Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brückner has been acquitted of rape charges in an unrelated sexual abuse case, as reported by sources in Germany. Brückner, 47, was facing three counts of rape and two of sexual abuse before the Braunschweig state court. Currently serving a seven-year sentence in Germany for rape, he was cleared of the charges relating to incidents in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. Brückner, a key suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann in 2007, has not been charged in her case but is under investigation for murder. He has denied any involvement in her disappearance.
Having moved between Germany and Portugal from the 1990s until his arrest and deportation in 2017, Brückner spent time in the resort of Praia da Luz around the time Madeleine went missing. This breaking news story will be updated with more information shortly.
In another news update, a suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been acquitted of unrelated sexual abuse charges in Germany. Christian Brückner, who remains a key suspect in the 2007 case, faced charges of rape and sexual abuse in Portugal but has been cleared of those accusations. Brückner, currently serving a prison term in Germany, has not been charged in the McCann case but is a suspect in the investigation. He has consistently denied any involvement in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.