Suspected Stalker Asked: 'However Suppose I Am Madeleine?'
A female indicted with stalking Kate McCann apparently recorded her a recorded message which asked: "what if I am Madeleine?"
Julia Wandelt, twenty-four, who a jury heard has persistently asserted she was the disappeared Madeleine McCann, and Karen Spragg are on trial accused with harassing Kate and Gerry McCann from June 2022 and February the current year.
On Monday, Leicester Crown Court heard phone records and information obtained from phones documented Ms Wandelt persistently requesting Madeleine's mother for a biological test over that period.
Madeleine's case in 2007 - as a three-year-old during a vacation in Portugal - is considered the most covered child disappearance cases and remains open.
'I Am Not Seeking Money'
A separate phone message, presented in court, recorded Ms Wandelt stating: "I know I'm fat and not pretty like Madeleine used to be, but I feel what I feel."
While a separate message of Ms Wandelt's recordings with Mrs McCann's answerphone said: "Suppose there is a small chance that I am Madeleine? What then? Isn't that important for you?"
"I do not need money, I maintain a living here in Poland, I just want to understand," the recording stated.
The tribunal was told that by means of emails, SMS messages and calls, Ms Wandelt demanded a genetic test, sent childhood photos to her phone in a bid to demonstrate a likeness to Mrs McCann's disappeared daughter, and stated to have "flashbacks" from a childhood with the McCanns.
Robert Jones, a data specialist with the police force who collated the evidence, informed the court there "showed no any responses" from Mrs McCann.
Ms Wandelt furthermore communicated with close associates of the McCanns, based on the phone records.
On that date, Gerry McCann picked up a communication from Ms Wandelt to his wife's phone, declaring she had "incorrect contact information."
During that incident Ms Wandelt left a recording on Mrs McCann's recording declaring "I won't give up and I will prove my position."
The court was informed Mrs Spragg developed a connection via internet with Ms Wandelt prior to assisting her on a trip to the McCanns' property in that area in that winter.
Communication data showed Mrs Spragg had communicated through communication app to Mrs McCann to say the press had characterized Ms Wandelt as "mentally unstable" but that she should be treated respectfully in the time leading up to the appearance to the village, that area, in December 2024.
The court heard communications between the two defendants, in last November, discussing attempting to acquire Mrs McCann's DNA samples from her trash or from silverware at a dining venue.
"We need to make a stand," the co-defendant informed Ms Wandelt.
On the occasion of the trip to their home, the defendant transmitted a message which expressed: "We find ourselves positioned adjacent to the McCanns' home with our headlights off similar to investigators. I desired to accomplish this with another person I hadn't anticipated I would be doing that with the McCanns."
The case continues.
