04 March 2023 , 10:56
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German prosecutors say they will not charge suspect Christian Brueckner over Madeleine McCann ’s disappearance this year as the investigation continues.
Hans Christian Wolters insisted he was confident authorities would have enough to indict the German paedophile next year.
His comments follow reports prosecutors had admitted to his friends and associates they were struggling to get enough evidence against him while interviewing them in a bid to crack the case once and for all.
Mr Wolters told respected Portuguese daily Expresso: “The investigation is ongoing but it’s going to take a lot longer.
“Perhaps we won’t finish this year.”
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Christian Brueckner is the prime suspect (SPIEGEL TV)
Brueckner is in prison for unrelated crimes (REX/Shutterstock)He declined to explain the delays in bringing the case to court despite German prosecutors identifying Brueckner in June 2020 as the man “responsible” for Madeleine’s kidnap and murder, telling Expresso he didn't want to “share the results or the current state of the investigation.”
Mr Wolters has repeatedly insisted he believes they have the right man despite growing concern about the failure so far to charge him over the British youngster’s May 2007 disappearance and increasing fears he may never stand trial.
He told Portuguese journalist Sandra Felgueiras during an interview last May: “We are convinced he is the murderer of Maddie McCann.
“We have one suspicious person and this is Christian B.
“There is no other person for us who is suspicious.”
The German prosecutor said in October 2021 authorities there had “strong evidence” against Brueckner and hoped to have an “update soon.”
Those comments sparked reports the 46-year-old, currently serving time for the September 2005 rape of an American OAP in Praia da Luz, could be charged by Christmas 2021.
Kate and Gerry have continued the search for their daughter for more than 15 years (PA)Mr Wolters made it clear the indictment against Brueckner would be made in Germany and said that although Portuguese authorities were assisting them, there was no “joint investigation.”
A Portuguese PJ team based in the northern Portuguese city of Porto, led by Helena Monteiro, is still working on the case.
A source involved in the Portuguese side of the investigation said last night: “The team in Porto continue to have direct contact with the German and British authorities.
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Madeleine was snatched from her bed while on holiday (PA)
Madeleine was sleeping next to her siblings when she vanished (METROPOLITAN POLICE/AFP via Gett)“Now of course it’s more with the Germans.
“It’s an informal bilateral contact in which direct help involving the checking of information is provided.”
Last autumn Brueckner was charged in Germany with several sex crimes on the Portuguese Algarve against women and children including the rape of an Irish holiday rep in 2004 and the sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl on a beach near Praia da Luz in 2007.
No date has yet been set for the trials.
Brueckner, who denies any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance, claimed in a letter penned from his prison cell that the decision to charge him was linked to a “fairy tale” indictment.
The apartment hotel building where Madeleine disappeared (Getty)He also moaned in a rant from Oldenburg jail where he is serving his time for the American OAP rape that he was being treated worse than feared Nazi war criminal Joseph Goebbels.
Informers with chequered pasts who knew Brueckner when he lived in Portugal and were involved in criminal activity with him are understood to be key to the case German prosecutors are trying to build up against him over Madeleine’s disappearance.
One friend, who knew the German when they were living in the Algarve together and spoke to detectives in recent months, told the Mirror last month: “They believe Chris did it, they say they know he did it, but they told me they don’t have proof.
“That’s why they are going back over old interviews. When they spoke to me they were very open about what the situation is.
“It felt like they are struggling. They just asked the same questions again, there was nothing new.”
Kate and Gerry McCann welcomed news last April Brueckner had also been made an official suspect or arguido in Portugal.
It was labelled a “procedural trick” linked to statute of limitations legislation by Brueckner's defence lawyer at the time.