Germany/Portugal - Christian Brueckner, 27 @ time of 1st crime (2004), charged with sexual assault crimes, Praia de Rocha, Portugal. #4

[Mex]

There’s a danger especially IMO in being so invested in the bigger case - that just normal old criminal litigation gets over interpreted.

The prosecution appeal was a long shot. but probably the only argument they had. no doubt there is bad feeling. not uncommon!

What i am saying is similar things happen every month in cases across the land but we are all hanging on it.

Judges make rulings in cases. One party or other feels it’s biased. but getting Judges removed for actual bias is highly unlikely based only on an adverse ruling. MOO

But it isn't just any old adverse ruling, is it.

The procedures taken against CB were instituted in 2022 when he was charged with five separate and unrelated sexual offences spanning the years and against females of all ages from infants to geriatrics.
CB began committing known and convicted for sexual offences against women and children at a very young age himself while resident in Germany.
He led a peripatetic lifestyle which makes for a very difficult felon to catch. Through the years based in Portugal he maintained his interest in *advertiser censored* and was convicted in 2019 of an aggravated rape committed there in 2024. His return to Germany resulted in a further sexual conviction for offences against a six year old child.

Having been charged on five counts what did the Braunschweig judges do?

It appears they spent a considerable amount of time succumbing to consideration of defence led motions fighting another case entirely. What on earth were they thinking of when allowing their court to consider cases other than the five they should have been concentrating on.

Something went seriously wrong in the Braunschweig court and it is going to take a lot of sorting out because the judicial prejudice displayed throughout these five hearings is massive.
Imagine it! three cases with victim and witness testimony and the judges didn't pick up on a word of it all. Really not good enough
My opinion

 

[Mex]

I'm inclined to agree with you here, that because this case is so loaded with the history of how CB came to be on trial for these five cases, people are, as you say, reading all manner of nefarious intent into what is really just fairly commonplace litigation tactics. Bottom line, the prosecution's case against CB seems, on the whole, to have numerous weak spots and accusations of bias on the part of the court can't change that.

I have never heard of trial evidence which relates solely to a case for which no charges have been laid but with witnesses called, taking precedence over a properly constituted trial which is in progress.

 

[Denis R Tandib]

I'm inclined to agree with you here, that because this case is so loaded with the history of how CB came to be on trial for these five cases, people are, as you say, reading all manner of nefarious intent into what is really just fairly commonplace litigation tactics. Bottom line, the prosecution's case against CB seems, on the whole, to have numerous weak spots and accusations of bias on the part of the court can't change that.

Perhaps. I have said for some time that I think the investigators/prosscutors have been quite eager to nail CB.

This has been somewhat confirmed by some of the court info like the box factory search and the jail cell bugging etc. it’s all underpinned by HCW’s outlandish media trial for me.

Nothing is certain but I think they have put their professional reputations on the line and it’s difficult for them to wind in their egos and admit they have it wrong. It’s easier for them to stick to the story and claim the courts have it wrong rather than themselves.

Based on what we’ve seen, I can’t understand the thinking that they have any quality evidence in the MM case - I doubt they have much more than what’s in the public domain already.

 

[mrjitty]

Nothing is certain but I think they have put their professional reputations on the line and it’s difficult for them to wind in their egos and admit they have it wrong.

RSBM

I've worried about this from the start. Once they went big, they had to get something to show for it, if not the big prize.

This trial may fail for mundane reason. e.g they could get close to convictions, but be just a yard short of BARD standard. Normally that wouldn't be dramatic. But politically they need this.

Blaming the court is the next step I guess.

But let's see what the actual verdicts are. We have no idea what's coming.

 

[Denis R Tandib]

RSBM

I've worried about this from the start. Once they went big, they had to get something to show for it, if not the big prize.

This trial may fail for mundane reason. e.g they could get close to convictions, but be just a yard short of BARD standard. Normally that wouldn't be dramatic. But politically they need this.

Blaming the court is the next step I guess.

But let's see what the actual verdicts are. We have no idea what's coming.

BIB, yes I think this is right. CB is probably guilty of some of these crimes but the prosecution haven’t proven it… to me anyhow.

