Two women are currently facing trial for allegedly stalking the family of the missing child, Madeleine McCann. Polish citizen Julia Wandelt is accused of sending various forms of communication, including letters, calls, voicemails, and messages, to Kate and Gerry McCann, as well as Instagram messages to their children, claiming to be Madeleine. Prosecutor Michael Duck KC clarified in court that Wandelt, aged 24, is not the missing girl.
Karen Spragg, a 61-year-old woman from Cardiff, is also on trial for one count of stalking, involving causing serious alarm or distress. The accusations against her include making calls, sending letters, and visiting the McCanns’ residence between June 2022 and February 2025. The case revolves around the unsolved disappearance of Madeleine when she was three years old in Portugal in 2007.
The trial’s second day is commencing today. During the proceedings, it was revealed that Wandelt had contacted a charity specializing in historic missing person cases, coinciding with her claims of being Madeleine. Despite her persistence and alleged memories, scientific evidence has conclusively shown that Wandelt has no familial connection to the McCanns.
The prosecution emphasized Wandelt’s relentless attempts to convince others of her false identity as Madeleine, even going as far as sending digitally altered images to the McCann family. The court heard that Wandelt repeatedly contacted Kate McCann and her family, refusing to accept their lack of engagement with her claims.
Prosecutor Duck highlighted the distress caused to the McCanns by Wandelt and Spragg’s actions, portraying them as individuals who perpetuate conspiracy theories and lack empathy towards the family’s plight. The trial proceedings shed light on the emotional turmoil inflicted upon the McCanns by the defendants’ persistent and unfounded claims.
The judge presiding over the case, Mrs. Justice Cutts, intervened at one point, emphasizing that Wandelt is unequivocally not Madeleine McCann. The trial continues with testimonies from various witnesses, including Madeleine’s siblings, Amelie and Sean, to further unravel the extent of the alleged stalking behavior towards the McCann family.