Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner's ex grilled for 12-hours by German cops as she's 'crucial witness'
The former girlfriend of Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect of Madeleine McCann's murder, has been questioned by police in a "grueling" 12-hour interview, according to reports. Police in Germany reportedly told the 45-year-old British woman that would be a "crucial witness" if Brueckner, a convicted pedophile, goes to trial over the abduction and murder of the toddler.
Brueckner, a 43-year-old pedophile from Germany, was named by authorities in June as the prime suspect Madeleine's missing case. The three-year-old mysteriously disappeared from her parents' vacation apartment at The Ocean Club Resort in Praia da Luz, Portugal on the night of May 3, 2007.
Authorities flew to Algarve, Portugal and questioned the woman, who has not been identified, over her relationship with Brueckner. The woman reportedly works as a barmaid in the popular tourist region, which includes the resort town of Praia Da Luz, where Madeleine was abducted. It is believed that the woman is living in fear and is scared to reveal her identity. She has claimed that Brueckner terrorized her while they were in a relationship and is afraid that he will be released from prison one day. Police, however, have assured her that Brueckner will continue to remain in prison as long as investigation in the case continues.
German authorities, who quizzed the woman for nearly 12 hours, have described her as an "important character witness." Reports state that she was originally set to be flown to Germany for questioning, however, she refused to leave Portugal. Detectives reportedly interrogated former colleagues from a Lagos bar where both she and Christian B worked.
A friend of the woman's, while talking to The Mirror, said: "They wanted to know everything she knew about Christian and all about everything he did to her. They said every little detail about him was useful to help analyze behavior patterns. They told her not to worry about him being released. They said he’s going to be inside for a very, very long time. It was grueling and upsetting for her. She was really upset but they reassured her, saying she was an important character witness."
The news comes days after it was revealed in new documents that Brueckner was arrested and convicted for sexually abusing the five-year-old daughter of a former girlfriend. The German police, in assistance with Scotland Yard, is probing Brueckner, a convicted rapist, in Maddie's case. The detectives, in June, had revealed that they were convinced the toddler was dead and knew how she was killed. They, however, do not know where her body is. German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters, while addressing a press conference, had said: "We think that Madeleine McCann is dead and are appealing for witnesses. The 43-year-old suspect is a multiple sexual predator already convicted of crimes against little girls."
No charges, however, have been filed against Brueckner in Madeleine's case yet as fears grow that police may never be able to bring a case against him. Brueckner has convictions for child sex abuse and was found guilty of raping an American woman, 73, in 2005 close to where Madeleine vanished. But his lawyer Friedrich Fulscher says he is innocent of the rape and has appealed, and has nothing to do with Madeleine. He is in jail in Kiel, Germany, serving 21 months for drug offenses.