I agree on the political comment, they have to continue and push every possibility so that if nothing else they can still claim he is guilty but they can’t get sufficient evidence to prove it.

Your insight from the beginning was very good. You were sceptical of the evidence they had and the German infallibility appear to be very accurate.

 

[Mex]

RSBM

I've worried about this from the start. Once they went big, they had to get something to show for it, if not the big prize.

This trial may fail for mundane reason. e.g they could get close to convictions, but be just a yard short of BARD standard. Normally that wouldn't be dramatic. But politically they need this.

Blaming the court is the next step I guess.

But let's see what the actual verdicts are. We have no idea what's coming.

I think we may have a very good idea about what may be coming. Having heard the eye witness/victims of crime evidence first hand, it appears the evidence is not good enough to sustain the arrest warrants.
Interesting, but a fait accompli for the time being. Although perhaps not entirely the end of the story.

Snip
The decision has been noted, there is nothing more to say, the public prosecutor's office said.

Further decision on rejection of the judge is pending​

The court still wants to decide and inform separately about another request for recusal against an individual professional judge. This concerns alleged statements by the judge before the start of the trial, as a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office said, but without giving further details.

Prozess gegen Christian B. - Ablehnung der Richter scheitert

Nach der Aufhebung des Haftbefehls gegen den auch im Fall Maddie Verdächtigen wollten die Strafverfolger die Richter schnell austauschen. Die zuständige Vertretungskammer sieht das aber anders.

www.merkur.de

 

[JB1510]

In the photo ID process, the victim said she was 50% sure CB was her attacker. After CB was publicly outed and accused of a globally notorious crime, she increased her certainty to 80-90%. It’s odd that despite the universally understood fact that memory deteriorates over time, her’s improved. Perhaps she has the same life coach as JT.

This poor girl went through an ordeal I wouldn’t wish on anyone - I am not underplaying that. However, because she is a victim does not mean that she has identified the correct person as the criminal.

Let’s see what the result of these two cases. I think they are their best chance of a result.

That’s incorrect, the id photo process was first and was a blind test where JE picked out CB from 8 photos successfully when she could have chose none . The 50/50 was later when the BKA showed her further pictures and she was hesitant in case she got somebody else in trouble.

 

[Davieson]

cessful, one has to wonder why police bothered That’s incorrect, the id photo process was first and was a blind test where JE picked out CB from 8 photos successfully when she could have chose none . The 50/50 was later when the BKA showed her further pictures and she was hesitant in case she got somebody else in trouble.

If the 1st ID procedure was so successful one has to wonder why the police bothered showing further photographs.

 

[Mex]

If the 1st ID procedure was so successful one has to wonder why the police bothered showing further photographs.

Correct me if I'm wrong but was she shown photographs of the vehicles CB was thought to have been driving at that time. For example, the VW camper?

 

[RichardKimble]

That’s incorrect, the id photo process was first and was a blind test where JE picked out CB from 8 photos successfully when she could have chose none . The 50/50 was later when the BKA showed her further pictures and she was hesitant in case she got somebody else in trouble.

Hmm not sure on that.

But I still remembered well, I didn't suppress anything “, she said. From a template of eight portraits, she thought she had recognized Christian B., but she was only „ 50 percent “. The police then provided her with further photos of the main suspect. The witness said at the time that she didn't think her tormentor was in the photos. „ I didn't want to wrongly burden anyone “, the witness explained in the trial.

Maddie-Verdächtiger: Missbrauchsopfer hält ihn für ihren Peiniger

Das Landgericht Braunschweig verhandelt gegen den 47-Jährigen wegen Vergewaltigung und wegen Kindesmissbrauch in Portugal, darunter eine Tat im Jahr 2007.

www.braunschweiger-zeitung.de

 

[JB1510]

Thanks for clarifying shame we don’t get the full goings on in uk press.
Interesting though she was correct and she could have chosen none and a
positive recollection from a 10 year old 13 years later. This particular case was not investigated at the time sadly .I’m unsure if any family members were called though they may have only seen the suspect clambering naked up a cliff side.

