Timeline of Madeleine McCann case from disappearance that shocked the nation to Christian B acquittal
Rob Pattinson, Senior District Reporter
Published: Invalid Date,
CHRISTIAN B was identified by German prosecutors in 2020 as the prime suspect in Madeleine McCann's abduction.
Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, was three when snatched from her family's ground-floor holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, in May 2007.
Here's a timeline of the case which has gripped the world.
May 3, 2007
Madeleine McCann disappears from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, sparking a massive police search and becoming one of the most famous missing persons cases in history.
January 15, 2016
Neighbour reports a possible 'grave' at Brueckner's abandoned factory in East Germany.
Cops find disturbing images on USB sticks and launch a full-scale search.
February 16, 2016
Christian Brueckner is convicted for abusing a girl of five in a park after images found on his laptop.
He was sentenced to 15-months behind bars but was already on the run by then.
May 3, 2017
I looked Maddie suspect Christian Brueckner in the eyes in court and discovered the haunting reason he should NEVER be free
Around this time, Helge B calls an information hotline after watching a ten-year anniversary special on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
He reports an alleged confession by Christian Brueckner.
September 27, 2018
On-the-run Christian Brueckner is arrested over outstanding drugs claims in Italy.
He is extradited to Germany the following year.
December 16, 2019
Christian Brueckner was convicted, in Germany, for the 2005 rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, after his DNA was matched to a hair found on her bed.
He was sentenced to seven years behind bars.
June 4, 2020
German prosecutors reveal to the world they have a suspect in custody under investigation for the abduction of Madeleine McCann.
For the first time they claim Madeleine is dead.
German media later name him as Christian B (Christian Brueckner).
June 23, 2023
In his first interview, witness Helge B alleges to German newspaper Bild that Christian Brueckner all-but-confessed the Madeleine abduction to him, by allegedly saying 'she didn't scream' as they talked about the case, at a music festival, in Spain.
February 16, 2024
Brueckner goes on trial accused of none-McCann allegations of rape and sex assault, in Braunschweig, Germany.
Prosecutors hope for a conviction to keep him behind bars permanently and lead to McCann charges.
October 8, 2024
Brueckner was acquitted of all claims.
Prosecutors launch an appeal, however. Decision pending.
September 17, 2025
Date on which Christian Brueckner will be released from custody without action being taken.
Prosecutors require an arrest warrant for a retrial over claims from last year - or over the McCann case.
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Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
New Madeleine McCann details emerge after 'gun found in well' during fresh search
The gun retrieved from a well drained by firefighters last week during fresh Madeleine McCann searches on the Algarve is a 6.35 calibre, well-placed sources said today. Further details emerged hours after German prosecutors described the co-operation with Portuguese police as 'excellent and very constructive' as authorities in both countries continue to try to build up a case against suspect Christian Brueckner ahead of his scheduled release from prison in September. The type of gun discovered during the three-day search operation last week near Brueckner's former ramshackle cottage home close to the Algarve resort where Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007, has not yet been revealed. Typically 6.35 calibre guns are small, pocket-sized, semi-automatic pistols used for self-defence or fun target shooting, but can be airguns. Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reported yesterday it was unlikely to be a 'lethal weapon' although tests are understood to be ongoing. It has not yet been ruled out as a potential game-changer in the 'race against time' to charge Brueckner over Madeleine's disappearance before he finishes the seven-year prison sentence he is currently serving for the 2005 rape of an American OAP. Another gun said to have been found during last week's searches has been ruled out. It is believed to be more than 50 years old and has been described by Portuguese sources as a 'rusting relic.' The same well-placed sources confirmed yesterday forensic analysis of fragments of bones and adult clothing also unearthed last week would take place at a specialist police lab in Lisbon and not in Germany as initially reported. No samples of any kind have been sent back to Germany despite reports to the contrary, the insiders said. German forensic officers have been offered the opportunity of being present at the tests, although it was unclear today if they had accepted the invite. They were shown some of the bones that were unearthed, thought to be animal bones, in a video-conferencing session but are said to have been 'unable to come to any real conclusions about exactly what they were' via the screen. German prosecutors said yesterday in their only official statement so far since wells, ruins and water tanks across a 120-acre area in Atalaia between the Algarve towns of Praia and Luz and Lagos were inspected: 'The search operation conducted in Portugal last week has been completed as planned. No information can be provided at this time regarding the results of the investigation. 