Suspect set to walk

THE number one suspect in the disappearance of McCann may evade criminal charges despite prosecutors being “convinced of his guilt”.

Paedophile, rapist and drug trafficker Christian Brueckner was named as the leading suspect in the British three-yearold’s disappearance during her family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007.

German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said they had “concrete evidence” that Madeleine has been killed.

He also said they had phone data that put Brueckner near the apartment in Praia da Luz on Portugal’s Algarve coast, from where the three-year-old was snatched in May 2007 and appealed for any information which might help convict him.

But in a mind-boggling about-face, Mr Wolters said:

“You also have to be realistic enough that the investigation may not lead to a charge for the murder of Madeleine McCann. It could be stopped if we fail to find the missing evidence. I am currently unable to predict the outcome of our investigation but we are still convinced of the guilt of the accused and hope for further promising investigative approaches.”

German investigators say they are sifting through 400 calls they received after an appeal was broadcast three weeks ago and an insider revealed much of it was of “little use”.

Mr Wolters, who is based in Braunschweig, where Brueckner ran a bar, said he was “hopeful of finding other victims, who have been sexually assaulted by the suspect’’ even if it meant they could not pin a murder charge on him.

The development will bring new anxiety to Maddie’s parents Kate and Gerry. Mr Wolters said police in Praia were obsessed with the theory that Kate and Gerry were involved in their daughter’s abduction.

Brueckner is in prison serving 21 months for drug trafficking but is eligible for parole and could be out as early as next week if an appeal to Germany’s Federal Court succeeds.