BRUNSWICK, Germany — A suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann was acquitted of unrelated sexual abuse charges by a court in the German city of Brunswick on Tuesday.
Christian Brueckner has been formally identified as a suspect in the case of “Maddie” McCann, who disappeared from her bedroom in 2007 during a family holiday in Portugal.
In the trial in Brunswick, which started in February, Brueckner faced three charges of aggravated rape and two of sexual abuse of children committed between 2000 and 2017.
The disappearance sparked a media frenzy in Britain and Portugal as the McCanns sought publicity to help find their daughter.
German police said in June 2020 that McCann was assumed dead and that Brueckner, in his 40s, was likely responsible for it, but they have never brought charges against him.
Persons:
Madeleine McCann, Christian Brueckner, Maddie ” McCann, McCann, Brueckner, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo
Organizations:
Prosecutors, Soccer
Locations:
BRUNSWICK, Germany, German, Brunswick, Portugal, Portugal’s Algarve, Praia da Luz, Britain