MADELEINE McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner is set to face a key witness in court today who claims he did kidnap the British girl in Portugal.

Manfred Seyferth, 68, is expected to say during his rape trial that the defendant is an “evil psychopath” who’s capable of anything.

The drifter was pals with Brueckner, 47, when they lived near Praia da Luz, in Portugal, around the time Maddie vanished in 2007.

He is being called as a character witness – and is expected to reveal what Brueckner was doing around the time of Irish holiday rep Hazel behan’s rape, in 2006.

Seyferth was a crucial witness in Brueckner’s 2019 conviction for the rape and torture of a pensioner in Portugal after discovering grim footage.

Seyferth and Brueckner’s ex-pal Helge Busching ransacked the convicted rapist’s Algarve home, uncovering a string of video tapes depicting the monster’s abuse and took it to cops.

But prosecutors are said to be privately nervous over how the heavy-drinker’s credibility will hold up in court over cross-examination.

His account also has to match Busching’s – with fears the defence will be able to pick holes in both.

The credibility of their testimonies could be vital to seeing Brueckner charged over Maddie.

Seyferth previously spoke to The Sun about Brueckner and dubbed him an “evil man” who was “easily capable of taking a small child”.

He said at the time: “I never liked him and he is a psychopath. He is obsessed with small children and I didn’t like it.

“He always had a young girlfriend with him and I think he is easily capable of taking a small child.”

“That’s why I think he may have something to do with Maddie. He broke in and saw her and because he likes young girls — he’s got lots of convictions — he took her.”

German prosecutors are nervous over failing in any Madeleine case, which could see the suspect walk free in less than two years.

In 2007, Seyferth lived in a caravan next to Christian’s house, a few minutes drive from Praia da Luz.

He told The Sun in 2020 that he didn’t see paedophile and rapist Brueckner for months after Madeleine disappeared.

If Brueckner is convicted on his current charges he faces up to 15 years behind bars, giving prosecutors the safety net for the Maddie case they want to pursue.

Brueckner was snapped appearing at Braunschweig regional court today where he faces charges for raping Irish holiday rep Hazel Behan at knifepoint after tying her to a table and whipping her on camera.

He is also accused of tying a teenage girl to a post in the same resort Maddie was snatched from and forcing her to perform a sex act.

During a Praia de Luz raid – in the years before Madeleine disappeared – Brueckner is said to have raped a woman aged as old as 80 and hit her with a whip, filming the attacks on both victims.

The defendant is also said to have performed a sex act on himself in front of a child on a park-swing and made threats towards a prison guard.

He is also charged with grabbing the wrist of a child on a beach six miles from Praia, just weeks before Maddie vanished – and a further charge of insulting a prison guard.

He denies all charges and the trial continues.

Just days ago Brueckner was seen striding into court in handcuffs before the trial was adjourned after a judge’s “kill the b*****d” rant was read out in court.

Only nine minutes into the hearing was the trial axed as Brueckner’s lawyer fought to discredit one of the lay-judges who was set to help decide his verdict.

Dr Fülscher claimed she had called for the assassination of a president on social media.

He said the woman had written “kill the b*****d now” and “kill the devil”, referring to Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro.

Dr Fülscher said the remark meant she was unfit to sit on the case and could not be relied upon as far as his client was concerned.