Madeleine McCann suspect ends 24/7 police surveillance

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 09:39 · Archive

German courts have ended round-the-clock police surveillance of Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance.

Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann from the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in 2007, is no longer under round-the-clock police surveillance after a German court rejected police appeals to maintain the watch.

Brueckner was released from prison in September last year after serving a seven-year sentence for raping a 72-year-old woman in Portugal's Algarve region in 2005. Since his release, he has been living in accommodation including homeless shelters, motels and a portable cabin in the northern city of Kiel, under constant police observation.

A regional German court ruled on Friday that police could no longer trail Brueckner, with the surveillance ending from midnight on 30 October. The decision followed fresh psychological and psychiatric assessments that concluded Brueckler posed an average risk of reoffending, rather than the high risk previously assessed. Despite police launching an appeal to extend the surveillance, the Schleswig-Holstein Higher Regional Court upheld the ruling.

Brueckner's lawyer Philipp Marquort told ITV his client is 'very happy' with the decision. He said: 'Anyone who has served their sentence in full must be given the chance to rebuild a life in freedom. For thirteen months, that was impossible with police officers following his every step. Now my client can begin.'

The 49-year-old remains under other restrictions, including the requirement to wear an electronic ankle tag. Kiel police said they would 'continue to closely monitor Christian B within the scope of existing legal possibilities'.

Brueckner has never been charged over Madeleine's disappearance and denies any involvement. He was first declared the prime suspect by German prosecutors in 2020 while serving his prison sentence and remains the prime suspect in both German and British investigations into what happened to her.

How it is being reported

• Madeleine McCann prime suspect ‘no longer subject to 24/7 police surveillance’A court ruled convicted rapist Christian Brueckner, 49, should no longer be followed by policeIndependent World · 31 Oct, 10:12
• Madeleine McCann suspect no longer under police surveillance after being taken off ‘high-risk’ listThe prime suspect linked to the abduction of Madeleine McCann will no longer be under police surveillance after being taken off the "high-risk" list. German authorities have been keeping close tabs on Christian Brueckner due to his suspected involvement in the British toddler's 2007 disappearance in Portugal. In September last year, Brueckner was released from prison after serving a seven-year sentence for raping a 72-year-old woman in part of Portugal's Algarve region, where Madeleine vanished. Since his release, the 49-year-old, who has not been charged with the toddler's abduction and…GB News · 31 Oct, 08:05
• Madeleine McCann prime suspect no longer under round-the-clock surveillanceChristian Brueckner arrives at the Landgericht Braunschweig state courthouse for one of the final days of his trial for sex crimes (Picture: Getty) The prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann is ‘very happy’ that round-the-clock police surveillance will end tonight, his lawyer has…Metro · 30 Oct, 21:18
• Bombshell decision sees main Maddie McCann suspect free to roam from midnightEXCLUSIVE: A German court has reject a police appeal to keep the convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner under 24/7 police surveillance.Daily Express · 30 Oct, 16:32

In this story: Christian Brueckner · Madeleine McCann · Kate McCann · Gerry McCann · Philipp Marquort · Praia da Luz · Kiel · Germany

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log