A 24-year-old Polish woman facing accusations of stalking Madeleine McCann’s parents by pretending to be their missing daughter expressed fears for her safety in court. Julia Wandelt claimed that someone in prison had tampered with her drink shortly before her trial, raising concerns about her well-being. She emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into her situation, stating that even if she is cleared of the charges, she remains uncertain about her true identity.
During her testimony at Leicester Crown Court, Wandelt revealed that a friend, whose wife was involved in the Post Office scandal, offered to cover the costs of a DNA test for her. She described herself as a victim of a miscarriage of justice and emphasized the importance of validating her identity through scientific means.
Responding to questions from Karen Spragg’s barrister, Wandelt recounted an incident where she believed her drink was spiked in prison just days before her trial. She expressed disappointment with the lack of assistance from prison officers, highlighting her ongoing concerns for her safety.
Wandelt tearfully acknowledged her vulnerabilities, past struggles with mental health issues, experiences of sexual violence, and being deceived by a person named Fia Johansson. She maintained that her actions were not intended to cause harm to the McCanns but rather stemmed from a belief in her own identity confusion.
Prosecutors allege that Wandelt, hailing from Lubin in south-west Poland, propagated the false claim of being Madeleine McCann while harassing the McCann family through various means of communication. She recounted how a friend of Spragg’s, Steven Dempster, offered support for a DNA test, seeing parallels between their respective situations of injustice.
Wandelt expressed skepticism about the extensive resources allocated to investigating Madeleine’s disappearance, questioning why similar efforts were not directed towards verifying her claims through DNA testing. She criticized the authorities for their handling of her case, feeling marginalized and unsupported despite her persistent pleas for assistance.
The court heard that Wandelt and her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, denied the charge of stalking the McCanns between June 2022 and February this year. Wandelt emphasized that Spragg stood by her side in seeking resolution to the perceived mystery surrounding her identity. The trial is ongoing.
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