Brueckner, 47, is suspected of abducting and killing three-year-old Madeleine McCann in Praia da Luz, Portugal in May 2007 – but prosecutors appear no closer to proving he was behind it
Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner boasted of carrying out vile rapes in a prison cell confession, a court heard today.
The convicted paedophile bragged that he got “excited” by tying up and beating one of his terrified victims, it is claimed. Brueckner, 47, is suspected of abducting and killing three-year-old Madeleine in Praia da Luz in May 2007, which he denies. He is nearing the end of a seven-year prison term for raping American pensioner Diana Menkes in the Portuguese resort.
The German is currently standing trial on unconnected sex crimes allegedly carried out in the Algarve. They include the rape of Irish tour rep Hazel Behan, who was attacked in her hotel room in Praia da Rocha in 2004. Braunschweig regional court was told today that Brueckner confessed to two rapes while behind bars in 2019.
Prosecutor Vanessa Beyse said his descriptions of the attacks bore similarities to the rapes of Diana and Hazel. She said in one confession he boasted of “raping an old lady” and “tying up and beating her, which really excited him”. Ms Beyse said Brueckner also told a fellow inmate of stealing money from a rape victim’s handbag in Portugal. During her evidence earlier this year, Hazel told how her rapist took cash from her handbag.
Brueckner is accused of carrying out crimes in the Algarve between 2000 and 2017. They include the rape of a teenage girl in his Praia da Luz home and the rape of an elderly woman in her holiday apartment.
He also faces a child sex charge for allegedly exposing himself to a German girl on a beach in Salema in April 2007. His final charge relates to an alleged indecent exposure in front of an 11-year-old in 2017.
If he is found not guilty, Brueckner could be freed from prison in the early part of next year. Prosecutors appear no closer to proving he was behind Madeleine’s disappearance – despite claiming they have proof she is dead. They face the nightmare scenario of seeing their prime suspect walk free if he is cleared in the latest trial. A not guilty verdict could increase the pressure on them to charge Brueckner over Madeleine’s disappearance.
The trial is due to end next month.