Madeleine McCann: Friend of Christian Brueckner says ‘sick’ German man must confess

‘He was definitely a pervert and all his friends thought that about him. He had some sexual issues but we didn’t think that he liked young children,’ former friend says

Handout picture taken in 2018 shows German Christian Brueckner when he was arrested for drug trafficking in Italy (Italian Carabinieri)

A former friend of the man German police believe is behind the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has reportedly said he “knows” the German sex offender took the child, and has urged him to admit to it.

Christian Brueckner was identified by police in Germany earlier this month as the lead suspect in the more than decade-long investigation into the disappearance of the three-year-old from a Portuguese hotel in 2007.

Now a former friend of the convicted sex offender and paedophile, who lived with him in Portugal where Madeleine went missing, has said he is convinced it was the 43-year-old who is behind the girl’s absence.

Describing him as “sick” to The Daily Telegraph, Michael Tatschl, 46, said: “I know he did it”.

“I was living with him at the time. He was my best friend and he was definitely a pervert and more than capable of snatching a child, for sexual kicks or money.”

Mr Tatschl became involved with Brueckner, who at the time was involved in a number of criminal activities including burglary, in the early 2000s.

The pair were ultimately imprisoned together for eight and a half months after they were caught stealing diesel, with Madeleine going missing five months after they parted ways once released.

Mr Tatschl added he was recently approached by authorities to give evidence on his former associate. German police are treating the case as a murder investigation.

He went on to tell the paper: “He was definitely a pervert and all his friends thought that about him. He had some sexual issues but we didn’t think that he liked young children.”

Speaking of his testimony to Austrian and German officers, he added: “They were very clear with me from the first minute. They said ‘we are investigating Maddie McCann and Christian Brueckner’ and I told them I knew it already. I was convinced it was him. I told them ‘I know what you want. I hope I can help’.”

“I really hope they can finally close this case for the family and find Christian guilty for what he has done. He needs to admit it to the police and close it for good.”

Brueckner is currently in prison for drug dealing, and is appealing a 2005 conviction for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Praia da Luz which earned him a seven year prison sentence.

Across Europe he has picked up 17 convictions including sex offences against children, theft and forgery.

Lawyers for Brueckner have said he denies any involvement in the girl’s disappearance, which triggered an international search effort that has continued across borders and headlines for more than decade.