Christian Brueckner: To be or not to be

Bilge, Germany's answer to The Sun, about as promising as Metodo3's home by Christmas prophecy..

BILD explains the investigation against Christian BrücknerJudicial chaos surrounding the trial of Maddie suspects

By: Kai Feldhaus
September 23, 2023 - 4:26 p.m

Braunschweig – Another turning point in the investigations against Christian Brückner (46).

The Higher Regional Court has ordered: A possible trial against the man who is said to have kidnapped and murdered little Maddie McCann (then 3) in Portugal in 2007 must take place in Braunschweig. The Braunschweig regional court is responsible for the case.

Accusation, complaint, decision, complaint, decision – there has been a legal tug-of-war over a possible trial against Brückner for months. BILD explains the confusion – and shows how things could continue.

The case of Hazel B.

It has been known since June 2020 that the BKA and the Braunschweig public prosecutor's office are investigating the Maddie case against the convicted pedophile Christian Brückner (46). The suspect is currently in custody for raping an American woman (†72). The investigation revealed numerous indications of other crimes that Brückner may have committed.

In October 2022, the Braunschweig public prosecutor's office finally brought charges: Brückner is accused of five further sexual crimes, including the rape of the Irish woman Hazel B. (then 20) in Portugal in 2005. Maddie's case plays no role in this prosecution.

The indictment was the starting signal for a legal exchange between the Braunschweig public prosecutor's office and Brückner's lawyer Dr. Friedrich Fülscher (39).

The defense attorney doubted whether the Braunschweig regional court had jurisdiction over a trial against his client: Before Brückner left Germany and went to Portugal, his last residence was in Saxony-Anhalt, not in Braunschweig.

The regional court in Magdeburg is therefore responsible for a trial.

The Braunschweig Regional Court upheld the defense attorney's complaint and declared itself not responsible. The public prosecutor's office again lodged an appeal against this decision. Now the Higher Regional Court decided: Command back, the Braunschweig Regional Court is responsible for a possible trial against Brückner.

This is how it continues

There are two scenarios for the further course of the procedure. Both are likely to end up before the Federal Court of Justice (BGH).

It can be assumed that the regional court will open the rape trial in 2024. (The Maddie case still plays no role there.) Brückner's defense attorney has already announced that he will then challenge the jurisdiction again.

Scenario 1: The regional court upholds the defense attorney's complaint and again declares itself incompetent.

Consequence: The proceedings are discontinued. The public prosecutor's office lodges a complaint and the case ends up before the Federal Court of Justice.

Scenario 2: The district court rejects the defense attorney's complaint. The trial will take place, Brückner may be convicted.

Consequence: The defense appeals because of the question of jurisdiction, and the case ends up before the Federal Court of Justice.

No matter which scenario occurs, it will still be months before a final verdict is issued in the case of the five sex crimes for which Brückner is accused. The Maddie case doesn't play a role in any of this.

The Maddie McCann case

“The decision of the Higher Regional Court does not change anything for the investigation in the Maddie case,” said public prosecutor Christian Wolters to BILD. “We continued the investigation unchanged anyway because we were of the opinion that responsibility for all investigations against Christian B. lies in Braunschweig.”

These investigations are still not completed: “They are still ongoing. The results of the search operation from Portugal are not yet available.” A reservoir was searched there in May, where Christian Brückner is said to have often camped.

There are still no charges in sight in the Maddie case.

According to Wolters, it is theoretically possible that the investigation into Maddie would be completed and charges brought against Brückner before the proceedings in the Hazel B. case were completed: “Both proceedings run independently of each other and have hardly anything in common apart from the accused.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Case Maddie exclusive

The most important witness

Helge B. speaks for the first time in BILD.

By: KAI FELDHAUS and CHRISTIAN SPREITZ (photos)
June 30, 2023 - 10:38 a.m

Praia da Luz (Portugal) – He is the man who started it all.

︎ That there is suddenly a suspect more than 12 years after Madeleine McCann's disappearance.

︎ That this suspect ended up in court and was sentenced to seven years in prison for raping an American woman (72).

︎ That the public prosecutor's office and the BKA are sure that they have caught Christian Brückner (46), the kidnapper of little Maddie. All of this comes from one man's statement.

The statement from Helge B. (52).

The BKA has been shielding Brückner's ex-comrade for years, hiding him in various places in Europe. Helge B. has never commented publicly. Until now.

BILD met him in a world-exclusive first interview at a secret location in southern Europe. Helge B. has a lot to tell:

- How Brückner accidentally confessed the crime to him.

- When he first alerted the police.

