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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Joanna Taylor

Christian Brueckner: Madeleine McCann suspect breaks silence to accuse prosecutors of ‘unbelievable scandal’

Photograph: Via REUTERS

A convicted pedophile has spoken out for the first time since he was named Brunswick prosecutors’ prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, German media reports.

The 44-year-old reportedly released a handwritten letter, headed “Christian Brueckner press release”, which was obtained and published by German tabloid Bild.

The letter’s writer – believed to be Brueckner – accuses prosecutors of perpetrating an “unbelievable scandal” by starting a “public prejudice campaign” against him.

The writer goes on to claim that prosecutors Hans Christian Wolters and Ute Lindemann have brought “shame” to the German legal system and demands their resignations.

The letter, dated 8 May, was reportedly accompanied by a hand-drawn cartoon of two people ordering “filet forensics” at a restaurant, perhaps in reference to Mr Wolters’ comment that there is no forensic evidence to suggest that Madeleine is dead.

Mr Wolters has also said that the child’s disappearance could be solved in months.

Madeleine, then three years old, disappeared in May 2007 from a Praia da Luz resort in the Algarve region of Portugal. Brueckner was living in a camper van nearby at the time.

He is alleged to have confessed to abducting Madeleine while talking to a criminal associate at a bar.

Brueckner denies being involved in Madeleine’s disappearance and has refused to talk to police.

Prosecutors say that they will interview him at the end of their investigation.

Mr Wolters said: “When we have completed our investigations, we will inform the public about the result and then also about further details.”

He also said that his team have received some “very interesting tips”.

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