A German court has issued a ruling allowing police to continue monitoring Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. The Higher Regional Court (OLG) in Schleswig, Germany, handed down its decision on Friday, June 12, permitting ongoing surveillance of the 49-year-old, who resides in Kiel.
Background of the Case
Brueckner is considered the main suspect in the case of Madeleine McCann, who vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007 at the age of three. He recently completed a seven-year prison sentence for the rape of an American woman and was released in September last year. Since his release, he has been under continuous police observation.
Legal Challenge
Such surveillance measures are typically time-limited, and the order was set to expire on June 12. The Kiel District Court had initially rejected a police request to extend the observation, stating there was no legal basis for permanent, unlimited monitoring. However, police in Kiel appealed the decision.
Court Ruling
The Higher Regional Court of Schleswig overturned the district court's decision and ordered a four-week extension of the surveillance. The court described the measures as "acceptable in view of the seriousness of the offences to be expected and the high probability that this will occur on the appropriate occasion, (...) unacceptable." The OLG characterized Brueckner as a sex offender at risk of reoffending.
Police Response
Kiel police expressed satisfaction with the ruling. Spokeswoman Stephanie Lage stated: "This confirms the necessity of our measures." The force confirmed it will maintain close contact with authorities and continuously reassess the situation.
