Germany/Portugal - Christian Brueckner, 27 @ time of 1st crime (2004), charged with sexual assault crimes, Praia de Rocha, Portugal. #5

[Lilly b]

Something new coming up?
Not sure GB news is the most reliable.

German prosecutor ‘more sure than ever’ Christian Brueckner murdered Madeleine McCann ‘no alibi’

Hans Christian Wolters claimed German police are 'more sure now' that Christian Brueckner murdered Madeleine

www.gbnews.com

Speaking in a new BBC Panorama documentary, 'Prime Suspect: Who Took Madeleine McCann?', Wolters said Brueckner is currently their "one suspect" in the case.
 FF has this to say.

In response to Wolters' claims made in the program, Brueckner's lawyer Friedrich Fulscher has hit back at German police.

Fulscher told the BBC: "The public prosecutor's office keeps putting itself in the public eye and saying we have the right person here and that my client is the murderer of Madeleine McCann.

"And he repeats this like a mantra and thus shapes public opinion.

"And this public opinion will become a huge problem, because I am of the opinion that Christian Brueckner can probably no longer expect a fair trial in this country."

That says 2023

 

[mrjitty]

It's gonna be a long wait,imo.

if he had a case he would have charged it.

It would be repetitive to list here again the countless "mere" coincidences, nor CB's profile and "curriculum", the specific context of BKA's appeal, etc., that makes me think that CB is the right man. It has already been extensively discussed here.

No, I don't find any drama in thinking that being skeptical about CB (even more thinking that it could have been someone else, who then?!) is implausible, but, as I wrote, I understand that it is also, of course, an opinion, although I think has no chance of being right.

Again and again, if they have strong evidence to prove BARD is a different thing.
Again and again, we (public) don't have to know everything they have. HCW is not here to respond to the impatience and rush of the spectators.

In general I give some deference to the office of prosecutor, because filing charges almost always means they believe they have a foundation that meets "case to answer" or 'strong suspicion" type levels AND a court is there to ensure that standard is met via preliminary hearing, motion to dismiss, bail hearing etc

What worries me is when the prosecutor makes his allegation without charge, and thus without placing the evidence in front of a court.

Given this has gone on for 4 years, I think it is entirely reasonable to conclude the case is weak or compromised. I agree based on what he says there is suspicion, but none of what he says is in evidence - that is a big problem IMO.

As we see in Court all the time, there can be a big difference between what is alleged, and what can be established at a factual level, let alone to reasonable doubt level.

 

[RichardKimble]

That says 2023

My bad it's from last November, but in reality the story is the same , 12 months on despite the claims, no charges in the offing.

 

[Mex]

if he had a case he would have charged it.


In general I give some deference to the office of prosecutor, because filing charges almost always means they believe they have a foundation that meets "case to answer" or 'strong suspicion" type levels AND a court is there to ensure that standard is met via preliminary hearing, motion to dismiss, bail hearing etc

What worries me is when the prosecutor makes his allegation without charge, and thus without placing the evidence in front of a court.

Given this has gone on for 4 years, I think it is entirely reasonable to conclude the case is weak or compromised. I agree based on what he says there is suspicion, but none of what he says is in evidence - that is a big problem IMO.

As we see in Court all the time, there can be a big difference between what is alleged, and what can be established at a factual level, let alone to reasonable doubt level.

Indeed it must be stressful beyond words that the four year gap between the five indictments and the actual trial allows ''what can be established at a factual level, let alone to reasonable doubt level'' a certain obfuscation and irregularity to creep into the process.

The presiding judge said as much herself.

One of the most shocking examples could probably be interference with witnesses; which was raised in court as happening on at least two instances one of which involved HB.

EMAIL FROM DOCTOR FF to HB, AUGUST 2020
(no grammar or spelling altered)

Dear Ms B,

My name is FF. I am the German criminal defence lawyer for the suspect in the case “Maddie” McCann.

First I would like to express my deepest regret to you about your experience in Portugal. you have suspected that my client may have been the perpetrator.

I am aware that the perpetrator will no longer be punished in your case, at least in Portugal because of the statute of limitations. nevertheless, I think it is very important to inform you that my client denies being the one who did this to you.

in fact it is the case that I also assume that he neither raped the 72-year-old American nor you, dear Ms B.

