A woman accused of stalking the family of Madeleine McCann asserted in court that she is not surprised by the police’s failure to locate the missing girl. Testifying today, Julia Wandelt, a Polish national, expressed her belief that the McCann family had been misled by the authorities regarding Madeleine’s case. Wandelt, who hails from Lubin in south-west Poland, allegedly propagated the false claim that she is Madeleine while harassing Kate and Gerry McCann through emails, calls, and visits to their residence.
During her testimony at Leicester Crown Court, Wandelt conveyed her sympathy for the McCanns, stating that despite her own imprisonment, she empathizes with their search for their child as she seeks her own parents. She acknowledged the emotional turmoil the McCanns must be enduring with their daughter’s unresolved disappearance.
In response to her lawyer’s inquiry about her feelings towards the McCanns, Wandelt affirmed that she has always defended them and never intended any harm towards the family. She also criticized the police, alleging a lack of interest in finding Madeleine and accusing them of misleading the parents.
Wandelt emotionally recounted her interactions with Amelie McCann and her struggles in discovering her own identity, citing a tumultuous past marked by childhood abuse. She detailed her extensive efforts to seek help from various authorities before approaching the McCanns, emphasizing her intent to exhaust all avenues before contacting the family directly.
Speaking about the backlash she faced, Wandelt disclosed receiving threats and hate messages, including a bounty placed on her life, which deeply affected her mental well-being. She disclosed her traumatic experiences of self-harm and attempted suicide following abuse by her step-grandfather, linking it to her belief that she could be Madeleine due to similarities with a suspect sketch in the case.
Wandelt clarified that her actions were not driven by a quest for attention or financial gain but rather stemmed from a need to comprehend her own history to heal from past traumas. She expressed frustration over her parents’ refusal to undergo a DNA test with her, highlighting her ongoing struggle with identity issues.
The court was informed that Wandelt presented Operation Grange with compelling reasons why she believes she is Madeleine, questioning the authorities’ swift dismissal without conducting a DNA test. Wandelt and her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, both pleaded not guilty to a charge of stalking spanning from June 2022 to February this year. The trial will resume with Wandelt’s continued testimony on Tuesday.