In a separate criminal case, German authorities request a 15-year imprisonment sentence for the individual suspected in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, during a rape trial.
Commencing closing statements in the trial initiated in February, they commenced on Wednesday. Prosecutor Ute Lindemann advocated for a conviction on two charges of rape and two of sexual abuse, and suggested he be held in pre-trial detention upon completion of a 15-year sentence, as reported by the German news agency dpa. Lindemann expressed his belief that he should be acquitted of a third rape charge.
The defense is scheduled to present their case on Monday, with a potential verdict following on Tuesday.
No charges have been filed against the suspect in relation to the McCann case, where he is under examination on suspicion of homicide. His past includes extensive time spent in Portugal, including at the Praia da Luz resort around the time of Madeleine's disappearance in 2007. He has continuously maintained his innocence in this matter.
Currently, he is serving a seven-year sentence in Germany for a rape he committed in Portugal in 2005.
Back in February, Brueckner's attorney declared that his client would not engage with the allegations, yet anticipated an acquittal. No formal pleas are required in the German judicial system, and defendants are not legally obligated to respond.
In July, the court rescinded the arrest warrant in relation to the charges being addressed in the ongoing trial, attributing it to the absence of "urgent cause" against the defendant. However, he remains incarcerated due to the sentence he is currently serving.
Despite being under investigation for potential involvement in the McCann case in Portugal, the suspect has not been charged in Europe or the world yet. The ongoing trial in Germany is focused on separate charges of rape and sexual abuse.
