In the shadow of Monte Cristallino, a massive mountain of potash slag near Sehnde Prison, the sun often disappears behind the grey mound, casting long shadows over the high redbrick walls and barbed wire fences.
Inside, the darkness is far more sinister. For six years, Christian Brueckner—the man German authorities suspect in the abduction and murder of Madeleine McCann—has been confined among 533 male prisoners, including some of Germany’s most dangerous criminals. Next week, that confinement comes to an end.
Sources tell the Daily Mail that Brueckner, 48, currently serving a sentence for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old American tourist in Praia da Luz—the same resort where Madeleine vanished two years later—will walk free on Wednesday, September 17.
Authorities plan to transfer him in an unmarked car to an undisclosed location within Germany, where he will begin life as a free man.
Public Outrage and Campaigns to Keep Him Locked Up
The news of Brueckner’s imminent release has sparked outrage.
Police have patrolled the prison perimeter to keep order among fearful locals, while campaigns have emerged to prevent his freedom.
Yvonne Behlke, a Hanover mother, started an online petition seeking to invoke a German law called Sicherungsverwahrung, which allows highly dangerous prisoners to be held indefinitely, subject to annual psychiatric review.
Forensic experts have long flagged Brueckner as extremely dangerous.
Dr Christian Riedmann, who testified in court last year regarding Brueckner’s alleged sex offences in the Algarve between 2000 and 2017, described him as psychopathic and “highly likely” to reoffend.
He placed him among the top one percent of the world’s most dangerous criminals.
Yet Brueckner was acquitted of those charges, and authorities were unable to pursue preventative detention.
The Controversial Fine Payment That Accelerated His Release
Brueckner’s release was further hastened by an unusual twist: a £1,300 court fine, initially delaying his freedom, was mysteriously paid by former German FBI agent Rebecca Koop, 39.
She has said she acted out of concern for his human rights, hoping to push investigations into Madeleine’s disappearance forward.
Instead, the payment removed a legal barrier that would have kept him behind bars.
For Hazel Behan, a survivor of Brueckner’s violence, the news is devastating.
Hazel, 42, faced him in a German court last May over an attack she suffered in Portugal in 2004, where she claims Brueckner broke into her apartment with a machete and assaulted her.
Despite her detailed testimony, including a striking resemblance to the attacker and his known history of violence, Brueckner was acquitted due to lack of forensic evidence.
Victims’ Fear and Ongoing Anxiety
Hazel described the mixed emotions she faces as Brueckner prepares for release: “Fear, anxiety, hurt.
His sentence has ended while mine has just begun.” She emphasizes the persistent threat he poses to society, calling him a man who “thrives on power over the vulnerable” with no apparent remorse.
For victims like Hazel, Brueckner’s freedom means resuming a life once tempered by constant fear.
She recounts how knowing he was in prison allowed her a sense of personal safety—attending music festivals, moving into a ground-floor apartment—small freedoms that now feel threatened again.
Legal Measures and Uncertainties Surrounding His Freedom
Authorities are taking some precautions. Chief prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters has sought strict supervision conditions, including seizure of Brueckner’s passport and mandatory electronic monitoring.
Yet the specifics of these measures remain confidential.
European extradition laws further complicate matters: as Brueckner was extradited from Italy to Germany in 2018, his lawyers claim he could leave Germany within 45 days of release, potentially traveling abroad, including back to Portugal.
Brueckner’s legal team insists he wishes to remain in Germany, seeking a “reasonably normal life,” including police protection upon release.
Still, there is no confirmed safe house for him, and minor pending charges mean he must attend court next month, or risk being returned to prison.
A Lifetime of Crime and Evasion
Brueckner, born Christian Fischer, has a long criminal history.
From his first offence at age 17 to periods living on the streets, in cars, or using friends’ addresses to stay off the radar, he has repeatedly evaded justice.
Police searches of his former properties have uncovered evidence allegedly linking him to Madeleine McCann and other crimes, though under German law much of this cannot be used to prosecute him for separate offences.
He is expected to receive a transitional payment of roughly €1,000 (£865) upon release, with potential access to unemployment benefits thereafter.
Some restrictions apply for employment, but in Germany, even released sex offenders can eventually work in many professions.
In ten years, certain convictions could even be expunged.
The Ongoing Madeleine McCann Investigation
Despite Brueckner’s release, the investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance continues.
Recent searches in Portugal indicate there are still leads to pursue.
In Rothley, Leicestershire, her family continues their private search, dealing with unrelated stalking cases while maintaining hope for new information.
For Hazel and others impacted by Brueckner’s crimes, the trauma persists.
She channels her pain into advocacy, founding a charity called Eist, which seeks justice for victims of sexual assault.
While the coming days are filled with uncertainty, Hazel remains resolute: “I can’t change what happened, but I have a choice in how I move forward.”