Madeleine McCann Suspect Released from German Prison After Serving Unrelated Sentence

Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann, was released from a German prison on Wednesday after completing a seven-year sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal. Brueckner, 48, left the Sehnde prison near Hannover in northern Germany on Wednesday morning.

In June 2020, German prosecutors announced that Brueckner was under investigation on suspicion of murder in connection with McCann's disappearance from an apartment complex in Praia da Luz, Portugal. Despite extensive searches and investigations, he has not been charged in the case and denies any involvement.

Brueckner's lawyer, Friedrich Fülscher, stated that charges would have been filed against his client long ago if there had been sufficient evidence.

The state court in Hildesheim has not disclosed whether Brueckner will have to fulfill any conditions after his release. However, Fülscher confirmed to regional public broadcaster NDR that his client will be required to wear an electronic foot tag, report regularly to probation services, and surrender his passport.

Brueckner still faces an October 27 court date in Oldenburg, northwestern Germany, where he is accused of insulting a prison employee. A district court sentenced him to six weeks in prison for that offense, but the defense has appealed.