Christian Brueckner sits in the courtroom in Germany. Photo: AP
Christian Brueckner at court in Braunschweig. Photo: Alexander Koerner/Getty
Christian Brueckner, centre, has been cleared of sex offences after a trial in Germany (Michael Matthey/dpa/AP)
The disappearance of Madeleine McCann remains one of the world’s most high-profile crimes. Seventeen years have gone by, yet every few months the case is pushed back into the spotlight.
This week Christian Brueckner (47), the chief suspect in Madeleine’s disappearance, was acquitted of unrelated sexual charges, including the rape of Irish woman Hazel Behan.
German national Brueckner had been charged with three counts of rape and two counts of sexual abuse, with the court hearing testimony from Ms Behan, who testified that she was threatened and raped by a man who broke into her Algarve apartment in 2004. She believed Brueckner was the perpetrator.
Brueckner, who is already serving a sentence for raping a woman in 2005, had been on trial since February over the offences he is alleged to have committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.
Ms Behan told ITV in the aftermath of the verdict, which prosecutors have said they will appeal, that she was “shattered”.
Today on The Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Irish Independent journalist Sarah Caden, who explains the outcome of the recent trial and what it means for the Madeleine McCann investigation.
*If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, call the Rape Crisis Centre on Freephone 1800 77 88 88
The Indo Daily: Chief suspect in Madeleine McCann case cleared of sex offences against Irish woman
