Germany/Portugal - Christian Brueckner, 27 @ time of 1st crime (2004), charged with sexual assault crimes, Praia de Rocha, Portugal. #5

[tedtink]

How does that work? Because I was under the impression that if he was made arguido in Portugal that he could be trialled in the future but some one I know who spends a lot of time there says the SOL has now expired?

IIRC having arguido status prevented the SOL. It's all on the other thread but I'll try to find an article in a bit.

 

[JB1510]

How does that work? Because I was under the impression that if he was made arguido in Portugal that he could be trialled in the future but some one I know who spends a lot of time there says the SOL has now expired?

Madeleine McCann case: what does Christian Brückner arguido status mean?

Portuguese authorities have officially named the German national as a suspect

www.theguardian.com

 

[UK Girl]

IIRC having arguido status prevented the SOL. It's all on the other thread but I'll try to find an article in a bit.

tbh I thought it would also

 

[tedtink]

Madeleine McCann case: what does Christian Brückner arguido status mean?

Portuguese authorities have officially named the German national as a suspect

www.theguardian.com

Thank you JB.

Here's another...

"The decision is said to have been prompted by the 15-year limit for prosecuting serious crimes in Portugal, with authorities looking to "keep their options open".
German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters confirmed to Sky News that it was "apparently only for formal reasons, to prevent a statute of limitations in Portugal".

Madeleine McCann: Portugal names convicted child abuser Christian B an official suspect in disappearance as crucial deadline nears

The convicted child abuser travelled between Praia da Luz and Germany in a camper van for several years before Madeleine vanished - it is understood investigators are now focusing their forensic work on the vehicle.

news.sky.com

 

[Anxala]

But they are working together and all view CB as the #1 suspect in the murder of MM that’s the BKA , SY and the PJ where he is an “arguido “.

That just is not true and I don't understand why you're claiming it as a fact.

 

[mrjitty]

tough to prosecute historic cases.

we’ll see what they got across the line.

 

[johnlair]

Wonder what the odds are on it....can't seem to find it anywhere from betting on

 

[UK Girl]

Wonder what the odds are on it....can't seem to find it anywhere from betting on

eh? why would they have odds on something like this?

 

[JB1510]

That just is not true and I don't understand why you're claiming it as a fact.

It’s been mentioned numerous times with SY referencing the German investigation and the BKA like wise with them .Its not reported by the relevant agencies for a while but I see no reason why they would not offer and receive help if asked on a missing uk citizen and any evidence OG can or could offer.The BKA have visited Portugal to help with investigations including the dig at the Arade Dam where officers from all 3 countries were present.

 

[UK Girl]

It’s been mentioned numerous times with SY referencing the German investigation and the BKA like wise with them .Its not reported by the relevant agencies for a while but I see no reason why they would not offer and receive help if asked on a missing uk citizen and any evidence OG can or could offer.The BKA have visited Portugal to help with investigations including the dig at the Arade Dam where officers from all 3 countries were present.

SY were there but unlike the other two countries were not involved in the dig and were only there in a observatory capacity. SY do not even talk about the case let alone what they do or do not think.

 

[Denis R Tandib]

I think he will found guilty on the hb rape at least

I think so too. And, perhaps the older lady. And if this brings us closer to an MM trial, that’s a good result.

 

[frank-cole]

I share your opinion in full and for all the same reasons.

Although it is unsurprising that it didn’t take FF long to make his statement for the defence because the reality is that there isn’t much to say.

His lynch pin is that the trial shouldn’t have taken place because if CB hadn’t been who he is it wouldn’t have.

Now there is a teensy grain of truth in that and it really has nothing to do with who CB is but is more in line with what he has done.

FF has striven for years to weaponize MM’s case to his advantage which is why so much of the trial of five indictments centred around her. But that case is not what brought CB to court in this trial. That was as a result of the search for evidence in M’s case throwing up sufficient indictable evidence to enable the process to start.

The fact is MM was the catalyst but not the reason for taking CB to court; his own criminal sexual behaviour did that for him.

The veracity of the content of the missing video tapes is confirmed by the existence of DM. That CB was there doing what he was said to have done on video was also verified. Forensically tested body hair confirmed it.
Is it logical what was proven fact in 2019 metamorphized into ‘contradictions' decided by the defence team in the intervening period.

There is always the chance that we have misjudged the judge frank, but all will be revealed on the morrow

Yes - on reflection, given what was allowed - it hasn’t been much of a case to answer. It’s annoying watching a defence win this way when one is pro-victim.

To the other point, the same will apply both ways - I highly doubt Fulscher & the boys would have gotten involved if CB wasn’t the suspect. Low profile equals low profile. High profile cases are what high profile defence lawyers & defence lawyers who want to be high profile, get involved in.

Fulscher wants the notoriety of a winner. He did a good job of distancing himself from morality & played to win. That included getting close to that line in the sand.
That mindset is a bit hazier with the prosecution & if they want to play this defence team I think they’ll need to throw a lot more mud the second time around.

When they put their head on their pillow - I highly doubt any of the defence are naive enough to not connect the dots.

 

[frank-cole]

But they are working together and all view CB as the #1 suspect in the murder of MM that’s the BKA , SY and the PJ where he is an “arguido “.

That’s a fact. They all consider CB the sole prime suspect. There must be pretty sound reason for not just 1 but for all 3 to have come to this conclusion. Clearly nobody else is suspected in Portugal because CB is the only arguido - fact. SY haven’t nominated anybody else as a suspect. I think your point is 1 of those points that is impossible to argue to the contrary,

 

[frank-cole]

It’s been mentioned numerous times with SY referencing the German investigation and the BKA like wise with them .Its not reported by the relevant agencies for a while but I see no reason why they would not offer and receive help if asked on a missing uk citizen and any evidence OG can or could offer.The BKA have visited Portugal to help with investigations including the dig at the Arade Dam where officers from all 3 countries were present.

I guess at a push, if one could mind read, there may be the odd old timer Portuguese detective sitting in an armchair thinking something different. But from a case perspective the PJ very obviously have 1 suspect.

 

[frank-cole]

I think so too. And, perhaps the older lady. And if this brings us closer to an MM trial, that’s a good result.

I think he will found guilty on the hb rape at least

I think it’s obvious he was responsible, but don’t know whether coincidences will amount to judgement. My concern is the speed of the verdict post defence plea.

 

[Mex]

Yes - on reflection, given what was allowed - it hasn’t been much of a case to answer. It’s annoying watching a defence win this way when one is pro-victim.

To the other point, the same will apply both ways - I highly doubt Fulscher & the boys would have gotten involved if CB wasn’t the suspect. Low profile equals low profile. High profile cases are what high profile defence lawyers & defence lawyers who want to be high profile, get involved in.

Fulscher wants the notoriety of a winner. He did a good job of distancing himself from morality & played to win. That included getting close to that line in the sand.
That mindset is a bit hazier with the prosecution & if they want to play this defence team I think they’ll need to throw a lot more mud the second time around.

When they put their head on their pillow - I highly doubt any of the defence are naive enough to not connect the dots.

It's all over bar the shouting. All will be revealed tomorrow, but I don't envisage any great surprises in the offing.

