Concerns are mounting that the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case could disappear after police surveillance was reportedly withdrawn. Christian Brueckner, a convicted paedophile, is no longer under round-the-clock observation by German authorities, just nine months after his release from prison last September.
Surveillance Ruling
A court ruled that the continuous police monitoring was no longer necessary, although Brueckner must still wear an electronic ankle tag to track his whereabouts. However, prosecutors have highlighted that the technology has malfunctioned in the past. Sources suggest the tag would fail if he leaves Germany, raising the alarm that he could soon vanish from sight.
A source told The Sun: “The fear has always been that as soon as Brueckner got the opportunity he would disappear. He might have been let out of jail but he still hasn’t had that because he has been monitored by police all day every day. Once that surveillance stops, who knows what will happen. He has a history of leaving the country when he faces suspicion, so there is a very real danger he will disappear before the McCann case can ever get to court.”
Legal Appeal
German police in the Schleswig-Holstein state are believed to have appealed the decision not to extend the surveillance order. Until the court makes a final ruling, Brueckner will remain under police observation.
Madeleine McCann was three years old when she vanished from the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in the Algarve in 2007 while on holiday with her family. Brueckner, a convicted rapist, was released last September after serving a seven-year sentence for an unrelated sex crime. He also has convictions for child abuse and drug trafficking.
Circumstantial Evidence
German prosecutors have stated there is circumstantial evidence linking Brueckner to Madeleine’s disappearance, including testimonies from three witnesses who claim he confessed to them. Brueckner lived in the Algarve between 1995 and 2007, working for a time as a pool maintenance assistant at the resort where the McCanns were staying. Despite extensive searches, no direct evidence has been found, and Brueckner has denied any involvement. He has not been charged in connection with Madeleine’s case.
In March, additional funding was granted to continue investigating the disappearance. The case remains open, but the end of surveillance has sparked fears that the prime suspect could evade justice.
