Madeleine prosecutors have admitted they face a race against time to keep him in jail

CHRISTIAN Brueckner could flee to Cuba if he is not soon charged over Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, investigators fear.

German police believe the convicted rapist, 47, is the top suspect in the three-year-old’s 2007 abduction.

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Christian Brueckner pictured in court last weekCredit: Darren Fletcher

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Madeleine McCann vanished in 2007Credit: PA:Press Association
But Madeleine prosecutors have admitted they face a race against time to keep him in jail after he was last week cleared of a string of rapes.

It means a seven-year sentence due to end next September is now all that is keeping Brueckner behind bars.

In 2019, he was found guilty of the 2005 rape of an American woman in Portugal’s Algarve.

The Sun revealed last week how Brueckner’s lawyers were plotting to appeal that conviction to free him before September 2025.

A court source said: “Brueckner’s lawyer said in court he did not believe the 2019 conviction was safe and could be challenged after a witness was discredited.

“Appeals aren’t quick but there is a chance he is released sooner.

“He’d also have a clear path to try for compensation.”

Police in Germany are now hoping to charge Brueckner with Madeleine’s kidnap and murder before he is freed, reports Bild.

It is feared he could flee to Cuba to avoid trial, sources say.

The outlet reported: “This concern is already troubling the investigators – that the Maddie suspect could flee to a country like Cambodia, the Philippines or Cuba after being released from prison.”

Countries such as those do not extradite criminals to Germany.

Under German law, if Brueckner is not charged or arrested in connection with Madeleine’s abduction before he is released from jail he will be free to go anywhere in the world.

A further blow came when his legal team announced they plan to fight for a retrial of his rape conviction.

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That relied on the testimony of witness Helge B, who a judge in this week’s trial branded “unreliable” and “a liar”.

Helge B is also a vital witness in the German police case against Brueckner for Madeline’s abduction.

Brueckner was named prime suspect over the youngster’s disappearance in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007 by German police in 2020.

But he is yet to be charged over it.

He denies any involvement.

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The Portugal apartment Maddie was taken from in 2007Credit: AFP

What is next for Brueckner and the McCann case?

BY Rob Pattinson, Senior District Reporter

Paedophile Christian Brueckner, 47, was sensationally cleared of a string of rape and child abuse allegations in court – putting him on the path to freedom.

Brueckner remains in prison due to a 2019 conviction for rape although The Sun understands that runs out next September.

If he settles an outstanding £1,000 fine he will be released then.

It means under German law he could be back on the streets on day release within just weeks or months, despite a psychiatrist rating him as “top league of dangerousness”.

The investigators working on the acquitted allegations are the same people trying to crack the Madeleine McCann case.

German officials are desperate to keep the man behind bars with investigators still labelling Brueckner as the prime suspect in McCann’s disappearance.

Prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told The Sun “the clock is ticking”.

With German journalist Jutta Rabe also saying the prosecution must speed up their investigations around Maddie to keep him locked up.

Those working to link Brueckner to the infamous case are now left with just two options as time continues to run out.

They can appeal the case which saw him acquitted of several allegations of rape and sexual crimes which is unrelated to McCann’s.

This will likely see them go directly to the Supreme Court – Germany’s highest court – to file the appeal.

Jutta believes the prosecutors will appeal the decision due to the judge’s strict outlook over the minor discrepancies.

She says they will say the trial did not apply the correct rules per German legal practice rather than directly appeal the verdict.

If the Supreme Court agrees then a complete retrial will be called with the witnesses reexamined at a different court.

This will keep Brueckner in jail on a fresh arrest warrant.

Or they can begin proceedings against him in regards to McCann and officially name the accusations they believe will result in him being found guilty following a trial.

This will see a two decade hunt finally made public will all the files of evidence opened up.

Some witnesses from the first trial will be called up once again as well as some new and unheard from people who will testify against Brueckner.

Prosecutors can go ahead with this at any moment due to the sheer body of work they have built up overtime.

For the first time people will hear what prosecutors believe actually happened to Maddie in the Algarve all those years ago should it go to a trial.

If charges are officially made against Brueckner then he will have an arrest warrant placed on him and meaning he stays behind bars.

Even though Brueckner was acquitted for a multitude of charges Jutta still says it has provided a huge opportunity for prosecutors.

And has helped them get closer to finally getting justice for the McCann family after all these years.