MADELEINE McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner is set to face a key witness in court today who claims he did kidnap the British girl in Portugal.
Manfred Seyferth, 68, is expected to say during his rape trial that the defendant is an “evil psychopath” who’s capable of anything.
Christian Brueckner arriving at court today for his ongoing rape trial
Christian Brueckner is the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007
Dan Charity – The SunManfred Seyferth – set to testify in court today – previously told The Sun Christian Brueckner is ‘evil’[/caption]
The drifter was pals with Brueckner, 47, when they lived near Praia da Luz, in Portugal, around the time Maddie vanished in 2007.
He is being called as a character witness – and is expected to reveal what Brueckner was doing around the time of Irish holiday rep Hazel Behan’s rape in 2006.
Seyferth, along with another former pal Helge Busching, served as a key witness in Christian’s 2019 rape trial in Braunschweig, Germany.
The pair had ransacked his Algarve home together, uncovering a string of video tapes depicting the monster’s abuse and taking it to cops.
He was then convicted for the rape and torture of a pensioner in Portugal after the grim discovery.
But prosecutors are said to be privately nervous over how the heavy-drinker’s credibility will hold up in court over cross-examination today.
His account also has to match Busching’s – with fears the defence will be able to pick holes in both.
I think he may have something to do with Maddie. He broke in and saw her and because he likes young girls — he’s got lots of convictions — he took her
Manfred Seyferth to The Sun, 2020
The credibility of their testimonies could be vital to seeing Brueckner charged over Maddie.
Seyferth previously spoke to The Sun about Brueckner and dubbed him an “evil man” who was “easily capable of taking a small child”.
He said at the time: “I never liked him and he is a psychopath. He is obsessed with small children and I didn’t like it.
“He always had a young girlfriend with him and I think he is easily capable of taking a small child.”
“That’s why I think he may have something to do with Maddie. He broke in and saw her and because he likes young girls — he’s got lots of convictions — he took her.”
German prosecutors are nervous over failing in any Madeleine case, which could see the suspect walk free in less than two years.
In 2007, Seyferth lived in a caravan next to Christian’s house, a few minutes drive from Praia da Luz.
He told The Sun that he didn’t see paedophile and rapist Brueckner for months after Madeleine disappeared.
Reflecting on their life of crime together, Seyferth said: “We called him ‘The Climber’ because of his skills.
“He was an expert at getting into apartments and hotel rooms.
“Christian was athletic and he was strong. I saw him many times climb up to first and second-floor apartments and break in.”
If Brueckner is convicted on his current charges he faces up to 15 years behind bars, giving prosecutors the safety net for the Maddie case they want to pursue.
Brueckner was snapped appearing at Braunschweig regional court today where he faces charges for raping Irish holiday rep Hazel Behan at knifepoint after tying her to a table and whipping her on camera.
He is also accused of tying a teenage girl to a post in the same resort Maddie was snatched from and forcing her to perform a sex act.
During a Praia de Luz raid – in the years before Madeleine disappeared – Brueckner is said to have raped a woman aged as old as 80 and hit her with a whip, filming the attacks on both victims.
The defendant is also said to have performed a sex act on himself in front of a child on a park-swing and made threats towards a prison guard.
He is also charged with grabbing the wrist of a child on a beach six miles from Praia, just weeks before Maddie vanished – and a further charge of insulting a prison guard.
He denies all charges and the trial continues.
Key dates in Madeleine McCann’s disappearance
MADELEINE McCann vanished on May 3, 2007 – and cops believe Brueckner could have been behind her disappearance.
Almost 17 years on, no one has been charged in connection. These are the key dates:
May 3, 2007 – Kate McCann finds Madeleine missing at 10pm
May 14, 2007 – Property developer Robert Murat is named an “arguido” or formal suspect
August 31, 2007 – The McCanns launch libel action against Tal e Qual – a newspaper that claimed the couple killed Madeleine
September 7, 2007 – Kate and Gerry McCann are made “arguidos”
September 9, 2007– Madeleine’s parents return to England with their two-year-old twins
October 2, 2007– Lead detective Goncalo Amaral is taken off the case after criticising British police in a newspaper interview
July 21, 2009 – Portuguese police lift the “arguido” status of both Robert Murat and the McCanns
May 12, 2011 – On Madeleine’s eighth birthday, Scotland Yard launches a review into the case
April 25, 2012 – Scotland Yard officers say they believe Madeleine McCann is still alive
July 4, 2013 – Two years into a review of the case, Scotland Yard launched its own investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance
October 24, 2013– Portuguese police reopen their case after new lines of inquiry are found
November 27, 2013 – Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe called for British and Portuguese police to work together
October 28, 2015 – Scotland Yard reduces the number of officers working on Madeleine’s disappearance
March 11, 2017 – The Home Office grants Operation Grange an extra £85,000 to continue from April until September
September 28, 2017 – British police are granted £154,000 to keep the probe going until March 2018
November 2017 – Cops moved the search to Bulgaria
May 2018 – Another round of funding, thought to be in the region of £150,000 is granted
September 2018 – An extra six months of funding is requested from the Home Office
November 2018 – More funding, thought to be in the region of £150,000 is granted
November 2018 – UK police re-examine a theory Madeleine left the apartment to look for her parents
June 2019 – Another round of funding, believed to be £300,000 of government cash is granted
June 2019 – Portuguese police are probing a “new clue and suspect” after talks with British officers
June 2020 – New prime suspect revealed as a German paedo Christian Brueckner
April 2022 – Brueckner formally made an “arguido”
May 2023 – Police search remote Algarve reservoir Brueckner called his “little paradise”
Just days ago Brueckner was seen striding into court in handcuffs before the trial was adjourned after a judge’s “kill the b*****d” rant was read out in court.
Only nine minutes into the hearing was the trial axed as Brueckner’s lawyer fought to discredit one of the lay-judges who was set to help decide his verdict.
Dr Fülscher claimed she had called for the assassination of a president on social media.
He said the woman had written “kill the b*****d now” and “kill the devil”, referring to Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro.
Dr Fülscher said the remark meant she was unfit to sit on the case and could not be relied upon as far as his client was concerned.
German criminal Brueckner is already behind bars serving a seven-year sentence for rape.
Investigators believe he abducted and murdered Madeleine 17 years ago – but no charges have been filed against him.
It has been four years since he was officially identified as the main suspect in the horrific case.
The sickening paedophile first commented on the case weeks ago, branding it “ridiculous”.
He also remorselessly ridiculed cops saying: “I hope (they) will find some answers to (their) questions soon.”
Brueckner was recently moved from Oldenburg prison in northern Germany to Schnedebruch near Hannover, according to MailOnline.
He said: “My situation didn’t change at all. I just moved prison. I’m still totally isolated. Since (sic) more than two years now.
“I’m still not allowed to talk with anybody else then to my lawyers and to my punishers (guards).”
Dan CharityChristian Brueckner in court on February 16[/caption]
Brueckner arriving this morning in a police van
Braunschweig Regional Court – where Brueckner’s trail continues