German authorities are concerned that Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, may flee abroad upon his release from Sehnde prison. Brueckner, a convicted paedophile, is due to complete a seven-year sentence for rape and will be required to wear a GPS ankle tag to track his movements. However, Brueckner’s lawyer argues that the ankle tag would not prevent him from leaving Germany, stating that it becomes ineffective once he crosses the border.
According to reports, Brueckner will receive a German identity card, must maintain a permanent address in Germany, surrender his passport, and regularly report to the probation service. Despite these measures, there are concerns that he could easily abscond to another EU country without a passport, complicating potential legal actions against him.
Brueckner’s lawyer maintains his client’s innocence and expressed uncertainties about Brueckner’s emotions regarding his impending release. Media outlets from the UK, Germany, and Portugal have been closely monitoring the situation outside Sehnde prison, where Brueckner is set to be released.
While Brueckner was named the prime suspect by German prosecutors in the Madeleine McCann case in June 2020, no charges have been brought against him yet. He was acquitted of alleged sex crimes in Portugal last October, and prosecutors are awaiting the outcome of an appeal against these verdicts in Germany’s Federal Court of Justice. Brueckner has consistently denied any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance.
German search teams conducted a three-day search for evidence in Portugal in July, where Brueckner was residing near Praia da Luz when Madeleine went missing in 2007. Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, who were dining with friends at the time of her disappearance, continue to hold out hope for her safe return.
