Maddie suspect facing years in jail after release bid rejected
Cops buy more time to gather evidence
MADELEINE McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner faces years behind bars after losing a legal battle over a rape conviction.
German authorities feared the man they believe murdered the British youngster could have been freed from prison on a technicality.
But the European Court of Justice yesterday dismissed the 43-year-old paedophile’s argument – to the relief of detectives – and a final ruling by Germany’s Supreme Court on his appeal against the rape conviction is now regarded as a formality.
It would mean Brueckner must serve a seven-year prison term for raping a pensioner in Praia da Luz in 2005.
The ECJ ruling takes the pressure off the German investigation into his alleged involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance.
Brueckner is currently serving a custodial sentence for drug trafficking but was due to be released in early January.
He now faces being behind bars until at least 2024 – giving detectives more time to find evidence against him.
The mechanic was convicted and sentenced for the Algarve rape in December last year but immediately lodged an appeal.
He argued he should not have stood trial because he was extradited from
Portugal in 2017 for another offence – the sexual abuse of a minor. But the ECJ ruled his argument was irrelevant because he left Germany for Italy in 2018 while on probation after his release.
He was extradited again the same year under a fresh European Arrest Warrant for drug trafficking. Crucially the Italians later agreed he could be charged and prosecuted for the Praia da Luz rape.
The ECJ ruled yesterday that German authorities did not need similar permission from Portuguese prosecutors.
Germany’s Supreme Court is expected to follow the ECJ and issue a final ruling, at which point Brueckner’s sevenyear sentence will begin.
Prosecutors suspect him of snatching and killing Madeleine in Praia da Luz in May 2007.
They claim to have evidence the Brit youngster, who was three when she disappeared, is dead.
Brueckner’s lawyers say he strenuously denies any involvement and believe the case will be dropped.
German prosecutors are investigating whether he carried out a number of other sex attacks in Portugal.
It was reported earlier this week that he is being investigated over the rape of an Irish woman in the Algarve in 2004.
And we revealed earlier this month how detectives travelled to Portugal in July to interview his British ex-girlfriend.