A group of detectives from Scotland Yard has been actively investigating the case of Madeleine McCann for the past six months, with the goal of prosecuting Christian Brueckner in the UK, according to a source familiar with the matter. They have formally requested evidence from German authorities following Brueckner’s release from prison in September, despite his consistent denial of involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance.
The detectives believe they can gather enough evidence to persuade the Crown Prosecution Service to approve charges before the 20th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance next year. However, due to the German constitution’s prohibition on extraditing its citizens to non-EU countries, Brueckner will not be transferred to the UK for trial unless he leaves the country.
The team’s objective is to reach the threshold for charging Brueckner, rather than simply requesting an interview, indicating a rigorous process. They have been working on this investigation for half a year, aiming to confirm the findings already obtained by German authorities. The case is overseen by a Deputy Assistant Commissioner, as per the source.
Should Brueckner remain in Germany, the Metropolitan Police is reportedly committed to ensuring that he faces charges in either Germany or Portugal, where the alleged crime occurred. Brueckner resided close to the Praia da Luz complex where three-year-old Madeleine disappeared in 2007. Identified as the main suspect in her disappearance six years ago, Brueckner was not charged before his release from a German prison last year, where he served time for raping a US pensioner at the same Algarve resort.
A specialized team of Metropolitan Police detectives has been compiling evidence on the suspected abduction and murder, though the case is still officially classified as a missing persons investigation. Lawyer Bernhard Schmeilzl from Graf & Partners LLP, specializing in Anglo-German legal affairs, explained the legal complexities surrounding the extradition of Brueckner to the UK.
Circumstantial evidence connecting Brueckner to the crime includes his mobile phone signal being near the apartment from which Madeleine disappeared, his prior convictions for child abuse, and witness testimonies provided to German and British authorities in 2008. Despite claims from witnesses, forensic evidence supporting the case has not been found thus far, and Brueckner has consistently refuted the allegations.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley previously mentioned the possibility of extraditing Brueckner to the UK. However, the legal intricacies surrounding the case, such as the potential for extraterritorial charges, are being assessed in collaboration with German and Portuguese authorities.
In a separate trial last year in Braunschweig, Brueckner faced accusations of rape and child abuse but was acquitted. Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, vanished during a family holiday in Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007, and her whereabouts remain unknown. Her parents, Kate and Gerry, marked the 19th anniversary of her disappearance with a public vigil in Leicestershire, expressing their ongoing quest for justice and safety.
The Met emphasized its continuous investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, which began in 2011 and focuses on the events of May 3, 2007, in Praia da Luz. The investigation team collaborates closely with law enforcement in Germany and Portugal to pursue all viable leads in the case.