Court hears from McCann siblings about frightening interactions
The trial of Julia Wandelt, 24, continues to unfold with detailed testimony from Madeleine McCann’s brother Sean and sister Amelie. The siblings described a series of unsettling communications in which the defendant claimed to be their missing sister. The exchanges, conveyed to the court via video link, form a central part of a two-and-a-half-year harassment campaign alleged by prosecutors and investigated by police.
From messages to personal letters: the impact on the family
Amelie McCann testified that Wandelt’s persistence across several social media platforms and the letter-writing campaign to their home left her and her family feeling frightened and unsettled. “It’s quite scary because you don’t know what she’ll do next,” Amelie said, describing the messages as “creepy” and deeply disturbing. Although the claim to be Madeleine was persistent, she stressed she was not persuaded by Wandelt’s assertions, sensing desperation instead of truth.
Evidence of manipulated memories and disturbing details
In addition to text messages, Wandelt purportedly shared memories of events within the McCann family home that she said had been recovered under hypnosis. Amelie recalled that Wandelt provided details that she believed to be fabricated. “It’s quite disturbing that she’s coming up with these supposed memories, even though she’s not Madeleine,” she said. The teenager emphasized that, despite feeling the pressure to accept a connection, she knew deep down that the claims were not genuine.
Emotional toll on Amelie and her mother
The court heard that Wandelt’s messages and photographs included edited images of Amelie with Wandelt as a child. Some pictures were created using AI tools and circulated via social media before being included in a physical letter delivered to the McCanns’ home. Amelie described the edited photos as “disturbing,” noting they made her feel singled out and uncomfortable as she did not resemble the manipulated images.
The impact extended beyond Amelie. Kate McCann, the twins’ mother, testified about being confronted at home by Wandelt and Wandelt’s co-defendant, Karen Spragg. Amelie said her mother found the harassment hardest to endure, describing her as “very stressed and on edge” and recounting how campaigns to persuade the family to believe the claims led to self-doubt and emotional strain. The mother’s wellbeing, Amelie added, bore the weight of the ongoing harassment as she faced persistent insinuations that she might be shaping a false narrative about her own family.
Sean McCann’s perspective and the broader impact
Sean McCann provided a measured perspective on the case. While acknowledging he was not as personally affected as his sister, he spoke of the distress generated by Wandelt’s actions, which attracted online attention and, at times, hostile commentary about his parents. He said the experience would be deeply upsetting if Wandelt was aware she was not Madeleine yet continued to insist she was the missing girl. His testimony highlighted the wider harm caused by online harassment and the social media attention surrounding the case.
The legal context and next steps
Wandelt and her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, deny stalking the McCann family. Prosecutors have argued that the alleged campaign was designed to manipulate the family into believing Wandelt was Madeleine, while the defense maintains there is a lack of credible evidence connecting Wandelt to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. The trial, already back-and-forth between testimony and documentary evidence, is emblematic of the lasting complexity surrounding the case and the enduring toll on the McCanns’ family.
Why this case resonates beyond the courtroom
The McCanns have long been the subject of intense media attention following Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007. The current proceedings shed light on how personal tragedies can intersect with modern technology, online culture, and the vulnerability of families to manipulation and harassment. As the trial continues, the jury will weigh whether Wandelt’s actions meet the legal threshold for stalking and harassment, and the McCanns’ family will confront the emotional aftermath of this high-profile case.
