The case against the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann is said to be in risk as a key witness threatens to ‘pull the plug’ on his statement.
Helge Busching, 48, a former friend of key suspect Christian Brueckner, 45, helped police by providing evidence against his former friend, who he claims made a chilling confession to him a year after McCann was kidnapped.
Previously, Busching spoke out about the convicted rapist, claiming he mentioned taking Madeleine McCaan to a music festival in Spain in 2008.
Busching claims Brueckner made a disturbing confession about the kidnapping and claimed the three-year-old ‘didn’t scream’ when she was abducted.
He told the cops that Brueckner had clearly taken the child.
According to The Sun, sources close to the case believe Busching may withdraw his evidence and refuse to testify in court.
The Sun quoted a German source as saying, “Word is that Helge B is about to withdraw his evidence.”
“He was paid a lot of money to repeat his statement in a German newspaper, and now he’s back out.”
“It just shows the type of people you’re dealing with — and their credibility as witnesses.”
Hans Christian Wolters, the prosecutor in the case, told The Sun that his statement would still be significant, but that he was unaware of his alleged change of heart.
Madeleine McCann, three, was kidnapped in 2007 while on vacation in Praiz da Luz, Algarve, with her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, both 55.
The unresolved investigation has lasted 16 years, and in May, authorities conducted a major search of a remote Algarve reservoir, believing Brueckner had visited the location.
Brueckner has a history of child sexual abuse and drug trafficking convictions, and he is currently serving a prison sentence in Germany for raping a 72-year-old pensioner.
