Madeleine McCann bombshell as witness speaks for first time about prime suspect

29 June 2023 , 16:01

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A man who could be a key witness in Madeleine McCann's case has come forward (Image: METROPOLITAN POLICE/AFP via Gett)

A man who alerted police to chief suspect Christian Brueckner says the alleged Madeleine McCann kidnapper told him the three-year-old "didn't scream".

Helge Busching has spoken publicly for the first time after passing on information to detectives, claiming Brueckner told him he had taken and murdered the youngster while on holiday in Portugal in 2007.

The German national also says he took videotapes and a firearm from Brueckner's home in Portugal before Madeleine's disappearance in May that year, the nature of which revealed the alleged killer's "true nature".

Mr Busching even claimed he told Scotland Yard about Brueckner in 2008, but they ignored his call, the Express reports.

German and Portuguese police investigators dismantle base camp at the end of the three-day search at Barragem do Arade Reservoir on May 25, 2023 (Getty Images)

Mr Busching recounted his recollection of witnessing the highly disturbing footage, which allegedly depicted Brueckner sexually abusing an elderly woman and a teenage girl in Portugal.

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He said: “[The victim] said: ‘This borders on rape!’ And he just said: ‘Shut up.’ That's when I knew what kind of guy Brueckner was.”

It comes as police in Portugal carried out a three-day search of a reservoir known to be visited by Brueckner last month.

Several items were uncovered in searches at the beauty spot which have since been sent for forensic analysis.

Susie Beever