BRAUNSCHWEIG, Germany (AP) — A German court on Tuesday acquitted a man who is also under investigation in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann in a trial on charges of unrelated sexual offenses.
The Braunschweig state court acquitted the 47-year-old German national, who has been identified by local media as Christian Brueckner, of two counts of rape and two of sexual abuse.
However, Brueckner will remain in prison another year because he is still serving a seven-year sentence for rape in a different case, German news agency dpa reported.
Brueckner had been on trial since February over offenses he is alleged to have committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. Defense lawyers had pointed to what they labeled a lack of evidence and witnesses who weren’t credible, and suggested he might not have been charged if he hadn’t also been a suspect in the McCann case.
Prosecutors had argued he should be given a 15-year prison sentence and kept in preventive detention once he has served it.
“The evidence we had was not enough to convict the defendant,” presiding judge Uta Engemann said, according to dpa, adding that “we were dealing with unreliable witnesses, some of whom deliberately lied to the court.”
Engemann argued that witnesses had been influenced in their statements by the media's reporting on Brueckner, who she said had been “stylized as a sex monster and child murderer."
Prosecutors said they would appeal the ruling.
“We believe that the decision is wrong, so we will appeal to the German supreme court so that the supreme court can check the verdict for mistakes,” prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said.
Brueckner's lawyer, Friedrich Fülscher, told reporters after the ruling that “it was foreseeable, at least from the point of view of the defense, that there can only be one outcome that corresponds to the factual and legal situation and that is the acquittal.”
Brueckner has not been charged in the McCann case, in which he is under investigation on suspicion of murder. He spent many years in Portugal, including in the resort of Praia da Luz around the time of Madeleine’s disappearance there in 2007. He has denied any involvement in her disappearance.
He is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2019 by the Braunschweig court for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal in 2005.
The Braunschweig state court has jurisdiction because Brueckner had his last German residence in that city in Lower Saxony.
Christian Brueckner, center, stands in the courtroom at Braunschweig District Court before the start of the trial, in Brunswick, Germany, Tuesday Oct. 8, 2024. (Michael Matthey/dpa via AP)
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum had 34 points and 10 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Bucks 111-105 on Friday night in Khris Middelton's season debut for Milwaukee.
Jaylen Brown added 25 points as the Celtics made 17 3-pointers to earn their 10th victory in 11 games.
Damian Lillard finished with 31 points for Milwaukee, which has lost two straight since winning a season-best seven in a row. Giannis Antetokounmpo added 30 points and 11 rebounds on his 30th birthday.
Middleton had 11 points and five assists in 23 minutes after missing the Bucks’ first 21 games while recovering from offseason ankle surgeries.
Boston led 107-102 after a floater by Jrue Holiday when Brown was whistled for a foul on a 3-point attempt by Middleton, who hit all three free throws.
Two free throws by Holiday put Boston ahead 109-105. Antetokounmpo then turned it over, leading to a layup by Al Horford.
Bucks: Middleton’s return marked only the 43rd time that he, Antetokounmpo and Lillard have played together. How well the recently surging Bucks can integrate Middleton could determine their prospects of contending in the East.
Celtics: This was another statement win for a team that has beaten the Bucks in all three meetings this season.
The back-and-forth antics between Antetokounmpo and Brown added another chapter Friday. Early in the third quarter, Antetokounmpo leaned his shoulder into Brown as Antetokounmpo passed by on his way to throw the ball inbounds. Brown then returned the favor he ran up the court and was whistled for a technical foul. The exchange followed a similar incident during Boston’s Nov. 10 win at Milwaukee.
The game featured 11 ties and 14 lead changes. Neither team led by more than eight points.
The Bucks visit Brooklyn on Sunday. The Celtics host Memphis on Saturday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) is congratulated by teammates after scoring late in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates as his team defeats the Milwaukee Bucks in an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket as Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots over Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives against Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives against Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) reacts to a call during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
