Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, has been released from prison under strict conditions that include wearing a GPS ankle tag to monitor his movements continuously. Brueckner, a 49-year-old convicted paedophile, was released from Sehnde prison after serving a seven-year sentence for rape. Despite being identified as the main suspect in the Madeleine case in June 2020, he was never formally charged.
As part of his release conditions, Brueckner is forbidden from going near schools, nurseries, or places frequented by children. He must wear a GPS ankle tag, surrender his passport, and report regularly to the probation service. His legal representative, Friedrich Fuelscher, raised concerns about the effectiveness of the ankle tag if Brueckner were to leave Germany, hinting that his client may have plans to flee to a country without extradition treaties with the EU or UK.
Although Brueckner will be issued a German identity card in place of his passport and must maintain a permanent address in Germany, there are concerns that he could still evade authorities by moving to another EU country. Prosecutors are actively seeking evidence to potentially charge Brueckner for Madeleine’s disappearance, with ongoing investigations and search efforts in Portugal.
Mr. Fuelscher maintains Brueckner’s innocence, stating that his client has conflicting emotions about his release. Brueckner was living in a rundown farmhouse on the outskirts of Praia da Luz when Madeleine vanished in 2007, and if he manages to escape Germany, apprehending him could pose a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies.