An alibi from a paedophile accused of abducting Madeleine McCann has been backed by four people, a TV show claims.
This will pile fresh heartache on parents Kate and Gerry, who welcomed Portuguese police making Christian Brueckner an arguido, or suspect.
The declaration was seen as a sign police may be finally near charging Brueckner, 44, over three-year-old Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007 during a family holiday at Praia da Luz in the Algarve.
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Four witnesses have spoken to a Channel 5 documentary about the case, which is hosted by ex-police detective Mark Williams-Thomas – who has been in lengthy contact with Brueckner via letter. Madeleine McCann: Investigating The Prime Suspect will air on May 3.
A Channel 5 insider said: “Christian Brueckner has provided a very detailed alibi for the days leading up to and after Madeleine’s disappearance.
“That has been checked out by our team and fully examined. We’ve spoken to four people who have gone on the record to independently, in different ways, support his alibi. They have got nothing to benefit from supporting him and, in fact, a couple of those people really don’t like him but they have still backed his account.”
Speaking directly about Brueckner for the first time, Kate and Gerry said in a statement: “We welcome the news that the Portuguese authorities have declared a German man an arguido.
“This reflects progress in the investigation. Even though the possibility may be slim, we have not given up hope that Madeleine is still alive and we will be reunited with her.”
It is thought Brueckner has been made a suspect as there is a strict 15-year time limit for a murder charge in Portugal, which is close to expiring.
Brueckner, serving seven years in Germany for the 2005 rape of a pensioner, was first named as a suspect by German police in June 2020 after tracing a mobile they believe he was using on the night to a phone mast near where Madeleine’s family were staying.
Our source claimed the German evidence is utterly flawed and added: “Brueckner is a nasty piece of work and he’s a child abuser, but there’s a big difference between being a child abuser and murdering a child. His account is that he wasn’t there.”
Brueckner’s lawyer, Friedrich Fulscher, said: “This move by the Portuguese authorities should not be overstated.
“Does this step amount to an accusation? No, not at all.”
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