- And why, from today's perspective, he would rather not have done it.

“I didn’t expect the dimensions this would all take on,” says Helge B. after almost two hours of conversation. “It ruined my life.”
Maddie McCann disappeared on May 3, 2007

The first meeting with Brückner

Helge B.: “That was in the parking lot in front of a pub in Portugal. My friends Micha and Manni introduced me to Christian. He helped them with a breakdown, which I thought was good.

The first impression: a nice guy, likeable, easy to get along with.

I had heard that he gets into hotels, is a good climber, and goes in via the balconies. We then saw each other more often. I never had the feeling that there was anything wrong with it. When I found out what he really did, I was speechless.”

Theft

Helge B.: “I had heard that Micha and Christian were in custody. It was in the newspaper: Two Germans arrested. Manni said: I know where Brückner lives, he still has 1000 liters of diesel there. Let's take these with us. We went there and picked up a few canisters. The front door was open, so we just went in there. We searched the apartment, took a video camera, a bunch of films and a pistol.

We then went to my house, I had a big TV there and I saw the first videos there. Tourist shit, I thought. Until I came across the video of the older lady.

At first I thought: This is a feature film! You could see someone whipping the woman. She was tied up, lying on the bed, and was probably 70 or 80 years old. She had painted diving goggles on and couldn't see anything. She spoke English and shouted: You fucking bastard! At the end of the video he sat on the bed and pulled down the mask. Then I saw that it was the bridger.

I couldn't believe it at all. I told Manni: Come here, take a look at what's going on.

He looked for two minutes and said: I don't want to know anything about it. I said: Manni, that's the Brückner! I saw it, he took off his mask! On another cassette was the video with the old lady from a different position, and another film with a younger girl, 13, 14 years old. She was tied naked to a beam. Brückner sat behind them on the sofa and made fun of her. She said: This borders on rape! And he just: Shut up. Then I knew what kind of guy Brückner was.

I spoke to a police officer I know in Germany. He said: Helge, keep your hands off it. A lawyer told me the same thing. I was just unsure what could happen to me - I would have put myself in harm's way!

Manni threw the gun into a reservoir and I sold the camera. When I later left Portugal, I left the videos in my caravan. It’s unclear where they went.”

The confession"

Helge B.: “Christian didn’t know that we had joined him. His apartment had since been liquidated. The next time we saw each other was in 2008 at the Dragon Festival in Orgiva.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I was sitting in my Mercedes and saw him in the rearview mirror. He joined us and we chatted. That was difficult for me - I knew what he had done, that the guy was extremely dangerous.

He asked me: Are you no longer going to Portugal and doing business there? No, I said, since the girl disappeared there, there have been too many police checks for me and I don't need that. We came across Maddie and I said: I don't understand how the little one could disappear so without a trace.

Christian had drunk two or three beers and then said: She didn't scream.

I immediately checked what he said. I thought: He knows that. He has something to do with it. I knew his background from the videos, and then he made one of these. Then I felt very miserable. The others didn't really understand it.

But he also checked that I understood that and then ran away at night. At 3 or 4 a.m. he left a crowded festival in his motorhome. I looked for him the next morning, his neighbors said: He’s gone.”

The statement

Helge B.: “I called Scotland Yard back in 2008. On the Maddie hotline. I said that I knew someone who probably had something to do with it and gave them the name. They took my personal details and my phone number. But nothing happened there. Nothing! I was never called back. I thought: Well, they'll take care of it.

In 2017, I had just completed a prison sentence in Greece. When I heard about the 10th anniversary of the disappearance, I remembered: The call apparently didn't do any good. Then I contacted Scotland Yard again.

Then they listened to me.

There was a first meeting with two officials in a hotel in Athens. I then flew to London and recorded my statement there. I never got any money for it. Not a penny. I didn't shorten my prison term by testifying. I only contacted Scotland Yard afterwards.

In 2018, the BKA reported: I was needed as a witness because Christian was to be brought to trial for raping the elderly woman in the videos. We then saw each other in court in 2019. This whole situation really took a toll on me. When I saw him, I thought: He's a pig. He’s sitting here for a reason.”

His destroyed life

Helge B.: “I didn’t expect the dimensions it would all take on. I don't think I would have done it again if I had known that. It ruined my life.

I lived in Corsica, was happy, had a job and no worries. Then all of a sudden it was all gone. There were reporters standing in front of my door at work, questioning my neighbors. They then asked me: Why do you know a guy like that? Then my past caught up with me. The gauntlet began. The BKA has reported: You have to get out of there until the matter has been dealt with. I've been on the run ever since. That's not fun. I long for my old life, but that’s no longer possible.”

