CLING ON TO THE HOPE SHE’S ALIVE OF THE WELLS
Years on... why is it taking so long?
de Messines – 40 said on TV: “I went to miles from Praia – in confront the man.
2017. The German was “He had a packet of arrested after four children cigarettes in his hand told parents he and he pretended to use flashed at them and it as a phone. He was performed a sex act. trying to flee, he wanted
One girl said in a to get away. We made statement: “He was only sure he didn’t.” about 15ft away, staring German paedophile Prosecutors mothballed
Brueckner was living in area at us as if he was the case following controlling and observing everything Brueckner’s extradition frowm Italy to we were doing. We felt very frightened Germany a year later on drugs and went running to my dad who was charges. talking to a friend.” In Germany he was also tried for the
Police were called and the father of 2005 rape of an American woman, 72, one child grabbed Brueckner. The dad in her home in Portugal. He has served 21 months in Kiel prison over the drugs crimes and was given seven years for the rape – but is appealing that conviction.
Brueckner lived around Praia da Luz for years and was 30 when Madeleine, from Rothley, Leics, vanished.
But police probing her disappearance ruled out Brueckner from initial inquires as they did not know he had been convicted of a child sex offence in Germany when he was 17.
It was one of a string of blunders which have hampered the probe.
Portuguese officers failed to lock down the resort or set up road blocks – assuming she had just wandered off.
The McCanns’ apartment was not taped off until the next day, by which time forensic evidence was contaminated. Worst of all was the shadow of suspicion the Portuguese police cast over Kate and Gerry McCann, who were treated as suspects themselves.
German prosecutors say they have evidence putting Brueckner’s mobile phone close to the flats from which Madeleine vanished.
His lawyer Friedrich Fulscher says his client is facing a “witch hunt” and there is no evidence against him.