You described a mole or other abnormality on the right leg of the offender. is that correct? Can you describe this abnormality to me in more detail? I would like to show – also in your interest – that the real perpetrator is still out there somewhere. it would be very helpful if you could tell me everything you remember. is it possible to get the investigation files from you? I am also able to speak to you personally about the matter if- of course confidential- of you wish. I often defend in sexual offenses and therefore know how difficult it would be for you to talk about it.

but i also know what a relief it can be if the perpetrator is punished for it. it just has to be the right one.

with best regards

FF

ANALYSIS: How a brave Irish rape victim ran rings around Christian Brueckner’s team of expensive lawyers - and got the Olive Press a mention in the process - Olive Press News Spain

By Jon Clarke in Braunschweig, Germany IT was the day that Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner's slick defence backfired. And it partly hinged

www.theolivepress.es

This, all despite the prosecutors following procedures in the legal process to the letter and all the necessary evidence allowing the judges to authorise the five indictments according to law.

 

[onemoremiletogo]

if he had a case he would have charged it.


In general I give some deference to the office of prosecutor, because filing charges almost always means they believe they have a foundation that meets "case to answer" or 'strong suspicion" type levels AND a court is there to ensure that standard is met via preliminary hearing, motion to dismiss, bail hearing etc

What worries me is when the prosecutor makes his allegation without charge, and thus without placing the evidence in front of a court.

Given this has gone on for 4 years, I think it is entirely reasonable to conclude the case is weak or compromised. I agree based on what he says there is suspicion, but none of what he says is in evidence - that is a big problem IMO.

As we see in Court all the time, there can be a big difference between what is alleged, and what can be established at a factual level, let alone to reasonable doubt level.

Lethargy for possible evidence at first (2007), then harder with time going by. After this recent trial (other cases), perhaps even more challenging to go forward with MM case. In no way that changes what BKA may have. Even if insufficient to charge.

More than 4 years, yes, but HCW is still there, he didn't drop...would this be possible, in Germany, without having something really really suspicious?! Would he resist after the world-wide appeal if what they have is "only too weak"?! Even if not enough to bring to trial and charge BARD. IMO they have more than in the other recent cases. But they cannot loose this one at all.
Difficult, very difficult, but I still believe they will be able to get something more and finally catch and charge him.

 

[mrjitty]

Lethargy for possible evidence at first (2007), then harder with time going by. After this recent trial (other cases), perhaps even more challenging to go forward with MM case. In no way that changes what BKA may have. Even if insufficient to charge.

More than 4 years, yes, but HCW is still there, he didn't drop...would this be possible, in Germany, without having something really really suspicious?! Would he resist after the world-wide appeal if what they have is "only too weak"?! Even if not enough to bring to trial and charge BARD. IMO they have more than in the other recent cases. But they cannot loose this one at all.
Difficult, very difficult, but I still believe they will be able to get something more and finally catch and charge him.

i hope so otherwise the whole thing feels questionable to me. i’d like to see charges ASAP

 

[onemoremiletogo]

i hope so otherwise the whole thing feels questionable to me. i’d like to see charges ASAP

They have now the additional pressure to not let him get free. September 2025?!
It seems a go or go for them. But even more difficult now without charges in the other cases. There will be only ONE chance. And with him getting free, no hope to have his confession, less hope to have someone else, maybe indirectly involved, coming forward. Big big challenge for BKA. The appeal for the recent cases will go nowhere IMO.

 

[Anxala]

It would be repetitive to list here again the countless "mere" coincidences, nor CB's profile and "curriculum", the specific context of BKA's appeal, etc., that makes me think that CB is the right man. It has already been extensively discussed here.

No, I don't find any drama in thinking that being skeptical about CB (even more thinking that it could have been someone else, who then?!) is implausible, but, as I wrote, I understand that it is also, of course, an opinion, although I think has no chance of being right.

And yet you keep piling in on and ridiculing posters who happen to have a different opinion to you, as if their opinion has less validity and credibility than yours, despite you having absolutely no concrete basis for the opinions you hold other than 'HCW must have something significant in order to maintain his CB is guilty stance'.

I repeat, it's really disturbing that those of us who want to know what this evidence against CB is before forming an opinion are seen by you and others on here as the problematic ones, the ones that must have some agenda? As opposed to those, like you, who've already found him guilty despite no charge and no trial. I mean, really?

Think about what you're saying. Because, on the basis of what you post, you're coming across as someone with no interest whatsoever in justice being served.

 

[onemoremiletogo]

And yet you keep piling in on and ridiculing posters who happen to have a different opinion to you, as if their opinion has less validity and credibility than yours, despite you having absolutely no concrete basis for the opinions you hold other than 'HCW must have something significant in order to maintain his CB is guilty stance'.

I repeat, it's really disturbing that those of us who want to know what this evidence against CB is before forming an opinion are seen by you and others on here as the problematic ones, the ones that must have some agenda? As opposed to those, like you, who've already found him guilty despite no charge and no trial. I mean, really?

