By Sheila McKenzie-
A woman accused of stalking the parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann allegedly left a series of distressing voicemails pleading for a DNA test, a court heard today. Jurors at Leicester Crown Court listened to the messages left by Julia Wandelt, , from Lubin, Poland, which documented months of persistent contact with Kate McCann.
Julia Wandelt denies one count of stalking. (Pic: GoGetFunding)
Ms. Wandelt(pictured) allegedly left the messages between June and February this year, continually seeking confirmation of her identity. She could be heard audibly upset in the recordings, asking the mother of the missing girl, “What if I’m her?” and insisting on a DNA examination.
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Defendant Karen Spragg, , who is being tried alongside Ms. Wandelt, subsequently began crying today at Leicester Crown Court and had to leave the dock when the emotional voicemails were played aloud. Ms. Wandelt, whose head remained bowed throughout the playback, was heard clearly stating, “I know you probably think Madeleine’s dead. Well she is not. I really believe I’m her.” She begged Mrs. McCann for help, claiming the police were corrupt and refused assistance.
Ms. Wandelt promised to prove her identity, asserting her belief in the parents’ continued love for Madeleine. In another late-night message, allegedly sent around 1 a.m., Ms. Wandelt stated, “I don’t understand why you don’t want to do a DNA test.” The intense emotional drama underscores the high-stakes nature of the ongoing Madeleine McCann Stalking Trial.
The prosecution alleges Ms. Wandelt falsely claimed she was the missing child while pursuing the parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, through emails, phone calls, and even by turning up at their address. The alleged stalking campaign occurred across a specific period stretching from June to February . Therefore, the total volume of contact forms a central pillar of the case against Ms. Wandelt.
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Significantly, the court heard that Ms. Wandelt once called and messaged Mrs. McCann more than times in a single day in April last year. These messages reportedly included specific, yet unverified, memories of Madeleine’s abduction during the family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May .
Madeleine McCann went missing during a family holiday to Portugal in 2007. Pic: PA
Consequently, Ms. Wandelt and her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, of Caerau Court Road in Cardiff, both deny the single count of stalking they face. This defense maintains that the communications did not constitute illegal harassment, setting the stage for a compelling legal argument. The prosecution will attempt to convince the jury that the defendants’ persistent actions moved beyond reasonable public inquiry into the realm of criminal harassment.
The high-profile nature of the case, focusing on the welfare of the McCann family, draws substantial national interest. Given the sensitivity and the history surrounding this case, the Madeleine McCann Stalking Trial requires careful and consistent media coverage throughout the proceedings. The trial continues as jurors consider the evidence presented by the Crown.
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