Madeleine suspect loses bid for prison release

The prime suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann on Thursday lost his bid to be freed from jail, with the European Court of Justice rejecting his appeal against a separate rape conviction.

German police investigating a suspect identified as Christian B. believe he killed Madeleine, whose disappearance in 2007 had sparked a huge international manhunt. In June, German prosecutors announced that they were investigating HIM in connection with the case, saying they have “concrete evidence” he had killed Madeleine. British police are however still treating her disappearance as a missing persons case.