The man at the centre of the Madeleine McCann investigation, Christian Brückner, appeared in a German court today facing disturbing stalking charges that reveal a pattern of predatory behaviour.
Prosecutors in Braunschweig presented evidence alleging the 47-year-old German national secretly filmed women in bathroom facilities and made chilling threats of violence.
Secret Filming and Violent Threats
According to court proceedings, Brückner is accused of setting up a camera disguised as a shampoo bottle to record a 71-year-old woman using the toilet. The prosecution detailed how he allegedly filmed the pensioner at close range without her knowledge or consent.
In a separate incident from 2022, Brückner is charged with threatening a woman with a chainsaw and making sexually explicit threats. The court heard how he allegedly told her: "I'll cut you up and put you in my cellar."
Connection to Madeleine McCann Case
While this trial focuses on stalking offences, Brückner remains the prime suspect in the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann from a Portuguese holiday apartment in 2007. German investigators have previously described him as a "predatory sexual offender" with a history of breaking into tourist accommodations.
Prosecutor Anne Grotian told the court about Brückner's extensive criminal history, which includes sexual abuse of children and possession of child sexual abuse images. The court heard he was previously convicted for raping a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal.
Trial Proceedings and Evidence
The trial began with testimony from a former friend of Brückner who claimed the suspect had confessed to kidnapping Madeleine McCann. The witness, identified only as Helge B, told the court: "He said he had snatched Madeleine. He said he had taken her."
German authorities have been investigating Brückner for years regarding Madeleine's disappearance, though he has never been formally charged in that case. This stalking trial represents the first time he's faced court proceedings where evidence connected to the McCann investigation may be presented.
The trial continues with further witness testimony expected throughout the week as prosecutors build their case against the convicted sex offender.