Think about what you're saying. Because, on the basis of what you post, you're coming across as someone with no interest whatsoever in justice being served.

No interest in justice being served...LOL

You are definitely not getting my point. But maybe you haven't read some of my previous posts. That's ok.

 

[Davieson]

Justice will only be served when the correct person is convicted.

 

[Denis R Tandib]

Lethargy for possible evidence at first (2007), then harder with time going by. After this recent trial (other cases), perhaps even more challenging to go forward with MM case. In no way that changes what BKA may have. Even if insufficient to charge.

More than 4 years, yes, but HCW is still there, he didn't drop...would this be possible, in Germany, without having something really really suspicious?! Would he resist after the world-wide appeal if what they have is "only too weak"?! Even if not enough to bring to trial and charge BARD. IMO they have more than in the other recent cases. But they cannot loose this one at all.
Difficult, very difficult, but I still believe they will be able to get something more and finally catch and charge him.

In this scenario, you need to ask “why” would the prosecutors change their public position. They have made a claim to the world that they have Madeleine McCann’s murderer. There really is nothing for them to gain by admitting they may have it wrong - embarrassment. Therefore, they’ll just leave it hanging. No charges are coming.

 

[Davieson]

The Germans only have an interest in the MM case because they were given the name of a German national as possibly being involved in her disappearance.
They seem to have gone to extreme lengths in their investigation of him, dredging up all sorts of alleged crimes in their pursuit of him including a charge of murder.
If they fail to bring forth any MM-related charges, it will all fade away as there is no reason for them to be further interested in the case, but like Denis, I don't think they'll announce that they were wrong.

 

[Mex]

The Germans only have an interest in the MM case because they were given the name of a German national as possibly being involved in her disappearance.
They seem to have gone to extreme lengths in their investigation of him, dredging up all sorts of alleged crimes in their pursuit of him including a charge of murder.
If they fail to bring forth any MM-related charges, it will all fade away as there is no reason for them to be further interested in the case, but like Denis, I don't think they'll announce that they were wrong.

Not too sure you have the chronology quite right in support of your opinion.

CB was apprehended this time around to end up in the German justice system, as the direct result of being on the run from an European Arrest Warrant. Under which he was tried and found guilty of sexually abusing a German child in Germany.

The Germans had their own MM case to contend with in the form of IG who disappeared in 2015. A case in which CB was a person of interest at the time in question.
That a few years later the BKA were still searching for that child in property owned by CB speaks volumes to anyone au fait with investigations looking for missing people.

Snip

CB is a suspect in the disappearance of British toddler MM but he was also questioned when IG went missing.

The five-year-old German girl vanished in 2015 near where CB lived in Braunschweig, The Sun reports.

While he was questioned over her disappearance at the time, he was not charged and the case remains open.

'Dig up my garden': Why a woman believes German Maddie McCann is buried in her backyard

The five-year-old girl vanished in 2015 - and now a woman is urging police to focus on her home.

7news.com.au

As pointed out with amazing regularity, there are issues eminently worthy of total police investigation and under usual circumstances such action is understood and is popular; evidence is required to justify charges which is no easy task in many cold cases. But without following up on every clue -- mothing will ever be found.

One remains mystified at the popularity of the verdict in the recent sexual abuse cases which leave a man (who has obvious issues adversely affecting women and children) and which frequently brought him to police attention in that regard and soon to be free to walk the streets.
‘Nowt as queer as folk’

My opinion

 

[Anxala]

No interest in justice being served...LOL

You are definitely not getting my point. But maybe you haven't read some of my previous posts. That's ok.

I can only go by what you post. Which is exactly what I'm going by.

Anyway. I think we agree on the most important thing, that this is last chance saloon for MM and that she deserves the charge and the trial that HCW promised and said was in the pipeline four and a half years ago.

 

[Mex]

I can only go by what you post. Which is exactly what I'm going by.

Anyway. I think we agree on the most important thing, that this is last chance saloon for MM and that she deserves the charge and the trial that HCW promised and said was in the pipeline four and a half years ago.

There is a process for everything and until CB’s name was given to investigators there was totally not even ‘a last chance saloon’ in the offing, the foundations for one had not yet been laid.

The first spade in the ground was in 2017.

The next was the evidence found in the Portuguese police files identifying DM as the rape survivor described in the missing video.

From there-on-in the individual building bricks built up to include the evidence which convicted CB of the DM rape.

As a result another building brick was added when HB compared what had been done to DM and what had been done to her the year before.


