Maddie suspect branded 'danger to society' and denied parole amid claims he has an alibi

3 May 2022, 12:10 | Updated: 3 May 2022, 13:00

Maddie suspect Christian Brueckner denied parole
Maddie suspect Christian Brueckner denied parole. Picture: Alamy

By StephenRigley

Prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case has been denied parole as he claimed he could not have abducted her because he was miles away and an alibi will back him up.

German national Christian Brueckner, 45, says he was having sex with a woman in his camper van when three-year-old Madeleine disappeared from a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on February 3, 2007.

Bruckner further claims that he drove the young woman to Faro Airport in Portugal on the morning after their encounter and she was later arrested for carrying pepper spray and later appeared in court, Sky News reported.

It is understood Brueckner has asked Portuguese Police to find a record of the incident as he believes this alibi will prove his innocence.

Brueckner is currently serving seven years in jail for raping a pensioner in Praia da Luz and had become eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence, taking into account time spent on remand.

Madeleine McCann
Madeleine McCann. Picture: Alamy
Maddie suspect Christian Breuckner
Maddie suspect Christian Breuckner. Picture: Alamy

However, the Mirror reports that authorities in German believe he has a high risk of reoffending and must stay locked up in Kiel.

Prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters, leading the investigation, said: "I assume if he has anything that exonerates him that sooner or later he will share it with us and we would then check it out. What happens then, let's see.

"So far he has told us nothing, he's given us no alibi."

German police officers have reportedly told a possible witness to be ready to give evidence in court against Brueckner.

Read More: Madeleine McCann's parents hopeful for 'answers' to 'horrific crime' 15 years on

Read More: German man linked to Madeleine McCann's disappearance made 'formal suspect'

This comes 15 years after three-year-old Madeleine disappeared from the apartment she slept in with her two younger siblings while her parents visited a nearby tapas bar.

Brueckner was first named as a suspect by German Police in 2020 and is known to be a convicted paedophile.

Portugese police listed him as an 'arguido' - an official suspect - in her disappearance last month.

Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann have never given up hope of finding their daughter alive but are said to have welcomed the news that Brueckner may be charged.

Brueckner is serving a seven-year jail term for a brutal 2005 sex attack on a 72-year-old woman and his application for early release has been rejected by the German authorities.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Amber Rudd and Mary Beard have both been nominated to the Garrick Club

Amber Rudd and Mary Beard among seven women nominated for membership of all-male Garrick Club

Exclusive
Anneliese Dodds said Labour would make sure local people have 'skin in the game' with tackling inequality

'Rebuild has to start from ground up,' Labour's Anneliese Dodds says, and 'local people must have skin in the game'

Mohamed Mansour has been awarded a knighthood

Conservatives accused of 'cronyism' after donor who gave £5 million awarded knighthood in surprise honours list

Exclusive
Justin Welby recalled his experience of coping with his father's drinking as a teenager.

‘It was utterly isolating’: Archbishop of Canterbury recalls harrowing experience of growing up with his alcoholic father

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus falls from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy