Alleged McCann stalker's messages 'creepy', Maddie's sister tells court

Alleged McCann stalker's messages 'creepy', Maddie's sister tells court

Amelie McCann, the sister of Madeleine McCann, testified in court that a woman named Julia Wandelt falsely claimed to be her missing sibling, causing distress with “creepy” messages. Amelie revealed that Julia claimed to have memories of playing with them and feeding her brother Sean. Despite Julia’s insistence on a DNA test to prove her identity, Amelie never felt the need as she was certain Julia was not Madeleine. The ongoing trial at Leicester Crown Court involves Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg, who are accused of stalking Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann.

Julia Wandelt first attempted to contact Amelie McCann in January 2024 through Facebook, using the alias Julia Julia. Amelie recognized her from media coverage but did not initially link her to the same person due to the different name. Despite being used to receiving messages about the case, Amelie chose to deal with Julia’s messages privately and initially kept the situation to herself. As the messages continued, Amelie felt uncomfortable and stressed by Julia’s claims.

Over the course of their exchanges, Julia talked about using hypnosis sessions, childhood memories of being Madeleine, police corruption, and DNA. One particular message referencing playing Ring a Ring o’ Roses with Amelie unsettled her, as it felt like Julia was manipulating her emotions and memories. Despite Julia altering pictures to resemble Amelie and urging a DNA test, Amelie never responded to her messages. Julia even sent a letter to the McCanns’ family home, expressing her desperation and stating that Amelie was her last hope.

The distress caused by Julia’s alleged stalking extended to Amelie’s family, particularly her mother who bore the brunt of Julia’s harassment. On one occasion, the defendants turned up at their home demanding a DNA test, leaving the family feeling stressed and anxious. The increased security measures, such as a panic alarm, new CCTV, and a Ring doorbell, were deemed necessary due to the situation’s severity. Amelie’s twin brother, Sean, also received messages from Julia, which he found strange and upsetting. The trial of Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg continues, with testimonies from family friends and neighbors highlighting the impact of the alleged stalking

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More