Cops: We know Maddie is dead... but can’t say why

Hitting 34 is piece of cake

THE prosecutor in the Madeleine McCann probe has written to her parents to confirm she was murdered – but he “can’t say why” he knows.

Hans Christian Wolters is leading the investigation into Christian Brueckner, 43 – the man named as the main suspect in Maddie’s disappearance.

He said there has been an increasing exchange of information between the German team, Scotland Yard and Portugal but admitted “not every detail has been passed on”.

Speaking from his office in the German city of Braunschweig, Wolters said: “We have re-established

STUMPY the lemur celebrated his 34th birthday at a deserted zoo by tucking into cake. The ring-tailed species usually only live to about 25. Stumpy was pampered with gifts and treats by staff at the Five Sisters Zoo in West Calder, West Lothian – which is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. recently: “The parents have been told German police have evidence she is dead but we have not told them the details.

“If we reveal more details to them it might jeopardise the investigation.”

In Portugal, Alves said: “I will try to find out what information they have that can support the reopening of the file here.”

Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, was three when she vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in May 2007.

Wolters said his probe covers Brueckner’s time living in the Algarve. Brueckner is in a German jail for drug-dealing and last year he was convicted of a 2005 rape in Praia da Luz.