Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner could walk free from prison 'today'

The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case is expected to be released from prison today. German Christian Brueckner is currently serving a seven-year sentence for raping an elderly woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2005.

Reports suggest that he could walk free as early as today (Wednesday, September 17). Brueckner is believed to be spending his last hours in Justizvollzugsanstalt Sehnde, a prison in central Germany. He has consistently denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance and declined a request for an interview by the Metropolitan Police ahead of his impending release.

Madeleine was just three years old when she disappeared from the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in 2007, shortly after her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, left her sleeping to dine at a nearby restaurant.

German prosecutors claim that phone data indicates Brueckner received a call on May 3, 2007 - the day Madeleine vanished - near the holiday apartment in Praia da Luz. However, he reportedly asserts that he was miles away with a young German woman at the time.

Detective chief inspector Mark Cranwell, a senior investigating officer for the Met's investigation, stated that the force will "continue to pursue any viable lines of inquiry" despite not being able to interview Brueckner, reports Wales Online.

He said: "For a number of years we have worked closely with our policing colleagues in Germany and Portugal to investigate the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and support Madeleine's family to understand what happened on the evening of 3 May 2007 in Praia da Luz.

"We are aware of the pending release from prison of a 49-year-old German man who has been the primary suspect in the German federal investigation into Madeleine's disappearance.

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"We can confirm that this individual remains a suspect in the Metropolitan Police's own investigation. We have requested an interview with this German suspect but, for legal reasons, this can only be done via an International Letter of Request which has been submitted.

"It was subsequently refused by the suspect. In the absence of an interview, we will nevertheless continue to pursue any viable lines of inquiry. We can provide no further information while the investigation is ongoing."

Multiple excavations have failed to discover any evidence which could reveal what happened to Madeleine, from Rothley in Leicestershire. In October last year, the suspect was acquitted by a German court of separate sexual offences, allegedly committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.