I remember Madeleine McCann suspect’s eyes, rape accuser says

Madeleine, who would now be aged 21, has never been found.

German investigators identified 47-year-old Brückner as a prime suspect in what they have classed as a murder inquiry, but he has denied involvement and has never been charged.

This trial, in Lower Saxony, north-west Germany is not about Madeleine – although the alleged offences all took place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.

Brückner’s legal team are contesting the charges and say their client is not the man who repeatedly raped Ms Behan, from Ireland, in 2004.

Ms Behan, now aged 40, told the court on Wednesday about a prolonged ordeal in her apartment.

She was 20 at the time and working as a holiday rep in Praia de Rocha.

The assault began, she said, after she was woken up by a masked man, dressed head to toe in black, who was calling her name.

Under questioning on Thursday, she was asked about her assertion that, years later, she recognised Brückner’s general description and photos – particularly his “bright” eyes – following police media appeals linked to Madeleine’s disappearance.

“When you spend time in that situation as a person and there‘s nothing else that you can see of this human, other than their eyes, it’s the only thing you remember.”

She compared them to “lights” during the night-time assault. “They were so bright. I just know them.”

Near the close of the day’s session, the judge asked Brückner to approach the bench – apparently in order to examine his eyes.

During two days of testimony, Ms Behan has had to sit just metres away from the suspect – trying, it seemed, to largely avoid looking directly at him.

But referring to Brückner, she stated: “I believe this man is the attacker.”