Christian Brueckner, who has been convicted of rape and molesting a six-year-old, was living near the McCanns’ flat in the Algarv
‘If you weren’t by the apartment she disappeared from that night, where were you?’ was one of a series of questions which the 44-year-old sex offender failed to dignify with a response.
Sources with knowledge of his recent prison interview, which was carried out by German authorities acting on behalf of their Portuguese colleagues, say that throughout the barrage of probing questions, Brueckner exercised his right to remain silent.
He was then handed a document informing him that he’d been made an ‘arguido’ — a Portuguese legal designation which elevates a witness to the status of official suspect and is usually a precursor to charges being laid.
It was the first time Brueckner, who has at least 17 prior convictions for an array of grisly crimes, has faced official questions about Madeleine, one of several small girls whose disappearance he’s been linked to in recent years.
Last night, her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann issued a statement saying they welcome the news that a German man has been declared ‘an arguido in relation to the disappearance of our beloved daughter, Madeleine.
‘This reflects progress in the investigation, being conducted by the Portuguese, German and British authorities. We are kept informed of developments by the Metropolitan Police,’ they added.
‘It is important to note that the arguido has not yet been charged with any specific crime related to Madeleine’s disappearance.
Kidnapper of Maddie, pictured shortly before she vanished in March 2007, remains unknown.
‘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.’
Speaking through his German lawyer, Brueckner has denied any involvement in their daughter’s disappearance.
Madeleine was staying with her family at the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz, a few miles from a ramshackle property the German sex offender was renting at the time. She vanished from her ground-floor bedroom, while her younger twin siblings Sean and Amelie slept close by.
Over the ensuing days and weeks, Portuguese detectives presided over a chaotic investigation marred by a series of blunders that placed them under intense pressure to crack the case.
Madeleine’s doctor parents, Kate and Gerry, were accused of neglect for having left their children unattended, checking on them every 20-30 minutes while they dined in the nearby tapas restaurant.
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