Major Madeleine McCann update as cops rush to charge prime suspect Christian Brueckner before he’s freed in DAYS

COPS are racing to charge the prime ­suspect in the Madeleine McCann case — to stop him walking free within two weeks.

Christian Brueckner, 48, is suspected of killing the three-year-old in Portugal in 2007.

He is seeking early release from a 2019 jail term for a rape at the same resort.

Investigators panicked by the surprise acquittal of Brueckner over the rape charges last year are readying for D-day on the Madeleine case.

Madeleine case witnesses have been called to secret meetings to prepare for the eventuality of ­charges being brought against the German national.

A source close to the case in Germany said: “Normally a move like his bid for an early release would be laughed out of court.

“But everyone is very nervous after what happened with his rape trial last year.

“The court was surprisingly favourable to him.

‘Never be seen again'

“Brueckner’s lawyers know they need to go for this now, in case an appeal against his acquittal is allowed.

“That will create a new arrest warrant and he’ll be stuck behind bars.

“Madeleine prosecutors still have firepower they can rely on — but they are nervous.

“As soon as Brueckner is free he will disappear and likely never be seen again.

“We’ve seen it time and time again over the years with other offences — and even his own lawyers have said it.

“He cannot be released.

“That would mean disaster for the McCann case and parents Gerry and Kate.

“That is why prosecutors are making their preparations.

“Charging over Madeleine would be the only ace left up their sleeve for keeping Christian B behind bars.

“Let’s hope they don’t need it.”;

In October a German court cleared Brueckner of unrelated rape and sex abuse offences in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.

But in 2019 he was sentenced to seven years in jail for the 2005 rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal.

It is that ­sentence that keeps him behind bars currently and which runs out in September.

A court is currently considering an appeal against the acquittal, which could yet see him face a retrial.

His lawyers are trying to get him released now, before the appeal decision can be made.

Such a move would normally be considered to have no chance, but prosecutors are unsure what the court’s decision might be.

If a court decides to free Brueckner, Madeleine lawyers will appeal against the decision.

That could delay any release by a few months.

However, if that appeal is denied the only option they will have left is to charge over Madeleine, who disappeared on May 3, 2007, also in Praia da Luz.

That would grant a new arrest warrant, which they could use for keeping the suspect behind bars.

It would also allow time for their current appeal to run its course in the hope that will see Brueckner face a retrial over a series of attack claims.

The Penal Enforcement Chamber in Germany will rule on the early release application, which will be heard in private.

Any appeal on that decision would be transferred to the court in Celle, Germany.

Madeleine charges would not mean immediate answers on what happened to her.

Under German law the contents of case files cannot be released before a trial.

But Brueckner’s team will be handed the full evidence file for the first time within a matter of months of any charges.

The file is said to run to thousands of pages.

Madeleine prosecutors still have firepower they can rely on — but they are nervous.

Source

Brueckner was named prime suspect in 2020.

Police said a call was made to his number on May 3 — placing his phone in Praia da Luz when Madeleine vanished.

They have appealed for information on a Jaguar XJ6 and white camper van the suspect is understood to have driven on the Algarve.

They claim to have physical evidence that Madeleine, of Rothley, Leics, is dead but no forensic ­evidence.

Brueckner was also named to cops by petty crook and associate Helge B in 201.

Madeleine McCann's disappearance

MADELEINE McCann vanished on May 3, 2007 - and cops believe Brueckner could have been behind her disappearance.

Almost 17 years on, no one has been charged in connection. These are the key dates

May 3, 2007 – Kate McCann finds Madeleine missing at 10pm

May 14, 2007 – Property developer Robert Murat is named an “arguido” or formal suspect

August 31, 2007 – The McCanns launch libel action against Tal e Qual – a newspaper that claimed the couple killed Madeleine

September 7, 2007 – Kate and Gerry McCann are made “arguidos”

September 9, 2007– Madeleine's parents return to England with their two-year-old twins

October 2, 2007– Lead detective Goncalo Amaral is taken off the case after criticising British police in a newspaper interview

July 21, 2009 – Portuguese police lift the “arguido” status of both Robert Murat and the McCanns

May 12, 2011 – On Madeleine's eighth birthday, Scotland Yard launches a review into the case

April 25, 2012 – Scotland Yard officers say they believe Madeleine McCann is still alive

July 4, 2013 – Two years into a review of the case, Scotland Yard launched its own investigation into Madeleine's disappearance

October 24, 2013– Portuguese police reopen their case after new lines of inquiry are found

November 27, 2013 – Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe called for British and Portuguese police to work together

October 28, 2015 – Scotland Yard reduces the number of officers working on Madeleine's disappearance

March 11, 2017 – The Home Office grants Operation Grange an extra £85,000 to continue from April until September

September 28, 2017 – British police are granted £154,000 to keep the probe going until March 2018

November 2017 – Cops moved the search to Bulgaria

May 2018 – Another round of funding, thought to be in the region of £150,000 is granted

September 2018 – An extra six months of funding is requested from the Home Office

November 2018 – More funding, thought to be in the region of £150,000 is granted

November 2018 – UK police re-examine a theory Madeleine left the apartment to look for her parents

June 2019 – Another round of funding, believed to be £300,000 of government cash is granted

June 2019 – Portuguese police are probing a “new clue and suspect”; after talks with British officers

June 2020 – New prime suspect revealed as a German paedo Christian Brueckner

April 2022 – Brueckner formally made an “arguido”

May 2023 – Police search remote Algarve reservoir Brueckner called his “little paradise”

Helge B claims they were at a 2008 festival in Spain when Brueckner all but confessed, saying to his pal: “She didn’t scream.”;

Detectives in Germany say they have additional witnesses but have given no clues on who they are or what they know.

Officers searched Portugal's Arade Dam and took soil samples in 2023 but did not confirm what they were searching for.

German prosecutors confirmed a hearing on Brueckner was pending.

They declined to comment further.