Maddie suspect plans to leave Germany – what happens now?

Maddie suspect plans to leave Germany – what happens now?

In recent days, the Madeleine McCann case has once again hit the headlines and reached a shocking turning point. The main suspect, Christian B., who is currently living in a tent in northern Germany, has announced that he wants to leave Germany. Loud fr.de The Celle Higher Regional Court (OLG) has lifted an essential condition of his release from prison, which in principle allows him freedom.

The judges found that the requirement for a permanent residence in Germany was not compatible with applicable law. This means that Christian B. could also travel outside of Germany as soon as the Hildesheim regional court implements the OLG's decision. “The police have a plan to break me,” he told the Daily Mail and stated that he had already tried to raise the necessary funds for his departure with a “gofundme” appeal for donations, but this has now been deactivated.

Legal framework and the McCann case

Christian B. was previously sentenced to seven years in prison for raping a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal in 2005. He could be released from prison in September 2025. German investigators have concerns that he may also be responsible for the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007. Cell phone data shows that B. was near the crime scene, Praia da Luz, at the time of the crime. But the evidence is not enough to charge him with this.

Another point of uncertainty is whether the electronic ankle bracelet that Christian B. wears also works in other countries. However, he currently remains in Germany and could become a risk to society in the short term if all requirements are lifted. The case also raises questions about general security conditions in Germany.

Crime in Germany

In a general view of crime, the Federal Criminal Police Office's police crime statistics (PKS) show a decline in registered crimes by 1.7% to around 5.84 million for 2024. Above all, fewer cannabis offenses due to partial legalization would have contributed to this decline. However, there has been an increase in crimes that affect people's sense of security. In the same period, around 42,800 victims of sexual crimes were recorded, which further underlines the urgency of cases like Christian B.'s.

The decrease in the number of suspects by 3% to around 2.18 million and the increasing number of non-German suspects to 41.8% are just some of the important key figures that illustrate the complex crime situation in Germany. These developments pose challenges for government and at the same time show that, despite a partly positive trend, there is still a lot to be done.

The question that remains for the public is how safe our country really is and what measures are being taken to combat crime. The victims and their relatives must be given more support to ensure safe and healthy coexistence.