--- as an aside and arising from evidence given at the latest trial FF, employed a bit of reverse logic to indicate his intention to raise an appeal on the grounds that since it had been contended both women had been raped by the same pervert CB couldn’t be guilty of raping DM. One simply cannot wait for that one to be floated!


So the pile of bricks for the last chance saloon continued to be enlarged with more evidence being added to it consisting of evidence to used to indict the five cases against CB the verdicts for which an appeal is being sought.

Amongst the case evidence amassed but not yet used to charge is the fact that of all the possible paedophiles in the world only CB remains as the prime suspect – ONLY suspect – of the BKA – PJ – and SY.
By my reckoning these guys are worthy successors to many investigators who preceded them because they had the key to unlocking the saloon door. Enabling them to put the materials to build not even a last chance but absolutely the ONLY chance of success. Thanks to their investigative skills combined with diligence and tenacity might positively .settle what happened for those most directly affected by events.

 

[onemoremiletogo]

The Germans only have an interest in the MM case because they were given the name of a German national as possibly being involved in her disappearance.
They seem to have gone to extreme lengths in their investigation of him, dredging up all sorts of alleged crimes in their pursuit of him including a charge of murder.
If they fail to bring forth any MM-related charges, it will all fade away as there is no reason for them to be further interested in the case, but like Denis, I don't think they'll announce that they were wrong.

Because they aren't. Or they think they aren't. If they will not be able to bring charges it doesn't mean they are wrong about CB. Again and again...

 

[frank-cole]

It would be repetitive to list here again the countless "mere" coincidences, nor CB's profile and "curriculum", the specific context of BKA's appeal, etc., that makes me think that CB is the right man. It has already been extensively discussed here.

No, I don't find any drama in thinking that being skeptical about CB (even more thinking that it could have been someone else, who then?!) is implausible, but, as I wrote, I understand that it is also, of course, an opinion, although I think has no chance of being right.

Again and again, if they have strong evidence to prove BARD is a different thing.
Again and again, we (public) don't have to know everything they have. HCW is not here to respond to the impatience and rush of the spectators.

Exactly. On most threads relating to missing persons/unsolved crimes people speculate & have an opinion. The McCann & CB debate is unique in comparison to the others, because in the other groups there isn’t ‘that’ type of resistance. But each to their own opinion. Nobody has the right to dictate to you on why you shouldn’t have an opinion. There are echo chambers for that type of shtick but thankfully websleuths is not one of them. If speculation that CB is responsible (on a thread about CB) triggers somebody, then perhaps they should re-evaluate what their purpose is on a CB thread,

 

[frank-cole]

Because they aren't. Or they think they aren't. If they will not be able to bring charges it doesn't mean they are wrong about CB. Again and again...

Yep. It’s like saying OJ Simpson couldn’t have killed Nicole because he was found not guilty. That type of correlation doesn’t exist on planet earth & I highly doubt it exists on any planet in the Milky Way Galaxy. Not having enough to convict doesn’t mean they don’t have the right person. In the MM case, even if the concrete evidence is compelling, there will be people holding on for a defence technicality to get him off the hook. That way the rhetoric can continue to be that somebody else must be responsible. Tame false equivalences then cease & revert back to crusade. It’ll play out in phases & wont surprise anybody.

 

[Denis R Tandib]

Yep. It’s like saying OJ Simpson couldn’t have killed Nicole because he was found not guilty. That type of correlation doesn’t exist on planet earth & I highly doubt it exists on any planet in the Milky Way Galaxy. Not having enough to convict doesn’t mean they don’t have the right person. In the MM case, even if the concrete evidence is compelling, there will be people holding on for a defence technicality to get him off the hook. That way the rhetoric can continue to be that somebody else must be responsible. Tame false equivalences then cease & revert back to crusade. It’ll play out in phases & wont surprise anybody.

It’ll surprise me if CB is charged. I’ll be utterly astonished if he’s convicted.

 

[Denis R Tandib]

Because they aren't. Or they think they aren't. If they will not be able to bring charges it doesn't mean they are wrong about CB. Again and again...

I agree with you that the prosecutors think they have the right guy. I do however think that their conviction has gone from man of steel to used-car-forecourt inflatable man… I hope you can concede that they are less certain today than they were in 2020.

HCW always spoke of wanting or needing something more. He needed a clincher, forensics as a minimum but ideally the body.

Just think about it, they have put huge resources to work over a seven year period. Still no charge. There isn’t any material evidence.

Is it possible that they haven’t found the missing piece, not because they’ve been unlucky, but because they have the wrong suspect?

Although I doubt it, I am not ruling CB out as responsible for MM’s disappearance, rather I need a reason to rule him in. The prosecutors haven’t given me much confidence.