The household of Madeleine McCann, a British woman who disappeared in 2007 whereas on a household trip in Portugal, testified in opposition to a Polish lady who claims to be their lacking daughter and is accused of stalking their household.c
Julia Wandel, also called Julia Wandelt, first claimed to be McCann in 2023 when she posted quite a few items of “proof” to social media, most of which have been side-by-side comparisons of comparable bodily traits between her and McCann.
In February, Wandel was arrested and accused of stalking McCann’s household by contacting them incessantly and turning up at their dwelling within the U.Okay. She was charged with stalking 4 members of the McCann household — dad and mom Gerry and Kate, and twin siblings Sean and Amelie — all through 2024 and into 2025. She was additionally alleged to have paid undesirable and unsolicited visits to their dwelling twice, in Could and December of final 12 months.
In January 2024, Wandel despatched McCann’s youthful sister, Amelie McCann, a message on social media. Amelie testified in court docket Thursday that she felt like responding to Wandel was her solely choice on the time.
“I didn’t suppose it was a prison offence or know it might be thought of stalking. I simply thought I might take care of it myself and to disregard it,” Amelie mentioned in court docket, in accordance with the BBC. “I didn’t need to add any extra stress to my dad and mom or my household, so I simply left it with myself.”
Wandel allegedly tried to persuade Amelie, who was within the room with McCann on the night time she went lacking in 2007, that she was her sister. Wandel additionally tried to recount alleged recollections she had of the time she claimed to have spent with Amelie earlier than her disappearance.
“It’s disturbing she is arising with these supposed recollections when she just isn’t Madeleine,” Amelie mentioned, showing by way of video feed.
She additionally mentioned that their mom was affected probably the most by Wandel’s actions and claimed “it took a toll on her well-being.”
McCann’s brother Sean opted to have a press release learn in court docket on his behalf as a substitute of showing by way of video feed. Sean mentioned he didn’t interact with Wandel and blocked her on social media after she first reached out to him.
In his assertion, Sean spoke concerning the efforts Wandel went to along with his mom and twin sister, Amelie, and mentioned she “messaged them much more.”
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He mentioned the contact he had with Wandel “made him take into consideration altering his on-line presence” and added that he took his final title out of his social media profiles with the intention to keep away from Wandel “and her supporters.”
Sean mentioned Wandel’s claims that she is his sister have been “upsetting and disrespectful.”
“If she is absolutely conscious she just isn’t Madeleine, then that is very upsetting for me,” he added.
Sean mentioned he doesn’t consider Wandel is his lacking sister and added that he doesn’t “need something to do together with her.”
McCan’s mom, Kate, took the stand on Wednesday however was coated by a curtain so she wouldn’t need to see Wandel, the BBC experiences.
Kate mentioned Wandel first contacted her three years in the past and would depart voice messages, claiming to be Madeleine. She additionally alleged that Wandel would name greater than 50 instances some days.
McCann’s mom additionally mentioned that after Wandel’s repeated DNA requests, she “virtually wished to place it to mattress” to cease Wandel’s “persistence.”
When requested about when she turned conscious of Wandel’s contact with Amelie, Kate mentioned she came upon in September 2024 that Wandel had been contacting her since January of the identical 12 months.
“It was the ultimate straw for me. I mentioned it with the police,” she added.
Wandel flew from Poland to England and drove to the McCanns’ dwelling, the place she demanded they undergo a DNA check in December 2024.
The girl approached Kate in her driveway as she was getting out of her automobile. When requested what Wandel mentioned to her, Kate mentioned: “It was the standard stuff, ‘I’m your daughter, you must name me, mother.’… (She was) asking for a DNA check, pleading with me.”
Kate mentioned she felt “invaded in her own residence” and “distressed” after Wandel’s first go to.
Wandel left a letter on the McCanns’ entrance door after the face-to-face assembly in December 2024. The letter was learn in court docket, and mentioned partly: “I’m so sorry for inflicting you a lot misery, however after I noticed you yesterday, my feelings have been so robust.
“I believe you might be scared, however no matter makes you scared, simply bear in mind that you’re stronger than that. Yesterday, I heard numerous care and love in your voice. I hope one can find a strategy to contact me.”
The letter was signed “Madeleine X.”
Wandel and Karen Spragg, a 61-year-old Welsh lady who turned a supporter of Wandel after listening to her story, are each charged with a single depend of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann inflicting critical alarm or misery, which they each deny.
Polish police disputed Wandel’s claims that she was McCann after she reached viral fame and Wandel’s personal dad and mom spoke out about her marketing campaign, saying they have been “devastated” by her claims and the worldwide media consideration they garnered.
Madeleine McCann, the then-three-year-old British woman, disappeared from her mattress whereas on trip together with her household within the Praia da Luz resort in southern Portugal on Could 3, 2007. She has not been seen since.
In Could, McCann’s dad and mom marked the 18th anniversary of their daughter’s disappearance, saying that their “dedication to go away no stone unturned is unwavering.”
“We’ll do our utmost to realize this.”
Within the U.Okay., the utmost sentence for stalking is dependent upon the severity, with the utmost being 10 years in custody for offences that trigger concern of violence, or critical alarm or misery.
— With recordsdata from World Information
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