Brexit has effectively blocked any attempt to bring Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Bruecknerto trial in Britain, German officials have confirmed, dealing a blow to hopes of justice for the missing toddler, the Express understands.
A spokesman for the German government explained the country's post-war constitution bars theextradition of suspectsto nations outside the EU. Asked whetherBrexithad sealed Brueckner's fate, the spokesman said: "Yes, that is the case."
Article 16 of the German constitution states that "no German may be extradited to a foreign country" — carving out only EU member states and bodies such as The Hague. German officials say extraditions to Britain have been "generally precluded by German constitutional law" since the UK left the EU.
Prior to Brexit, the European Arrest Warrant allowed British authorities to secure the automatic transfer of suspects from Germany with few legal obstacles.
The findings emerge days after Scotland Yard's ambition to prosecute Brueckner on British soil over the toddler's disappearance emerged - and cast serious doubt over whether the 49-year-old convicted paedophile will ever be held to account in the UK.
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Scotland Yard is understood to be mounting a fresh effort to charge Brueckner ahead of the 20th anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance in Portugal, which falls in 2007. A senior officer is overseeing the renewed push to bring the suspect to Britain to stand trial over the three-year-old's vanishing.
German prosecutors identified Brueckner as their prime suspect in the McCann case five years ago, and he has since dismissed the latest extradition push. "I have good lawyers," he said.
A source close to his legal team told MailOnline they were confident the extradition would never happen. "We have been here many times before, and nothing has ever happened. We are sure this attempt will go the same way.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