His theory about Maddie's disappearance

Helge B.: “Of course Christian is considered innocent until proven otherwise. My theory is that he was planning a break-in. That it went wrong and he found the children in the apartment. And that he then took Maddie with him. That probably wasn't planned at all.

Based on everything I know about him, I definitely don't think he could do something like that. I think he kidnapped her. I don’t know if he killed her in the end.”

Why he's unpacking now

Helge B.: “It all has to come to an end. There are so many lies being spread about me and I can't do anything about it. I'm helpless. I tried to do something! I contacted Scotland Yard back in 2008! Why would I invent something like that? You can't make that up! Then I would be an even better liar than Munchausen! I also said from the beginning: I don't want the reward. They should donate the money. You can do better things with it. I don't need the money.

In retrospect, taking these videos with me was the biggest mistake of my life. I would have preferred not to know anything about it. I'm also not proud that I triggered this investigation. I'm not feeling well. I've gained weight, I have phases where I go crazy and don't sleep at night.

I'm always on the run, I don't have a home, I'm always careful about who I say something to. I don't have any friends anymore. My last boyfriend died in Corsica in October - and I wasn't even allowed to go to the funeral. My life looks so sad.

I would like there to finally be peace. It's clear to me that Maddie is no longer alive. As sad as it may be, it would be better if her body was found. I’m worried that Brückner will get away with it.”

His appeal to Brückner

Helge B.: “Christian, I hope you don’t get away with this story. With what you've done. You deny that these videos exist. These videos existed. Unfortunately they are missing. But I saw her.”

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Explosive statement from the witness in the Maddie case

Did Scotland Yard sleep for nine years?

By: KAI FELDHAUS and MONIKA KENNEDY
June 30, 2023 - 10:33 a.m

Praia da Luz (Portugal) – If this statement is true, then this is nothing less than a police scandal.

“I called Scotland Yard back in 2008. On the Maddie hotline. I said that I knew someone who probably had something to do with it and gave them the name.” This is what Helge B. (52), the most important witness in the Maddie McCann case, claims in an exclusive BILD interview .

At a music festival in Spain, Christian Brückner (46) accidentally confessed to him that he had kidnapped little Maddie (then 3) from her parents' apartment on May 3, 2007, the witness claims. Brückner spilled the beans.
Christian Brückner is said to have kidnapped Maddie

“He asked me: Are you no longer going to Portugal and doing business there? No, I said, since the girl disappeared there, there have been too many police checks for me and I don't need that at all," says Helge B., describing the conversation.

“We came across Maddie and I said: I don't understand how the little girl could disappear so without a trace. Christian had drunk two or three beers and then said: She didn't scream. I immediately checked what he said. I thought: He knows that. He has something to do with it.”

According to witness Helge B., he gave Scotland Yard this information by telephone in 2008. “They took my personal details, my phone number. But nothing happened there. Nothing! I was never called back. I thought: Well, they’ll take care of it.”

The explosive BILD interview is also making waves internationally: because Helge B.'s statements not only incriminate Scotland Yard's investigators, they are, above all, finally a real chance to solve what is probably the most famous missing person case in the world.

Only when he called the English police again in 2017 did Scotland Yard react: “Then they listened to me.” He made a statement, investigations against Brückner followed, ultimately a trial for rape and seven years in prison.

After Helge B.'s explosive statement, the question arises: Did Scotland Yard sleep for nine years? Could she have targeted the suspect as early as 2008 – and thereby prevented a series of crimes?

A look at Brückner's criminal file: In 2010 he was convicted in Hanover for forging documents, in 2011 in Niebüll for drug trafficking, in 2013 for theft, again in Hanover.

In 2014, the most serious crime occurred: the Maddie suspect abused his girlfriend's daughter. The police found child pornography on him, and he later received 15 months in prison for it.

If Scotland Yard had already investigated, the child would probably have been spared a lot.

The list of crimes doesn't end there. The following: weapons possession, attempted theft, drunk driving, assault (all 2015). The following year, Brückner went to Portugal.

Why was the 2008 notice left unaddressed? Why hasn't anyone contacted the witness? Scotland Yard left a BILD query about this unanswered.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I wonder why this star witness contacted The Metropolitan Police Maddie hotline (?) rather than the official investigative force - the Portuguese judiciary.

Let me guess - the Portuguese were not offering a Reward?

I think he's a big fat purveyor of porky pies.

As always, all this information for us to digest comes to our breakfast table via the press and media - not to relied upon. What they don't know they invent.

