables and Don Howe.
Prince William said that being able to be open “is a positive”. He added: “And I think that that culture is something that we hopefully are seeing a slight shift in.”
Today’s FA Cup Final is the “Heads Up FA Cup Final” in support of William’s Heads Together mental health campaign.
Road trip... The prime suspect in the hunt for missing Madeleine McCann was filmed by three German hitchhikers after he gave them a lift in his camper van weeks before she vanished. The graffiti translates as ‘The trip of your lives’ at an search, including a child’s bucket, were removed from the scene. Prosecutors in Braunschweig – who are in charge of the case – declined to comment on what was unearthed during the operation. Brueckner’s lawyer Friedrich Fulscher yesterday branded the search “pure desperation”.
He told German media: “The police won’t find anything about Maddie there. “Apparently, it’s hard for investigators to admit they backed the wrong horse. The site has been known to the authorities for years. So far, however, it has not been of any interest.”
Mr Fulscher said his client “denies any involvement” in Madeleine’s disappearance.
Brueckner – who has convictions for 17 child sex offences – is currently in a German jail cell serving a 21-month term for drug trafficking.
He is awaiting the result of his technical appeal against his conviction in Germany for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old victim in Praia da Luz which, if he loses, would extend his time behind bars.