In May 2007, the British girl, then three years old, vanished while on a family vacation in Portugal.
Christian B, a convicted child abuser, was later charged with being accountable, a claim he refutes.
The 47-year-old guy is presently on trial in Germany for a number of unrelated sex offenses; he has never been formally charged in connection with her abduction.
The court in the present case stated on Monday that his legal team has filed an application to have the arrest warrant revoked.
His legal team claims he could be out of jail shortly if they are successful.
“He would be released in the spring of next year at the latest, if it is overturned and he is ultimately found not guilty,” Friedrich Fulscher, his attorney, told News.
He continued, expressing confidence that the court would grant their request: “I have no doubt that this will be approved. I can’t think of a different scenario.”
“After the evidence had been taken, not a single accusation had been substantiated in such a way that one could speak of a suspicion of an offence,” he continued.
The court will make the final decision.
Due to German privacy rules, Christian B’s surname is being suppressed. He has denied the three rapes and two sexual offenses for which he is being tried.