Overview of the case
The trial of Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old woman who claims to be Madeleine McCann, opened in a Leicester Crown Court amid dramatic courtroom scenes. The prosecution contends that Wandelt orchestrated a three-year campaign of harassment against Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared in Portugal in 2007. Wandelt, who is from Poland, is accused of a sustained pattern of calls, messages, and real-world appearances at the couple’s home and village in Leicestershire.
What the prosecutors say
Leading the case, prosecutor Michael Duck KC described Wandelt as an “emotional manipulator” and said the allegations amount to a calculated campaign of stalking. He stressed that the jury should accept, at this early stage, that Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann. The court was told that Wandelt would claim memories of being part of the McCanns’ household, attending family events, and playing with Madeleine’s siblings. Yet the Crown maintains there is no familial link and that those memories, if genuine, do not establish identity.
Witness and courtroom dynamics
As the proceedings began, Wandelt cried loudly in the dock and attempted to leave via a back door to the cells. Her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff, is accused of joining Wandelt in the alleged stalking campaign. Spragg provided comfort, appearing to encourage Wandelt to stay in court as the case unfolds. Both women deny the charges against them.
The scientific evidence angle
The prosecution indicated that the jury will hear “detailed scientific evidence” designed to undermine Wandelt’s claims of being Madeleine. Wandelt has previously asserted that she is older than Madeleine would be and has offered various explanations for why she might appear younger. Prosecutors argued that, when confronted with difficult propositions, Wandelt offered excuses rather than credible rebuttals.
Alleged false identities and other claims
The Crown outlined a pattern of deception beyond the McCanns’ case. Wandelt is accused of presenting herself as other missing children in the past — including Inga Gehricke of Germany and Acacia Bishop of the United States — to mislead others about her identity. Court documents allege she used ChatGPT to generate fake pictures and sent them to Madeleine’s sister, Amelie, purportedly to support a belief that she was Madeleine. The messages to Amelie, described as “emotional manipulation of the first order,” form part of the behavior scrutinized by jurors.
Messages to the McCanns
Prosecutors played voicemails and messages Wandelt left for Kate McCann, some of which included pleas and assurances about identity. In one recording, Wandelt suggests, paradoxically, that “if I’m her then everything will be OK,” while in another she acknowledges the possibility that she may not be Madeleine. The Crown argues such communications were coercive and distressing for the McCanns, who have faced years of scrutiny since their daughter’s disappearance.
Defense perspective and next steps
Wandelt’s defense contends that while her claims have caused distress, the case hinges on whether she has stalked the McCanns or simply engaged in misguided fan or conspiracy activity. The jury will assess whether Wandelt’s conduct amounts to stalking and whether any of her asserted memories could reasonably be interpreted as genuine identification with Madeleine. As the trial progresses, evidence will be weighed against the backdrop of an unresolved, highly publicized international case.
What this means for the McCanns and the public
The trial underscores ongoing sensitivity around Madeleine McCann’s disappearance and the impact of online and real-world behavior on grieving families. It also highlights the legal boundaries of stalking and how courts handle claims of mistaken or exaggerated identity. The case continues as jurors examine statements, messages, and corroborating evidence to determine whether Wandelt and Spragg committed criminal activity aimed at the McCanns.
