Brexit could prevent Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance, from being extradited to the UK to face trial, legal experts have warned.
German Constitutional Barriers
German law, specifically Article 16 of its constitution, forbids the extradition of its citizens to non-EU countries. This makes it highly unlikely that Brueckner would be surrendered to the UK. Legal experts confirm that Germany has previously refused similar extradition requests.
Post-Brexit Complications
The post-Brexit EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement allows Germany to refuse to surrender its own nationals. Before Brexit, the European Arrest Warrant would have streamlined and fast-tracked such an extradition, but the current process is more complex and subject to increased scrutiny.
The Metropolitan Police are reportedly determined for Brueckner to face charges, potentially in Germany if extradition to the UK is not possible. They continue to work with German and Portuguese authorities on the case.
