When authorities began a days-long search on a plot of land near Hanover, Germany, it was hoped that they may finally find evidence that laid to rest the mystery of what happened to Madeleine McCann.

It is believed that they did find the foundations of an old cellar, on the property where current prime suspect Christian Brückner once lived, but the search ended without anything conclusive found.

In addition, Brückner’s lawyer,  Friedrich Fülscher, is busy doing his best to discredit a key prosecution witness, saying that the man is a criminal who traded false information in exchange for favours from police.

Reporting below via the Telegraph:

…Brückner, 43, is alleged to have told a friend he “knew all about” what happened to Madeleine while out drinking in a bar in 2017.

It is also alleged he even showed the man a video of him raping a woman. The friend called the police and the tip-off is said to have sparked the police interest in Brückner as their chief suspect in the Madeleine case…

“If this is the same person, I think it’s the worst witness you can get,” Mr Fülscher [said]…

“A human who has spent his whole life cheating people for his own benefit is never a reliable witness.”

Fülscher was also very critical of Hans Christian Wolters, the Braunschweig state prosecutor who is leading the investigation.

Wolters has admitted that charges may never be brought against Brückner, whilst at the same time saying that they are “convinced of the guilt of the accused”.

That doesn’t sit well with Fülscher:

“If you pee in the same place long enough it will stink,” he said.

“And that’s definitely what’s happening in the Christian B case. He won’t be able to lead a normal life at any point, without being recognised and facing hostility.

“A prosecutor who goes public (during an investigation) knows that. He can destroy a reputation and it was taken very lightly in this case.”

Not sure about this one, guys. Fülscher talks about reputational damage to his client, who is currently serving time in prison in Kiel, Germany, for charges related to drug trafficking.

He has also been convicted of brutally raping and beating a 72-year-old American woman in her flat, at the same resort where McCann went missing, and is awaiting the result of an appeal to overturn that conviction.

I don’t think his reputation needs much sullying.

[source:telegraph]