A day late and a dollar short..

TRIAL ‘DODGE’ FAIL Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian B fails to have investigators thrown off his case and delay trial

Rob Pattinson

Published: 21:00, 24 Sep 2023

MADELEINE McCann prime suspect Christian B has failed to have investigators thrown off his case.

His lawyers hoped to delay any trial and buy time for paedo B, by getting the German probe switched to another region.

But the bid to have the file snatched away from prosecutors in Braunschweig has been thrown out by a court.

It means investigators can push on with their bid to take the 46-year-old convicted paedophile and rapist to trial.

A decision to move the probe under a different ­jurisdiction could have set the case back years.

Investigator Hans-Christian Wolters told The Sun: “This is a relief for us.

“It is always nice when you get an affirmation of the way you had seen things.

"The Regional Court here had said Christian B’s last residence has been in Saxony-Anhalt, and therefore we were not the correct investigative jurisdiction for this case.

"We appealed to the Higher Regional Court.”

Its ruling — after six months of legal wrangling — is a boost to investigators following fears that key witness Helge Busching was about to withdraw his evidence.

B’s lawyer, Friedrich Fülscher, said of the ruling yesterday: “The decision must be accepted at this point.”

Mr Wolters added: “What now needs to happen is the Regional Court must decide whether the degree of suspicion we have against Christian B is sufficient to hold a trial.

“If yes, they need to set the date for a hearing.”

Madeleine was on holiday with her family from Rothley, Leics, when she vanished from their apartment in the Portuguese resort of Praia Da Luz, in 2007.

Prosecutors in Braunschweig believe that B took and murdered the three-year-old.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Still there is no evidence to suggest Christian Brueckner was involved in any way with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Drop it - it's irrelevant.

Show some respect - leave the name Madeleine McCann out of your money grabbing sensationalism.

No one cares about Christian Brueckner, at least no one with Madeleine McCann at heart.



Come back when you've got something constructive to report, meanwhile see you in hell.

Madeleine McCann suspect loses legal bid to have trial delayed

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Prime suspect in Madeleine McCann case loses legal bid to have trial delayed
PA

By Oliver Trapnell - Published: 25/09/2023 - 10:14

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann disappearance case has failed to have a legal bid to delay his trial approved.

Christian Brueckner attempted to push back his date in court by switching the German probe to another region.

The move, which would have moved the probe under a different jurisdiction, could have pushed the case back several months if not years.

However, the bid has been thrown out of court with investigators set to take the convicted 46-year-old paedophile and rapist to trial.

WATCH NOW: Madeleine McCann investigation latest

“This is a relief for us,” Investigator Hans-Christian Wolters told The Sun.

“It is always nice when you get an affirmation of the way you had seen things.

“The Regional Court here had said Christian B’s last residence has been in Saxony-Anhalt, and therefore we were not the correct investigative jurisdiction for this case.

“We appealed to the Higher Regional Court.”

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

And talking of trial by media..

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The press have such a delightful way with words but pray tell me - why do you refer to Christian Brueckner as 'brazen'?

Exclusive: Madeleine McCann cops vow to get justice as prime suspect on sex assault charge

Christian Brueckner is accused of exposing himself to a terrified 11-year-old in an Algarve playground in 2017, and his case is currently progressing through legal system

ByMartin FrickerSenior Reporter

18:10, 29 Sep 2023

Police told the family of a girl allegedly attacked by Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner : “We will get justice for you.”

Brueckner, 46, is accused of indecently exposing himself to the terrified 11-year-old in an Algarve playground in 2017. Last October, he was charged with that and a string of other sex offences alleged to have taken place in Portugal. But the girl’s family were left heartbroken when the charges were dropped following a court ruling over jurisdiction.

Last week, a higher court in Germany overturned that decision, however, meaning the prosecution can continue. Just weeks before the ruling, detectives had vowed to the schoolgirl’s relatives that they would get justice for her. A friend of the family, who live in Sao Bartolomeu de Messines, Portugal, told the Mirror: “They just want to see him in court.

"They were very sad when it seemed he would not stand trial because of the legal arguments in Germany. German detectives came to see them in the spring with Portuguese police and said not to worry. The police said justice will be done, they were confident another court would rule in their favour. Now everyone is waiting to see him go to court.”

The girl was sitting on a swing when Brueckner allegedly performed a sex act in front of her. It is one of five offences he is accused of carrying out in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. They include the alleged rapes of an Irish tour rep, a teenage girl and an elderly woman. He is also charged with exposing himself to a girl in April 2007.

