Madeleine McCann investigation: ‘crucial’ new dossier sent to British police

The tortuous and eye-wateringly expensive investigation into the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann has taken a fresh turn, say reports in the media, after Scotland Yard reportedly received what has been described as a “crucial” dossier from German investigators – who have made no bones about their conviction that ex-con Christian Brückner “did the deed”.

According to Portugal’s Correio da Manhã newspaper, citing reports by British tabloids The Sun and the Daily Mail, the file includes photographs and witness accounts that investigators believe could strengthen the case against Brückner.

An unnamed police source quoted by the newspapers described the contents as containing “explosive evidence”.

The reports also claim the latest exchange demonstrates that both British and German investigators remain focused on Brückner, despite no charges having been brought against him in connection with Madeleine’s disappearance (because there is no concrete proof).

German prosecutors have previously said they believe Madeleine is dead and that they possess evidence supporting that conclusion, although they have acknowledged it is not forensic evidence.

Officially, London’s Metropolitan Police has confirmed only that the investigation remains active. In a statement quoted by the Daily Mail, the force said it continues to work closely with authorities in Germany and Portugal and will pursue “any viable line of inquiry”.

Operation Grange, the Scotland Yard investigation established in 2011 to investigate Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, previously explored the possibility of bringing Brückner to trial in the UK. However, according to the reports, extradition is not possible under German law, which restricts the extradition of German nationals to countries outside the European Union. The reports also state that Brückner has declined to cooperate when approached directly by British investigators, beyond previously insisting that he has nothing to do with any of it

Brückner’s lawyer Friedrich Fülscher has also, in the past, explained that the German ‘evidence’ against his client emanated from ‘the worst witness you can get’.

Madeleine McCann disappeared from her family’s holiday apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007, shortly before her fourth birthday.

Her disappearance is without doubt the world’s most high-profile missing person case.

Brückner, who has convictions for sex offences – and has been described by his lawyer as ‘no angel’’ – was released from prison in November after serving a sentence for unrelated sexual offences committed in the Praia da Luz area. According to media reports, he initially remained under electronic monitoring, but a German court later ruled the measure unconstitutional.

These latest reports claim Brückner now lives in a tent in the northern German city of Kiel while remaining under police surveillance.

Portuguese commentator/ criminal expert Rui Pereira has long explained that, because of the statue of limitations in Portugal, no-one else can be cited for involvement in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Thus, to ‘wrap the case up’, authorities cannot look beyond Brückner.

Source material: Correio da Manhã/ Executive Digest

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.