Christian B emerges from hiding after release from prison, denies involvement and accuses prosecutors of fueling a media witch hunt.
Confronting the Prosecutor
The freed suspect in the Madeleine McCann case has come out of hiding to confront the prosecutor who has accused him of the British toddler’s murder.
Christian B, who cannot be fully identified under German privacy laws, travelled for hours to try to speak to lawyer Hans Christian Wolters.
Mr Wolters has stated publicly that he has evidence, which he has not revealed, to show that Christian B abducted and killed Madeleine, who vanished from her bed during a Portuguese holiday in 2007.
Christian B denies any involvement in her disappearance.
The suspect, who was released from a rape sentence two weeks ago, told Sky News in an exclusive interview: “The prosecutor refused to meet me, but I told his representative I wanted his help to get my life back.”
“I’m being hounded by the media, and it’s his fault. I want him to take responsibility.”
He added, “I was told there was nothing they could do to help. I had been convicted and released, and I wasn’t their responsibility.”
Release and Public Outcry
Christian B, 49, was driven from jail by his lawyer Friedrich Fulscher on 17 September and, since then, has lived in local authority accommodation in the town of Neumunster, north of Hamburg.
Journalists quickly tracked him down and exposed his new address, prompting anger in the community from people worried about his convictions for child sex crimes.
Local councillor Karin Mundt of the hard-right populist movement Heimat Neumunster (Homeland Neumunster) took to Facebook to warn locals to be vigilant, not go out alone, and make sure that their children and the elderly were safe.
She also called for a public protest under the slogan “Christian B out of Neumunster – tougher measures against child abusers and rapists to protect all citizens!”
Privacy Laws Versus Public Safety
Germany operates strict privacy laws, whereby even the media must get the consent of someone they photograph or disguise their features.
Yet the group even decided to publish photos of Christian B, arguing that the danger he presents means he was a public person of interest, and that elderly people in particular had to be able to recognise him.
Two separate chat groups were set up — one dedicated to campaigning for Christian B to be removed from Neumunster, the other to discuss alleged sightings.
Some claimed that Christian B had turned up near schools and that the police were called, though others disputed this, saying no officers had attended.
A woman at Domino’s Pizza claimed Christian B had turned up in a false beard, yet just days later, her colleague admitted she was unsure it was him.
Defence Pushback
Throughout all this, a source close to Christian B’s defence claimed that he had not been out at all apart from to sort out his phone, and also once for a steak dinner.
On Wednesday, one online chat even discussed gathering at the town hall in the evening, and police vans then turned up to try to prevent unrest.
But the language in the chatrooms became increasingly bold — with people openly posting addresses they believed he was living at. At one point, all members with English-sounding surnames were ejected, amid suspicion they were journalists.
Police eventually moved Christian B out of Neumunster, and reports suggest he has since been spotted at a hotel in an undisclosed town.
In a recent interview with Germany’s Stern magazine, Christian B’s main lawyer, Dr Fulscher, said: “The Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office has fuelled this media campaign of prejudgment.
“It has told the public that it is certain it has the right person. Without presenting sufficient evidence or even allowing my client to inspect the files.
“I find this highly questionable from a constitutional point of view. In my opinion, the Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office has made rehabilitation impossible.”
Prosecutor Stands Firm
Prosecutor Mr Wolters told Sky News that he had been tipped off about the suspect’s attempted visit to his office in Braunschweig near Hanover and refused to speak to him directly.
Mr Wolters has long maintained that investigators hold concrete evidence linking Christian B to Madeleine’s disappearance. However, no formal charges have yet been brought.
Christian B’s legal team continues to insist the case against him is built on speculation rather than solid proof.
Background: The Madeleine McCann Case
Madeleine McCann disappeared from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007, just days before her fourth birthday.
Her case became one of the most high-profile missing persons investigations in modern history, sparking a worldwide search and attracting sustained media attention.
German prosecutors named Christian B as their prime suspect in 2020, citing evidence they said pointed to Madeleine’s death. Yet despite years of investigation, no charges have been brought against him in connection with the case.
What Happens Next
Christian B’s release back into the community — and his attempt to confront the prosecutor — has reignited tensions in Germany over balancing privacy rights with public safety.
For Madeleine’s family, the case remains unresolved. British and German authorities continue to cooperate, though progress has been slow.
As pressure mounts on prosecutors to either present evidence or step back, Christian B insists he is innocent — but for now, both suspicion and hostility continue to follow him wherever he goes.