Three-year-old Madeleine disappeared from the resort of Praia da Luz just a month later. Brueckner denies any involvement in the crime.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Oh bog off you fricking Fricker, flashing is nothing new nor can it be proven unless captured on camera - even then intent is tenuous.

Flashers do it for kicks, they don't do it to demonstrate evil intention - that takes a whole new pervert to enter the scene. Flashers are not suspect paedophiles, they are sick individuals who get some sort of pleasure by shocking the onlooker.

If you're looking for a conviction you need evidence, that evidence is sorely lacking in every aspect of Brueckner speculation.

Let us know when something positive occurs - eh?

Meantime !

On the find Madeleine website, we have an age progression image of Madeleine aged 9, commissioned by the Met police.

We also have these quotes:

There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Madeleine has been harmed.

Madeleine is still missing and someone needs to be looking for her.

They can't have it both ways.

There is nothing to suggest that Eddie and Keela lied either.

Unlike ‘Team McCann’ and their Entourage.

sharonl wrote:

There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Madeleine has been harmed.

I have always found this sentence to be extremely bizarre.

Ladyinred wrote:

sharonl wrote:

There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Madeleine has been harmed.

I have always found this sentence to be extremely bizarre.

  Is there anything about this case that isn't bizarre?

"There is nothing to suggest Madeleine has been harmed " 

So being " taken from her bed " and from her family isn't going to harm her ?

The McCann's insisted that Madeleine had been taken, years later an 'abductor' is named, and they don't celebrate; they dropped another clanger there. Gerry should have remembered Kate telling him about a dream she had, featuring a man who looked like Brueckner..

crusader wrote:As far as we know, the McCann's have shown no interest in Brueckner.
This , to me, is a big red flag, you would think they would be all over it.
In fact, from the start, they have shown very little interest in finding Madeleine.
 The day after Madeleine disappeared, returning from the police station, the car turned around because a sighting had been reported of Madeleine, Kate was very annoyed that the driver was speeding. WTF
They were sure then that it wasn't Madeleine, that's why they are not interested in Brueckner or anyone else who may get fitted up for her disappearance.

The McCanns did reference Raymond Hewlett (Brueckner Mark 1) but as his appearance was earlier in the day they had little or no choice but to acknowledge his existence. It's all on another thread somewhere, I'll see if I can easily locate.

Team McCann were (and still are) very cautious about specific potential important witnesses, they pick and mix like dolly mixture.

That aside, Brueckner is 100% thoroughbred media hype. He played no part in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, as anyone with a degree of nouse knows, but let's keep those stones turning.

Well well well, look who's back, if she ever went away ... Jutta Rabe. Germany's co-respondent for the United Press Inc. I wonder if it was Jutta Rabe who had a word in Jon Clarke's shell-like to influence a German edition of the Olive Press - I can't see it serves any other purpose.

Incidently there is always a online news outlet to cater for all recognised languages across the globe, if you live in Spain you don't need an English language newspaper - the internet will suffice. Indeed it's preferable as you can choose and/or channel your preferences - providing you don't rely on artificial intelligence, it's not very intelligent.

Anyway, on with the motley..

'SECOND ATTACK' Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian B ‘seen running from scene of alleged rape by new witness’

Jutta RabeAmir Razavi

Published: 21:29, 30 Sep 2023Updated: 21:29, 30 Sep 2023

A NEW witness says he saw Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian B running from an alleged rape scene.

And the figure, all in black, was earlier seen by others climbing up an apartment block to break into Hazel Behan’s room.

Image of the prime suspect

Image of Madeleine McCann clutching tennis balls

The new information will be heard in a German court next year when Christian B, 47, faces charges of raping Irish student Hazel in June 2004 in Praia da Rocha, Portugal.

It is 10 miles from the Praia da Luz apartment from where Madeleine, three, vanished in May 2007 while on holiday with her family, from Rothley, Leics.

A source said of the 2004 sighting near Hazel’s flat: “A new witness has contacted the police.

“He was starting his early morning shift at a nearby hotel and said he saw a man dressed in black running from the apartment block.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

“He could see the man because he had taken off a mask and he identified him to police as Christian B.”

As well as the rape trial in Braunschweig, Christian B also faces claims of a string of sex attacks on the Algarve between 2000 and 2017.

Last year Hazel, 40, who was a holiday rep, waived her right to anonymity.

She said: “I always said my attacker was a German with piercing blue eyes and a voice I would recognise immediately.

“When Christian B’s name was released in connection to the Madeleine case, I knew it was him. It made me sick.”

We asked prosecutor Hans-Christian Wolters for comment.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]