An individual accused of stalking and claiming to be Madeleine McCann expressed in court that she is not surprised by the police’s inability to locate the missing girl. Testifying today, Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old from Poland, alleged that the McCann family had been misled by the authorities regarding Madeleine’s case. Wandelt, who is accused of harassing Kate and Gerry McCann through emails, calls, and visits, empathized with the family’s search for their daughter, stating that she is also searching for her own parents while serving an eight-month prison sentence.
During her testimony at Leicester Crown Court, Wandelt conveyed her sympathy towards the McCanns and emphasized that she never intended any harm towards them. She criticized the police for their perceived lack of interest in finding Madeleine and suggested that the family had been misled by law enforcement officials. Wandelt emotionally recounted her interactions with Amelie McCann and shared her struggles with self-harm and suicidal thoughts stemming from childhood abuse.
Wandelt explained that she contacted various authorities, including Interpol and the Metropolitan Police, before reaching out to the McCanns out of a sense of thoroughness. She disclosed receiving hateful messages and threats due to her claims, clarifying that her intentions were not driven by seeking attention or financial gain but rather by a desire to understand her own identity and trauma.
Despite facing skepticism and backlash, Wandelt maintained her belief that she could be Madeleine and raised questions about the investigation’s handling of her claims. Wandelt, along with her co-defendant Karen Spragg, denies the charge of stalking between June 2022 and February this year. The trial will continue with Wandelt’s further testimony on Tuesday.