'Our sincere thanks go to all police officers involved in the search. The co-operation between the Portuguese police and the Federal Criminal Police Office was excellent and very constructive. 'We don't want to say anymore at the moment.' Luis Neves, the National Director of the Policia Judiciaria police force which in Portugal has been the lead police force in the hunt for Madeleine and whose officers worked along German counterparts at last week's search, insisted last Friday it had 'not been in vain' despite the apparent lack of results. He said: 'Nothing is in vain, not least because doors are being closed." At the last Madeleine McCann search in Portugal just over two years ago, when the Arade Dam a 40-minute drive from Praia da Luz was combed, German police who requested the operation did take back home with them samples believed to be mainly soil samples. The remote dam was described at the time as Brueckner's 'little paradise.' The May 2023 dam searches were the first major searches in Portugal for Madeleine McCann in nine years following an earlier June 2014 operation when British police were given permission to do digs in Praia da Luz that involved sniffer dogs trained in detecting bodies and ground-penetrating radar. Those Scotland Yard digs were linked to the leading UK police theory at the time Madeleine died during a break-in while her parents were eating tapas nearby with friends, and burglars dumped her body. They also failed to produce any evidence pointing to the missing youngster's whereabouts. In a smaller operation in July 2020 Portuguese police and firefighters searched three wells for Madeleine's body but failed to find any trace of her. Last Friday Correio da Manha claimed German prosecutors had refused to probe a couple suspected of running over Madeleine McCann in a drink-drive accident. Portuguese authorities demanded an investigation into a British man and his German wife after his UK-based sister tipped off cops in 2018 she thought he could be covering up a dark secret about Maddie's disappearance, the newspaper reported. But it said German authorities rejected a Portuguese request to use an undercover police officer with a fake identity to try to befriend the female suspect and firm up their suspicions she was driving a car that hit Madeleine while under the influence of alcohol. There has so far been no official response from German, Portuguese or UK police to the claims. Convicted 48-year-old paedophile Brueckner denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. His earliest possible prison release date is September 17 - though his lawyer said he would have to pay £1300 in outstanding fines from a series of motor offences to leave then.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Gun found in new Madeleine McCann search ‘has not been ruled out as a game-changer' amid race against time to charge prime suspect Christian Bruekner
The gun retrieved from a well drained by firefighters last week during fresh Madeleine McCann searches on the Algarve has not been ruled out as a game changer by investigators. Further details emerged hours after German prosecutors described the co-operation with Portuguese police as 'excellent and very constructive' as authorities in both countries continue to try to build up a case against suspect Christian Brueckner ahead of his scheduled release from prison in September. The type of gun discovered during the three-day search operation last week near Brueckner's former ramshackle cottage home close to the Algarve resort where Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007, has not yet been revealed, but well-placed sources said today it was a 6.35 calibre. Typically these types of guns are small, pocket-sized, semi-automatic pistols used for self-defence or target shooting, but can be airguns. Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reported yesterday it was unlikely to be a 'lethal weapon' although tests are understood to be ongoing. It has not yet been ruled out as a potential game-changer in the 'race against time' to charge Brueckner over Madeleine's disappearance before he finishes the seven-year prison sentence he is currently serving for the 2005 rape of an American woman. Another gun said to have been found during last week's searches has been ruled out. It is believed to be more than 50 years old and has been described by Portuguese sources as a 'rusting relic.' The same well-placed sources confirmed yesterday forensic analysis of fragments of bones and adult clothing also unearthed last week would take place at a specialist police lab in Lisbon and not in Germany as initially reported. No samples of any kind have been sent back to Germany despite reports to the contrary, the insiders said. German forensic officers have been offered the opportunity of being present at the tests, although it was unclear today if they had accepted the invite. They were shown some of the bones that were unearthed, thought to be animal bones, in a video-conferencing session but were 'unable to come to any real conclusions about exactly what they were'. German prosecutors said yesterday in their only official statement so far since wells, ruins and water tanks across a 120-acre area in Atalaia between the Algarve towns of Praia and Luz and Lagos were inspected: 'The search operation conducted in Portugal last week has been completed as planned. 'No information can be provided at this time regarding the results of the investigation. 'Our sincere thanks go to all police officers involved in the search. 'The co-operation between the Portuguese police and the Federal Criminal Police Office was excellent and very constructive. 