German prosecutors insist they have new evidence pointing to Maddie prime suspect

5 May 2022, 17:52

Investigators probing the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have uncovered new evidence.
Investigators probing the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have uncovered new evidence. Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

German prosecutors in the Madeleine McCann case have shut down claims they found fibres from the missing girl's pyjamas but still insist they have new evidence pointing to a prime suspect.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Hans Christian Wolters, who is leading the case, sparked claims of a breakthrough earlier in the week when he hinted that evidence had been uncovered in the toddler's case, with reports suggesting threads from her pyjamas had been found in Christian Brueckner's campervan.

Brueckner, 45, was identified as a murder suspect by German prosecutors in June 2020 but has reportedly denied any involvement in the case and has not been charged.

Mr Wolters told MailOnline: "The whole story about the traces of fibres is total nonsense.

"In the interview I said that we have found new evidence in the last two years. However, there was nothing [that proves Brueckner's innocence] among them.

"Everything we have found confirms to us our working theory that we are not going in a senseless direction. 

Read more: Madeleine McCann suspect's lawyer blasts claims new forensic evidence has emerged

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

Christian Brueckner, 45.
Christian Brueckner, 45. Picture: Alamy

"We are happy the suspect is the man responsible and will continue working in this direction. Nothing we have found so far suggests he is not the man responsible.

"I cannot say anything about the further investigations results and individual pieces of evidence at the moment.

"I was asked if we had found evidence of something of Madeleine McCann in the suspect's van and I replied that I could not speak about the investigation, that's all.

"We have found no fibres and I can tell you the new evidence we have is not forensic evidence but I'm not allowed to give you any further details.

"We remain convinced that the suspect in prison is the person responsible for the crime. There is no alibi.

"The suspect did not give us an alibi and we did not find an alibi during our investigations."

Madeleine McCann's parents 'welcome the news' of suspect

Brueckner's lawyer, Friedrich Fulscher, also rubbished the claims that fibres had been found in his campervan.

A statement shared with the site read: "Due to the varied press reports about traces allegedly found in one of my client's vehicles, I consulted the Braunschweig public prosecutor's office.

"It is misinformation spread by a Portuguese journalist. The prosecutor's office has confirmed that there are no traces of any kind in one of my client's vehicles.

"Of course, the public prosecutor's office is also not interested in misleading the public in this way, so that in such cases there is open communication with the defence."

The development came 15 years after Madeleine vanished from the apartment she slept in with her two younger siblings in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while her parents visited a nearby tapas bar.

Maddie went missing 15 years ago.
Maddie went missing 15 years ago. Picture: Alamy

Last month Brueckner, 45, was made an "arguido", a Portuguese legal designation which elevates a witness to the status of a named or formal suspect.

According to Sky, he has claimed to have an alibi, revealing he was having sex in his camper van with a woman at the time of Madeleine's disappearance.

He 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

Katie Amess

Prevent review ‘is a waste of time’ says daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess - after killer was labelled ‘great person’

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his alleged mistress were captured desperately trying to hide their faces at a Coldplay concert

Tech firm blasts CEO's 'fake' statement breaking silence after he was caught on kisscam with HR chief at Coldplay gig

Ruth Chepngetich, the women's marathon world record holder, has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

Women's marathon world record holder provisionally suspended for doping

Courtney, in her Union flag dress and hat, and her dad Stuart

School at centre of Union flag dress row closes early over 'extremist threats to staff'

An off-duty firefighter was able to free children trapped in an overturned school bus that crashed on its way back from a trip to the zoo, it was announced it a press conference.

Hero off-duty firefighter frees children trapped inside overturned school coach after crash kills one and injures 21

Police will use facial recognition technology at Notting Hill carnival.

Police to use facial recognition at Notting Hill Carnival in knife crime crackdown

Exclusive
The quantity of cocaine being brought into the UK by submarines is “unimaginable”, the son of notorious drug lord, Pablo Escobar, has told LBC.

Escobar’s son: cartel ‘narco subs’ bringing “unimaginable” amounts of cocaine into UK

Exclusive
Police face a ‘nuclear arms race’ to stay ahead of artificial intelligence, LBC has heard, with officers uncovering a growing number of deep fake sexual abuse images on seized devices.

‘Nuclear arms race against AI’ as police reveal secret ‘calculator’ apps used by paedos to hide child abuse images

High Road, Wood Green.

Seven arrested as 'shoplifters' attack 11 police officers in north London

Health enthusiast Alex Cannon, from Liverpool, passed away on Sunday, July 6, having adopted the controversial lifestyle three years ago

Carnivore diet influencer dies aged 66 after genetic heart failure, family confirms

LBC understands that the number of police counters across London where people can speak to an officer face-to-face could be reduced from 37 to 19.

13 Met Police front counters set to shut amid budget crisis, leaked plans reveal

England players run to England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton celebrating after winning a penalty shootout at the end of the Women's Euro 2025 quarterfinals

Lionesses reach Euro 2025 semi-finals after penalty shootout drama against Sweden

Far-right anti-immigration protestors scuffle with a cordon of riot police outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, following an asylum seeker's accusation of sexual assault last week.

Police vans attacked as clashes erupt after anti-immigrant mob descends on Epping asylum hotel

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed on Thursday night there had been a "number of casualties" after a 70-seater coach left the A396 near Wheddon Cross, close to Minehead, at around 3pm the same day.

One child dead and 21 injured after school bus crash in Somerset

The TV chef, 59, broke his silence on Tuesday night after the show's producers Banijay UK confirmed his contract will not be renewed.

Sacked MasterChef host John Torode used ‘worst racial slur there is’ amid ‘all sorts of complaints’ against him

x

Daredevil Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding crash in Italy