A VICTIM who could hold the key to keeping Christian Brueckner behind bars has told of her tears over vanished Madeleine McCann.
Hazel Behan was raped and tortured in 2004, in Praia da Rocha, Portugal, 20 miles from Praia da Luz where the child disappeared.
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The former holiday rep claimed Madeleine suspect Brueckner was her attacker and waived her anonymity to give evidence at his trial last year.
He was acquitted but an appeal is pending.
Overcome with emotion, mum-of-three Hazel, from Dublin, said: “If the last person Madeleine saw alive was that man…
“It means we are connected, though. I feel that connection and I will do everything in my power to see justice done.”
As prosecutors in Germany race to keep Brueckner behind bars for long enough to charge him over Madeleine, Hazel has emerged as the most likely means to keep him caged.
Evidence uncovered by The Sun shows a scar on Brueckner was left out of his trial last year – despite its potential to back-up her claims in court.
Our findings will be broadcast in Channel 4 documentary Maddie: The Unseen Evidence at 9pm tonight, or stream via Channel4.com
Hazel did not see her attacker’s face as he was wearing a mask but has always insisted he had a scar or mark on his upper, outer right-thigh.
She was told by the court that the defendant had no such blemish.
But evidence uncovered by The Sun shows as late as 2018 Brueckner did in fact have a scar in the area where Hazel claimed.
A report from a physical examination by police, dated 2018, reads: “Scar: upper right thigh, hip.”
Our investigation also found images of a particular pattern of scarring on Brueckner’s leg, which Hazel says “exactly matches” the kind of scar she remembers seeing.
After being shown The Sun’s findings, stunned Hazel said: “I don’t know why something like that wouldn’t have been introduced at court.”
She added: “I mean, the whole idea of a trial is to hear all of the information, right? That’s the whole idea of what justice is about.”
The importance of the evidence is highlighted by the strenuous efforts Brueckner’s legal team made to stop it being admitted to court evidence.
Despite no legal barrier, the scar evidence was not part of the case against Bruekner in court.
A source linked to the case claimed the pic of the scar was dismissed because it was in the wrong place.
Hazel continues to push for an appeal and retrial — a decision currently sat with the highest court in Germany.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
Here’s a timeline of the case which has gripped the world.
May 3, 2007
Madeleine McCann disappears from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, sparking a massive police search and becoming one of the most famous missing persons cases in history.
January 15, 2016
Neighbour reports a possible ‘grave’ at Brueckner’s abandoned factory in East Germany.
Cops find disturbing images on USB sticks and launch a full-scale search.
February 16, 2016
Christian Brueckner is convicted for abusing a girl of five in a park after images found on his laptop.
He was sentenced to 15-months behind bars but was already on the run by then.
May 3, 2017
Around this time, Helge B calls an information hotline after watching a ten-year anniversary special on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
He reports an alleged confession by Christian Brueckner.
September 27, 2018
On-the-run Christian Brueckner is arrested over outstanding drugs claims in Italy.
He is extradited to Germany the following year.
December 16, 2019
Christian Brueckner was convicted, in Germany, for the 2005 rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, after his DNA was matched to a hair found on her bed.
He was sentenced to seven years behind bars.
June 4, 2020
German prosecutors reveal to the world they have a suspect in custody under investigation for the abduction of Madeleine McCann.
For the first time they claim Madeleine is dead.
German media later name him as Christian B (Christian Brueckner).
June 23, 2023
In his first interview, witness Helge B alleges to German newspaper Bild that Christian Brueckner all-but-confessed the Madeleine abduction to him, by allegedly saying “she didn’t scream” as they talked about the case, at a music festival, in Spain.
February 16, 2024
Brueckner goes on trial accused of none-McCann allegations of rape and sex assault, in Braunschweig, Germany.
Prosecutors hope for a conviction to keep him behind bars permanently and lead to McCann charges.
October 8, 2024
Brueckner was acquitted of all claims.
Prosecutors launch an appeal, however. Decision pending.
September 17, 2025
Date on which Christian Brueckner will be released from custody without action being taken.
Prosecutors require an arrest warrant for a retrial over claims from last year – or over the McCann case.