Maddie McCann: Process against the main suspect ends with Acquusion!

Maddie McCann: Process against the main suspect ends with Acquusion!

In a surprising turning point in the case of Christian Brückner, the man who is suspected of being associated with the disappearance of Maddie McCann, he was acquitted on Tuesday in a separate procedure for sexual assault. A court in the northern German city of Braunschweig decided that the evidence was not sufficient to maintain a conviction. This could open Brückner the opportunity to be released from custody in the coming year.

Brückner, a 47-year-old German, has been in court since February because of severe sexual offenses. The public prosecutor's office accused that he had committed two sexual attacks and three rapes in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. These allegations are independent of the Maddie McCann case, which was kidnapped in Portugal in 2007. The prosecutor Christian Wolters announced that the public prosecutor's office would appeal against the judgment, since one was in the opinion that the judgment was incorrect.

inadequate evidence and doubt of the judges

In the course of almost forty trial days, the judges expressed concerns about the evidence of the evidence presented. In particular, there was a lack of crime-technical evidence, such as DNA traces. Uta Engemann, the chairwoman of the chamber, said on Tuesday that the indictment did not present enough substantial evidence. This decision represents a defeat for the public prosecutor, who had hoped for a conviction in order to gain additional time for the investigation in the Maddie McCann case.

Maddie disappeared from a holiday accommodation near Praia da Luz in May 2007, when she was just three years old. The global search for the little girl achieved massive media attention and mobilized numerous investigators and committed helpers who made the case of memorable crime history.

It is important for the legal research that Brückner, who in the past has had difficulties in several similar cases, is suspected of "sadistic psychopath". The public prosecutor had expressed this assessment in her plea. A psychiatric expert found that it was one of the "most dangerous" criminals. During the procedure, Brückner remained silent and did not comment on the allegations.

The fact of Maddies disappear

The connections between Brückner and the Maddie case are remarkable. At times Brückner lived in the Algarve, around the same time as the McCanns. A mobile phone that was registered for him sent a signal near the McCanns holiday accommodation on the night of the disappearance. Despite the numerous evidence and serious allegations against him, Brückner has not yet been charged because of the kidnapping of Maddie.

In another current procedure, he was accused of sexually attacking several women over a long period of time, including a 72-year-old American, whom he raped in Praia da Luz in 2005. Such developments in the Brückner case continue to be observed intensively, especially by the media that are pursuing the events in the Braunschweig court. Brückner is currently spending a seven -year prison sentence because of this rape, but with the upcoming advance to appeal, his situation could change soon.

The court ruling could not only influence Brückner's freedom, but also raises major questions about the ongoing investigations in connection with Maddie's case. Both the German and British authorities strive for clarity. How it goes on remains exciting and the developments in this case are being followed with great attention, such as the reporting on www.swissinfo.ch shows.