Suspected Harasser Questioned: 'But Suppose I Am Madeleine?'

Courtroom sketch
Karen Spragg - according to court testimony claims she is missing Madeleine McCann - dispute the charges

A female charged with pursuing Kate McCann apparently deposited her a phone message which asked: "imagine I am Madeleine?"

Julia Wandelt, 24, who witnesses stated has persistently asserted she was the vanished Madeleine McCann, and her co-defendant are on trial charged with pursuing Kate and Gerry McCann between June 2022 and February this year.

Madeleine McCann photo
Madeleine McCann's vanishing has not yet been resolved

On Monday, Leicester Crown Court learned phone records and data recovered from phones documented Ms Wandelt persistently demanding Madeleine's mother for a genetic test throughout the past two years.

Madeleine's case in 2007 - at the age of three during a vacation in Portugal - is considered the most covered missing child cases and is still unsolved.

'I Am Not Seeking Money'

One recorded message, shared in court, captured Ms Wandelt saying: "I realize I'm overweight and not pretty like Madeleine was, but I feel what I know."

While a separate message of Ms Wandelt's one-way conversations with Mrs McCann's answerphone stated: "Suppose there is a small chance that I am she? Then what? Wouldn't that be crucial for you?"

"I am not seeking money, I possess a living here in Poland, I only wish to understand," the recording stated.

The tribunal was told that via emails, SMS messages and calls, Ms Wandelt requested a genetic test, sent early photographs to her phone in a effort to show a likeness to Mrs McCann's disappeared daughter, and asserted to have "flashbacks" from a early life with the McCanns.

An intelligence analyst, a data specialist with the police force who collated the data, told the court there "didn't appear to be any replies" from Mrs McCann.

Ms Wandelt furthermore contacted close associates of the McCanns, based on the call data.

On that date, Gerry McCann picked up a phone call from Ms Wandelt to his wife's phone, saying she had "the wrong phone."

That day Ms Wandelt recorded a message on Mrs McCann's answerphone stating "I will continue and I intend to demonstrate my point."

Court proceedings
Kate and Gerry McCann provided testimony to the court from behind a protective barrier on Wednesday

The court was informed Mrs Spragg established a connection via internet with Ms Wandelt before joining her on a visit to the McCanns' residence in that area in that winter.

Call logs demonstrated Mrs Spragg had communicated using messaging service to Mrs McCann to express the news outlets had portrayed Ms Wandelt as "a crazy person" but that she deserved to be considered genuine in the months preceding the trip to the village, that area, in December 2024.

The court heard correspondence between the two defendants, in last November, considering attempting to acquire Mrs McCann's DNA samples from her garbage or from cutlery at a dining venue.

"We must make a stand," the co-defendant told Ms Wandelt.

On the night of the visit to their residence, Mrs Spragg transmitted a communication which said: "We're currently sat adjacent to the McCanns' house with our vehicle dark resembling detectives. I desired to achieve this with someone else I didn't imagine I would be involved in this with the McCanns."

The trial proceeds.

Robert Byrd
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