I see it rather as the state having a duty of care to uphold by keeping the bad guys off the street whenever possible.
It will be interesting to see if the system is working: one can only hope.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, October 8th:
*Trial continues (Day 38)-VERDICT to be announced (@ 10am CSET [Central Summer European Time]) – Germany/Portugal - Hazel Behan (20 @ time/now 40) (in her home, June 16, 2004, Praia de Rocha on the Algarve coast, 10 miles from Praia de Luz, Portimao, Portugal) - *Christian Stefan Brückner (Bruekner) (27 @ time of 1st crime (2004)/45/now 47) charged (Oct. 11, 2022) with sexual assault (suspect held a knife & brutally raped her. The accused then tied & gagged the woman to a table & raped her again. He then whipped the victim on the back with a whip he had brought with him & finally forcibly performed oral sex with the victim. The accused filmed large parts of the events with a video camera he had brought with him). Braunschweig Regional District Court
Germany/Portugal – *Charged (Oct. 11, 2022) & arrest warrant reinstated 11/18/22 - a 14 year old teenager (unknown victim) (on tape: assaulted/hit the naked girl with a whip. Said to have brutally forced the girl to have oral sex. The accused also videotaped this act). Took place between Dec. 28, 2000 to April 8, 2006 on the Praia da Luz, Algarve coast, Portugal.
Germany/Portugal - *Charged (Oct. 11, 2022) & arrest warrant reinstated 11/18/22 - an elderly woman 70-80 yrs old (unknown victim) a Tour Rep (tied up & raped the victim in her holiday apt. He then hit the victim several times with a whip. The accused is said to have recorded the entire event with a video camera). Took place around the same time (between Dec. 28, 2000 to April 8, 2006) on the Praia de Luz, Algarve coast, Portugal.
Germany/Portugal – *Charged (Oct. 11, 2022) & arrest warrant reinstated 11/18/22 - 10 year old German girl (Joana E.) (wearing only shoes & otherwise naked. He grabbed the child's wrist & began to perform masturbation movements on his naked penis). On Salema (Zalema) beach, near Praia de Luz, Portugal, April 7, 2007).
Germany/Portugal – *Charged (Oct. 11, 2022) & arrest warrant reinstated 11/18/22 – Ines VP (11 year old Portuguese girl) (pulled down his trousers & underpants & made masturbation movements on his naked penis in order to sexually arouse himself, until the frightened girl ran to her father for help. The suspect was arrested on the spot by the Portuguese police). Exposed himself in playpark, São Bartolomeu de Messines, June 11, 2017).
Trial began on February 16, 2024. (And continued on Feb. 23rd, Mar. 1st & 14th, Apr. 2nd, 10th, 12th, 17th, 19th, 24th & 26th, May 2nd, 15th, 166th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 28th, 29th & June 4th & 5th & 28th, July 5th, August 5th, 15th, Sept. 5th & 6th, 25th, 26th. 27th, Oct. 7th).
Next Trial date: October 8, 2024. Prosecutors rested case on Oct. 2nd & Defense rested on Oct. 7th.
Verdict to be read on Oct. 8, 2024.
Presiding Judge Dr. Engemann. Lead Prosecutor Ute Lindermann. Defense attorneys Dr. Friedrich Fülscher, Philipp Marquort, Dennis Bock & Atilla Aykac.
Brueckner is currently serving a 7 year sentence for the 2005 rape on a pensioner; was sentenced in 2019. Probably released in September, 2025.
Case info & charges & Brueckner info from June 1, 2020 thru Jan. 18, 2024 & Trial Day 1-36 (Feb. 16 thru Oct. 2) reference post #579 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...imes-praia-de-rocha-portugal-5.722126/page-29
October 7, 2024. Monday, Day 37: The lawyers for the defendant had a lot of fodder for their closing speech on Monday. A three-hour plea in which they slap the public prosecutor's office & the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in the face – and at the end of which they demand a comprehensive acquittal. In the proceedings of the 2nd Criminal Division the verdict will be announced on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, from 10am.

 

[mrjitty]

I’m sure they would have the right as MM was a uk citizen.
I’m sure the Portuguese have rights to try for murder as there is no statute of limitations for that and happened in Portugal .

I’m unsure on how the evidence collected in this trial could be used by the PJ.

This is my personal belief only, but I really doubt CPS want anything to do with trying CB for anything. Out of jurisdiction, no body case with a foreign national. It makes much more sense for Germany to assert jurisdiction as they have done. CPS would run a mile from it.

 

[Denis R Tandib]

That’s a fact. They all consider CB the sole prime suspect. There must be pretty sound reason for not just 1 but for all 3 to have come to this conclusion. Clearly nobody else is suspected in Portugal because CB is the only arguido - fact. SY haven’t nominated anybody else as a suspect. I think your point is 1 of those points that is impossible to argue to the contrary,

I like a challenge. Therefore:

1. The PJ made CB an arguido to expunge the 15 year SOL for murder which is part of their law - it means nothing other than them keeping their options open.
2. OG still maintains its stance that it is a missing person investigation; the Germans are investigating CB for murder.

You can derive what you want out of what’s been reported but the real fact is that CB is the BKA’s suspect, no one else’s.

 

[Denis R Tandib]

I guess at a push, if one could mind read, there may be the odd old timer Portuguese detective sitting in an armchair thinking something different. But from a case perspective the PJ very obviously have 1 suspect.

Are you talking about the MM case here?