'We don't want to say anymore at the moment.' Luis Neves, the National Director of the Policia Judiciaria police force which in Portugal has been the lead police force in the hunt for Madeleine and whose officers worked along German counterparts at last week's search, insisted last Friday it had 'not been in vain' despite the apparent lack of results. He said: 'Nothing is in vain, not least because doors are being closed'. At the last Madeleine McCann search in Portugal just over two years ago, when the Arade Dam a 40-minute drive from Praia da Luz was combed, German police who requested the operation did take back home with them samples believed to be mainly soil samples. The remote dam was described at the time as Brueckner's 'little paradise.' The May 2023 dam searches were the first major searches in Portugal for Madeleine McCann in nine years following an earlier June 2014 operation when British police were given permission to do digs in Praia da Luz that involved sniffer dogs trained in detecting bodies and ground-penetrating radar. Those Scotland Yard digs were linked to the leading UK police theory at the time Madeleine died during a break-in while her parents were eating tapas nearby with friends, and burglars dumped her body. They also failed to produce any evidence pointing to the missing youngster's whereabouts. In a smaller operation in July 2020 Portuguese police and firefighters searched three wells for Madeleine's body but failed to find any trace of her. Last Friday Correio da Manha claimed German prosecutors had refused to probe a couple suspected of running over Madeleine McCann in a drink-drive accident. Portuguese authorities demanded an investigation into a British man and his German wife after his UK-based sister tipped off cops in 2018 she thought he could be covering up a dark secret about Maddie's disappearance, the newspaper reported. But it said German authorities rejected a Portuguese request to use an undercover police officer with a fake identity to try to befriend the female suspect and firm up their suspicions she was driving a car that hit Madeleine while under the influence of alcohol. There has so far been no official response from German, Portuguese or UK police to the claims. Convicted 48-year-old paedophile Brueckner denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. His earliest possible prison release date is September 17 - though his lawyer said he would have to pay £1,300 in outstanding fines from a series of motor offences to leave then.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
More details emerge on ‘gun found in well' during new Madeleine McCann search amid race against time to charge Brueckner
'GUN' CLUE? More details emerge on 'gun found in well' during new Madeleine McCann search amid race against time to charge Brueckner Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE gun found during the search for Madeleine McCann has been revealed as a 6.35 calibre, well-placed sources said today. Further details emerged hours after German prosecutors praised Portuguese police for their work looking around the scrubland in Praia da Luz last week. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007, while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz in Portugal 2 Christian Brueckner is the lead suspect in the girl's disappearance The type of gun discovered during the three-day search operation last week near Brueckner's former ramshackle cottage home close to the Algarve resort where Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007, has not yet been revealed. Typically 6.35 calibre guns are small, pocket-sized, semi-automatic pistols used for self-defence or fun target shooting, but can be airguns. Watch The Sun's exclusive documentary on the Maddie case here Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reported yesterday it was unlikely to be a 'lethal weapon' although tests are understood to be ongoing. It has not yet been ruled out as a potential game-changer in the 'race against time' to charge Brueckner over Madeleine's disappearance before he finishes the seven-year prison sentence he is currently serving for the 2005 rape of an American OAP. Another gun said to have been found during last week's searches has been ruled out. It is believed to be more than 50 years old and has been described by Portuguese sources as a 'rusting relic.' The same well-placed sources confirmed yesterday forensic analysis of fragments of bones and adult clothing also unearthed last week would take place at a specialist police lab in Lisbon and not in Germany as initially reported. No samples of any kind have been sent back to Germany despite reports to the contrary, the insiders said. German forensic officers have been offered the opportunity of being present at the tests, although it was unclear today if they had accepted the invite. They were shown some of the bones that were unearthed, thought to be animal bones, in a video-conferencing session but are said to have been 'unable to come to any real conclusions about exactly what they were' via the screen. German prosecutors said yesterday in their only official statement so far since wells, ruins and water tanks across a 120-acre area in Atalaia between the Algarve towns of Praia and Luz and Lagos were inspected: 'The search operation conducted in Portugal last week has been completed as planned. 'No information can be provided at this time regarding the results of the investigation. 'Our sincere thanks go to all police officers involved in the search. 'The co-operation between the Portuguese police and the Federal Criminal Police Office was excellent and very constructive. 'We don't want to say anymore at the moment.'
