THE police case against the prime suspect in Madeleine McCann’s disappearance appeared close to collapse last night.
An ex-pal of Christian B, 45, made a damning statement against the convicted child sex fiend.
The damning statement by Helge Busching — an old pal of Christian B — has become a cornerstone of the German-led police case but he is said to be backing out of helping[/caption]
German Busching said Christian B claimed ‘she didn’t scream’ as the pair discussed Madeleine’s case over beers[/caption]
But sources close to the German probe say their key witness is “wobbling” and threatening to stop helping.
Cops are trying to charge B over Maddie, who vanished in 2007 aged three.
The damning statement by Helge Busching — an old pal of Christian B— has become a cornerstone of the German-led police case.
But sources close to the investigation warn he could soon back out and refuse to support his claims in court.
A German source told The Sun: “Word is that Busching is about to withdraw his evidence.
“He was paid a huge sum to repeat his statement in a German newspaper and now he’s pulling the plug.
“It just goes to show you what type of people you are dealing with – and their credibility as witnesses.”
Bushing’s dramatic move could be the final blow in the stalling bid to bring B to court for the suspected abduction and murder of three-year-old Madeleine in Portugal in 2007.
It will be another setback for her parents Gerry and Kate, both 55, of Rothley, Leics.
German Busching, 48, was a criminal pal of sick drifter B when they lived on the Algarve around the time of Madeleine’s disappearance from her holiday apartment in Praia da Luz.
He told cops he was chilled by B’s alleged dark confession a short time after the tot vanished.
As the pair discussed the case over beers, B was said to have coolly confided: “She didn’t scream”.
The convicted rapist and child sex attacker clearly implied he had taken Madeleine, Busching told police.
The “confession” came when the pair met at a music festival in Spain.
Busching claimed he contacted UK police about B in 2008 but was ignored. He said: “I called Scotland Yard . . . the Maddie hotline. I said I knew someone who might have something to do with it and gave them the name. But nothing happened.
“In 2017 I’d just served a prison sentence in Greece. When I heard about the 10th anniversary of the disappearance, I remembered. So I contacted Scotland Yard again. Then they listened.” to me.”
German McCann probe prosecutor Han Christian Wolters said he was unaware of Busching’s suspected change of heart — but insisted his statement would still carry weight.
Bushing’s dramatic move could be the final blow in the bid to bring B to court for the suspected abduction and murder of three-year-old Madeleine in Portugal in 2007[/caption]
The news will be another setback for her parents Gerry and Kate[/caption]
He said: “Anyone who has said something must be measured by it. Witnesses are subject to the duty of truth — they have to testify. You can’t just choose something like that.”
B is currently in jail in Germany for the 2005 rape of 72-year-old American woman in Praia da Luz.
Cops claim to have “concrete evidence” that Madeleine is dead but have yet to produce further material which could lead to a charge.
B’s lawyer, Friedrich Fulscher declined to comment last night.
September 15, 2023 at 02:31AM
from The Sun