Madeleine McCann cops given dramatic new evidence against prime suspect Christian B
MADELEINE McCann cops have been given dramatic new evidence strengthening the case against prime suspect Christian B.
Convicted rapist Christian B, 44, in jail in Germany, was identified by authorities there last June as being the man responsible for her abduction.
Speaking to The Sun last night, German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said of the breakthrough: “We have gathered new evidence that adds further to the case we are building against our main suspect.
“I’m afraid I cannot tell you what it is but it strengthens our work.
“We are still building the case and at some time in the future we shall share the details with the suspect and his lawyer — but now is not the time.
“I cannot disclose the type of evidence we have been given, it is not forensic I can tell you that but it is new circumstantial evidence which all adds to the working theory that he is the man responsible.”
German police have said they have “concrete evidence” Christian B murdered Madeleine.
She was three when she vanished from the Algarve holiday apartment she was staying at with parents Kate and Gerry in 2007.
Mr Wolters said: “We have always insisted that the man we identified as the main suspect is the man we believe committed the crime and we are not looking for anyone else.
“I am optimistic that we will solve this case.”
And he added: “We have found no evidence that suggests he is not guilty of this crime and we have found a lot of evidence that suggests he is guilty but I am forbidden to go into these details.”
Investigators are hopeful they can charge Christian B by the end of the summer and last week The Sun revealed a key witness who tipped off German police is to take part in a reconstruction in Praia da Luz where Madeleine went missing.
The operation was due to have taken place in January but was postponed because of Covid restrictions and is part of a planned three-way summit between the Met, German police and Portuguese cops.
Mr Wolters added: “Since we are dependent on the help of other countries, especially Portugal, the investigations unfortunately take longer than in other proceedings in which the investigations are only conducted in Germany.
“This is mainly due to the fact that we have to make very formalistic requests for legal assistance, which are very time-consuming to process.”
Christian B is serving seven years for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Praia da Luz in 2005 two years before Madeleine vanished.
He is also being probed over other sex crimes there.
Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry promised that they would not “give up” on finding their daughter in a tribute to her on her 18th birthday.
The Leicestershire couple wrote “Happy 18th Birthday Madeleine” on the official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page.
It showed a cherished last photo of her beaming under a sun hat.
