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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Madeleine McCann suspect release date pushed back | Madeleine McCann suspect release date pushed back |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| Watch: Christian Brückner was asked about the McCann case as he left court in Germany | Watch: Christian Brückner was asked about the McCann case as he left court in Germany |
| The chief suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance, who is currently serving a sentence for a rape conviction, will be released from prison in Germany later than originally scheduled, his lawyer has said. | The chief suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance, who is currently serving a sentence for a rape conviction, will be released from prison in Germany later than originally scheduled, his lawyer has said. |
| Christian Brückner, 48, was convicted of raping a 72-year-old American tourist in Portugal in 2005 and had been scheduled for release in September, but this has now been pushed back to early next year. | Christian Brückner, 48, was convicted of raping a 72-year-old American tourist in Portugal in 2005 and had been scheduled for release in September, but this has now been pushed back to early next year. |
| He has never been charged in the McCann case and denies any involvement in her disappearance in 2007. | He has never been charged in the McCann case and denies any involvement in her disappearance in 2007. |
| As he left court in Lower Saxony, Germany, he was asked by BBC News if he kidnapped and killed the three-year-old. He declined to comment. | As he left court in Lower Saxony, Germany, he was asked by BBC News if he kidnapped and killed the three-year-old. He declined to comment. |
| Madeleine's disappearance during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, is one of the most widely-reported missing child cases and remains unsolved. | Madeleine's disappearance during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, is one of the most widely-reported missing child cases and remains unsolved. |
| Brückner's lawyer told the BBC the delayed release date was due to an unpaid fine – which he does not believe Brückner will be able to pay. | |
| "He will probably be released round about February," said Philipp Marquort. | "He will probably be released round about February," said Philipp Marquort. |
| A prosecutor involved in the McCann case against Brückner told the BBC that a "substitute custodial sentence" due to an unpaid fine of €1446 would result in imprisonment until early January. | |
| A prison official also understood Brückner's release to be at a later date. | A prison official also understood Brückner's release to be at a later date. |
| It is understood Brückner will be released in September if the fine is paid. | It is understood Brückner will be released in September if the fine is paid. |
| Brückner was at court in Lehrte to face an accusation of insulting a female prison staff member at Sehnde jail during a meeting in March 2024. | Brückner was at court in Lehrte to face an accusation of insulting a female prison staff member at Sehnde jail during a meeting in March 2024. |
| For that, a judge sentenced him to one month's probation - meaning if he breaches probation conditions upon any future release he could be made to serve another month in jail. | For that, a judge sentenced him to one month's probation - meaning if he breaches probation conditions upon any future release he could be made to serve another month in jail. |
| Any further time in prison potentially gives German prosecutors more time to pursue an appeal in a separate case that saw Brückner cleared of three counts of rape and two counts of child sex abuse – charges dating back to between 2000 and 2017 in Portugal. | Any further time in prison potentially gives German prosecutors more time to pursue an appeal in a separate case that saw Brückner cleared of three counts of rape and two counts of child sex abuse – charges dating back to between 2000 and 2017 in Portugal. |
| BBC News has been told that there are still no current plans to charge Brückner over Madeleine's disappearance – in which he has denied any involvement. | BBC News has been told that there are still no current plans to charge Brückner over Madeleine's disappearance – in which he has denied any involvement. |
| A convicted child sex offender, Brückner is a German national who has a history of sex, forgery, drug, and theft offences. | A convicted child sex offender, Brückner is a German national who has a history of sex, forgery, drug, and theft offences. |
| A drifter, he lived in Portugal's Algarve region, on and off, for years. | A drifter, he lived in Portugal's Algarve region, on and off, for years. |
| 'Laughing stock' | 'Laughing stock' |
| The meeting at Sehnde prison last March was about re-socialising Brückner, who was in solitary confinement at the time but no longer is. | The meeting at Sehnde prison last March was about re-socialising Brückner, who was in solitary confinement at the time but no longer is. |
| He was accused of calling a female officer a "Witzfigur", or laughing stock. | He was accused of calling a female officer a "Witzfigur", or laughing stock. |
| Witnesses who were at the meeting say Brückner was "hostile" and "aggressive." | Witnesses who were at the meeting say Brückner was "hostile" and "aggressive." |
| The court heard that Brückner claimed, at the time, that he was being "tortured" and treated in an "inhumane" way. | The court heard that Brückner claimed, at the time, that he was being "tortured" and treated in an "inhumane" way. |
| On Thursday, his lawyer also argued it was matter of freedom of speech and that the phrase "Witzfigur" could also be "positive" – if you address it to a comedian. | On Thursday, his lawyer also argued it was matter of freedom of speech and that the phrase "Witzfigur" could also be "positive" – if you address it to a comedian. |
| Brückner did later pen a letter of apology, saying he must have got up on the wrong side of the bed, the court heard. | Brückner did later pen a letter of apology, saying he must have got up on the wrong side of the bed, the court heard. |
| However, the officer involved said she did not believe the apology was sincere. | However, the officer involved said she did not believe the apology was sincere. |