A woman facing a stalking trial in Leicester Crown Court expressed emotional turmoil, claiming to be Madeleine McCann and stating, “I do believe I’m her.” The court dismissed the assertion, emphasizing that Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old woman from Lubin, Poland, is not the missing child who disappeared in Portugal in 2007.
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC challenged Wandelt during cross-examination, highlighting the lack of scientific evidence linking her to the McCann family. Wandelt, visibly distressed, conceded, “I don’t care anymore. If people say I’m not her, I’m okay with it. I’m exhausted. I want to know who I am.”
Despite her persistent belief of being Madeleine, Wandelt acknowledged the lack of DNA match between herself and the missing girl. She reflected on the McCanns’ non-response to her messages, speculating that they may have been restricted from engaging with her.
Wandelt lamented the impact of the trial on her life, expressing regret over her emotional outbursts directed at Kate McCann. She accused Mrs. McCann of concealing information and suggested that she had been ignored and pushed away for years, leading to her outburst.
Wandelt, along with her co-defendant Karen Spragg, denies the charge of stalking between June 2022 and February this year. The trial is ongoing.