Christian Brueckner, who remains the key suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, is on trial in Germany after allegedly carrying out sex offences in the Algarve, where Maddy vanished

Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner is a dangerous paedophile and serial rapist, a prosecutor told a court today.

Brueckner is suspected of abducting and killing three-year-old Madeleine in Praia da Luz in May 2007. He is currently serving a seven-year prison term for raping an American pensioner in the Portuguese resort. Brueckner is on trial in Germany on unconnected sex crimes allegedly carried out in the Algarve.

In her closing speech to the trial which could end next week, prosecutor Ute Lindemann urged the judge to convict the paedophile and jail him for 15 years. If Brueckner is cleared he will be freed next year – which is a nightmare scenario for Madeleine investigators. Judge Ute Engemann revealed today that she could announce her verdict in the long-running case next Tuesday.

Detectives appear no closer to proving Brueckner was behind Madeleine’s disappearance – despite claiming they have proof she is dead. A not guilty verdict would increase the pressure on them to charge Brueckner over Madeleine’s disappearance. Brueckner is accused of carrying out sickening crimes in the Algarve between 2000 and 2017. Judge Engemann ruled in July that the evidence against him was “insufficient” – a strong indication that he will be acquitted.

Madeleine McCann vanished in Portugal in May 2007 when she was three ( 
Image:
PA)

Brueckner has been on trial in Germany for unconnected crimes ( 
Image:
Phil Harris)

The charges against Brueckner include the alleged rape of Irish tour rep Hazel Behan, who was attacked in her Praia da Rocha apartment in 2004. He is also accused of raping a teenage girl in his Praia da Luz home and raping an elderly woman in her holiday apartment.

Andreas Zott, representing Irish victim Behan, said it was clear Brueckner is a serial rapist who attacked multiple women in Portugal. He told Judge Ute Engemann she had heard enough evidence during the course of the trial to convict him of the crimes.

Brueckner faces a child sex charge for allegedly exposing himself to a German girl on a beach in Salema in April 2007. His final charge relates to an alleged indecent exposure in front of an 11-year-old in 2017. Chief public prosecutor Lindemann told Braunschweig regional court today that Brueckner is a “serial rapist”.

She said there are “eye-catching” similarities between the rapes and the attack on the pensioner which he is behind bars for. The prosecutor said the rapes also echoed vile fantasy stories involving women and children penned by Brueckner.

Ms Lindemann said he “got a kick out of the suffering” his victims went through before and after they were attacked. She said: “It’s about the excitement of getting an innocent person and enjoying tormenting and subjugating them. His core fantasies are defenceless female victims. These rapes were all carried out by the one person – the accused.” As she spoke, Brueckner – sitting alongside his legal team – stared at the prosecutor while occasionally taking notes. His trial is due to end next month.

Brueckner is suspected of snatching and killing the three-year-old British youngster in May 2007 while she was on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz, Portugal. He has denied any involvement in her disappearance. A not guilty verdict in Brueckner’s current trial would increase the pressure on German prosecutors to charge Brueckner over Madeleine’s disappearance. They are expected to appeal to a higher court in Germany if he is cleared of the charges.

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Brueckner, 47, is pictured alongside his legal team ( 
Image:
Phil Harris)
It also emerged today that Christian Brueckner’s trial could end next week. His trial in Braunschweig was expected to finish in December – but could now be over in days. Judge Ute Engemann revealed today that she could announce her verdict in the long-running case next Tuesday.

She made the announcement after being urged to jail Brueckner for 15 years for the alleged crimes in the Algarve. Judge Engemann ruled in July that the evidence against him was “insufficient” – a strong indication that he will be acquitted.

If Brueckner is cleared he will be freed next year – which is a nightmare scenario for Madeleine investigators. Detectives appear no closer to proving he was behind her disappearance – despite claiming they have proof she is dead.

A not guilty verdict would increase the pressure on them to charge Brueckner over Madeleine’s disappearance. Prosecutors are expected to appeal to a higher court in Germany if he is cleared of the charges. Brueckner is accused of carrying out sickening crimes in the Algarve between 2000 and 2017. They include the alleged rape of Irish tour rep Hazel Behan, who was attacked in her Praia da Rocha apartment in 2004.