 

[Mex]

Thanks for clarifying shame we don’t get the full goings on in uk press.
Interesting though she was correct and she could have chosen none and a
positive recollection from a 10 year old 13 years later. This particular case was not investigated at the time sadly .I’m unsure if any family members were called though they may have only seen the suspect clambering naked up a cliff side.

I have seen various reports that the family were zealous in their efforts to apprehend this child abuser.
Snip
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was left crying and “distressed”, the court heard. She said: “The man came, he climbed down from the rock, and he asked me what I was called. I said my name and then he grabbed my hands.” She said her family contacted police and she helped detectives draw up an E-fit.

Madeleine McCann suspect 'sexually assaulted schoolgirl' right next to parents

Christian Brueckner is alleged to have said “look here” and performed a sex act while grinning at the girl, as the victim’s parents were just yards away from her on the beach

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[JB1510]

I have seen various reports that the family were zealous in their efforts to apprehend this child abuser.
Snip
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was left crying and “distressed”, the court heard. She said: “The man came, he climbed down from the rock, and he asked me what I was called. I said my name and then he grabbed my hands.” She said her family contacted police and she helped detectives draw up an E-fit.

Madeleine McCann suspect 'sexually assaulted schoolgirl' right next to parents

Christian Brueckner is alleged to have said “look here” and performed a sex act while grinning at the girl, as the victim’s parents were just yards away from her on the beach

www.mirror.co.uk

I wonder if the efit was saved ?!.JE family made a detour on the last day
of their holiday .The file was sent to Lagos Court and passed onto a Detective Antonio a few days later who archived it in 24 hours on the 14th April 2007. No further investigation, no visit to crime scene even though the escape route led to large car park used by van people / travellers .

Reason for archiving as per PJ report April 2007

“Going by the description of the attacker the individual is not a resident of Vila do Bospo and is almost certainly a foreigner”

 

[Anxala]

Hmm not sure on that.

But I still remembered well, I didn't suppress anything “, she said. From a template of eight portraits, she thought she had recognized Christian B., but she was only „ 50 percent “. The police then provided her with further photos of the main suspect. The witness said at the time that she didn't think her tormentor was in the photos. „ I didn't want to wrongly burden anyone “, the witness explained in the trial.

Maddie-Verdächtiger: Missbrauchsopfer hält ihn für ihren Peiniger

Das Landgericht Braunschweig verhandelt gegen den 47-Jährigen wegen Vergewaltigung und wegen Kindesmissbrauch in Portugal, darunter eine Tat im Jahr 2007.

www.braunschweiger-zeitung.de

Honestly, I'm surprised this one even made it to trial.

 

[misty48]

Honestly, I'm surprised this one even made it to trial.

JE attacker had 3 distinguishing features:-
Rabbit front teeth
Marks/scars all over his body
A bandage on his arm, presumably covering some sort of wound.
The prosecution have surely established from friends/girlfriends of CB around the time of the attack whether or not he bore all those features. Collectively they are uncommon.
Hair/facial features/build may not be so easily recognisable or distinguishable from a photograph. It would be interesting to know what consideration the judges gave to these aspects.

 

[Davieson]

Was JE attacked ? I thought it was more a case of exposure.

 

[JB1510]

Was JE attacked ? I thought it was more a case of exposure.

Mildly put as I don’t wish to type out but held her hand and left his dna
at the scene.

 

[Mex]

JE attacker had 3 distinguishing features:-
Rabbit front teeth
Marks/scars all over his body
A bandage on his arm, presumably covering some sort of wound.
The prosecution have surely established from friends/girlfriends of CB around the time of the attack whether or not he bore all those features. Collectively they are uncommon.
Hair/facial features/build may not be so easily recognisable or distinguishable from a photograph. It would be interesting to know what consideration the judges gave to these aspects.

He spoke to her and she understood what he was saying. Is it a fair assumption that he spoke in German?

 

[Davieson]

Mildly put as I don’t wish to type out but held her hand and left his dna
at the scene.

I haven't seen that. Was it mentioned in court ?

 

[Denis R Tandib]

That’s incorrect, the id photo process was first and was a blind test where JE picked out CB from 8 photos successfully when she could have chose none . The 50/50 was later when the BKA showed her further pictures and she was hesitant in case she got somebody else in trouble.

Okay, do you have a source for that?