Christian Brueckner, a suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann, was acquitted of unrelated sexual abuse charges by a court in Brunswick, Germany. Brueckner, a convicted child abuser and drug trader, is already serving a seven-year prison term in Germany for raping a woman in the same region where McCann went missing. He denies any involvement in McCann’s case. In the trial in Brunswick, Brueckner faced charges of aggravated rape and sexual abuse of children committed between 2000 and 2017.
Madeleine McCann disappeared from her bedroom during a family holiday in Portugal in 2007 when she was 3 years old. Despite extensive media coverage and appeals for information, her fate remains a mystery and no body has been found. German police have stated that they believe McCann is dead and that Brueckner is likely responsible, but no charges have been brought against him in connection to her disappearance. The McCann family’s search for their daughter has garnered widespread attention, with support from celebrities like David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Brueckner’s lawyer argued for his acquittal in the sexual abuse trial, claiming that he was only put on trial because he was a suspect in the McCann case. Prosecutors, on the other hand, sought a 15-year sentence for Brueckner. Despite being cleared of the sexual abuse charges, Brueckner’s involvement in the McCann case continues to be a subject of speculation and investigation.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com