Madeleine McCann suspect acquitted of unrelated sexual offences in separate court trial in Germany

Christian Brueckner, a 47-year-old man, has been acquitted of several sex-related charges in Germany. The acquittal is related to alleged offenses committed between 2000 and 2017 in Portugal, including rape and sexual abuse of children. Brueckner was found not guilty on five charges by the district court in Braunschweig, but prosecutors have announced that they will appeal the decision, seeking a retrial. As a result of his ongoing seven-year prison sentence, Brueckner will remain incarcerated for at least another year. His acquittal may also create hurdles for potential charges in the Madeleine McCann disappearance case, although he has not been formally charged in this matter. Brueckner is currently set for release by September 2025 at the latest.