AssetID: 54206958
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Madeleine McCann Suspect Christian B Cleared of Sex Crimes Amid Ongoing Investigation
Caption: Madeleine McCann Suspect Christian B Cleared of Sex Crimes Amid Ongoing Investigation. The main suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, Christian B, has been cleared of unrelated sex crimes in Portugal, Sky News reports. Christian B had denied accusations of three rapes and the abuse of two young girls from the 2000s to 2017. Chief prosecutor Ute Lindemann labeled Christian B as a dangerous "sadistic psychopath" and pushed for a 15-year sentence, but failed to secure a conviction. Christian B’s lawyer argued that the charges were only pursued because of his connection to the high-profile Madeleine McCann abduction case. Throughout the trial, the McCann case loomed, despite being unrelated to the crimes Christian B was charged with. The judge concluded that key witnesses, such as Helge Busching, provided inconsistent testimony, which impacted the trial’s outcome. Christian B is currently serving a seven-year sentence for the rape of an elderly American woman in Portugal, but remains uncharged in Madeleine's case. The main accusation was the 2005 rape of Irish holiday worker Hazel Behan, but discrepancies in Behan’s description led to a not-guilty verdict. Christian B’s defense challenged the credibility of witnesses who claimed to have seen video evidence of other assaults, evidence which never surfaced. With the sex crimes trial over, focus will now return to whether German authorities will charge Christian B for Madeleine McCann's 2007 disappearance. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Madeleine McCann. Suspect,Christian B,Cleared,Sex Crimes,Amid,Ongoing,Investigation,Portugal,Rapes,Abuse,Alleged,Chief Prosecutor,Ute Lindemann,Lawyers,Hazel Behan,Irish,Holiday Worker
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