Alleged McCann stalker ’50-50′ on whether she is Madeleine, jury told

The alleged stalker of Madeleine McCann’s parents has told a jury she is still “50-50” about whether she is their missing daughter.

Julia Wandelt, who a jury heard has repeatedly claimed she is the missing child, is on trial at Leicester Crown Court alongside Karen Spragg, accused of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, causing serious alarm and distress.

Cross-examination of Miss Wandelt began on Wednesday, during which the 24-year-old said she had concerns for her safety and believes someone “slipped something” in her drink days before her trial.

Polish national Miss Wandelt and Mrs Spragg, 61, deny the charges.

During cross-examination, prosecutor Michael Duck KC asked Miss Wandelt: “As we stand here, do you still entertain the belief that you could be Madeleine McCann?”

Miss Wandelt said: “It’s neither yes nor no. Because it is very easy to provide me with the documentation, so if I am not her, and it really is negative, I would like to see the documentation.

“Now, I would say I’m 50-50. What’s the issue with providing the whole paperwork?”

Mr Duck KC asked again: “Do you, Julia Wandelt, believe you may still be Madeleine McCann?”

In response, Miss Wandelt said: “It will be neither yes nor no. It is not yes, and not no. I am in between.”

Asked what would satisfy her, Miss Wandelt raised her voice and tearfully told the jury: “An investigation into my disappearance, into what happened to me, why am I here?”

Mr Duck KC asked Miss Wandelt: “If you had seen a negative DNA test result, would you have walked away?”

Miss Wandelt replied: “If I received the entire paperwork, yes, I would walk away.”

Earlier on Wednesday, when answering questions from Mrs Spragg’s barrister Simon Russell Flint KC, Miss Wandelt, of Jana Kochanowskiego in Lubin, Poland, said: “Even in prison, a few days before my trial, someone slipped something in my drink and the officers didn’t want to help.

“I have been concerned about my safety since I told my story.”

The defendant tearfully told the jury she agreed that she was “vulnerable”.

The court has previously heard results of the DNA test – taken by Miss Wandelt after she was arrested at Bristol Airport in February – “conclusively proved” she is not Madeleine.

Jurors were told police contacted the defendant about the DNA test on 1 April.

Miss Wandelt said she felt this was “disrespectful” given the contact came on April Fool’s Day – and knowing how long she had been waiting.

“From all other days, they chose April Fools Day,” Miss Wandelt said.

Mr Duck KC asked Miss Wandelt about the “multiple times” her calls to the McCanns went unanswered.

The court heard Miss Wandelt did not see it as unwanted contact, and added: “I thought Kate [McCann] was threatened or for some reason could not talk to me.”

Mr Duck asked: “By whom?”

Miss Wandelt said: “I don’t know. Somebody who did not want the truth to come out.”

Mr Duck KC told the court part of Miss Wandelt’s thought process was that Gerry McCann and officers from Operation Grange – the Metropolitan Police investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance – were threatening Mrs McCann.

He asked Miss Wandelt: “What is your attitude and manner towards Gerry McCann?”

Miss Wandelt responded: “I don’t want to say anything bad about him.”

Addressing Miss Wandelt, Mr Duck KC said: “Do you entertain the possibility that Gerry had something to do with the disappearance of his own daughter?”

In response, Miss Wandelt said: “Yes.”

When asked to expand on her answer, Miss Wandelt said her response was “mostly based on memories”, adding “but also the way he came across as not letting Kate say anything”.

The court heard Miss Wandelt’s visit to the UK in December 2024 – during which she encountered the McCanns on their own doorstep in Rothley, Leicestershire – was the first time she met co-defendant Mrs Spragg.

Jurors heard the pair had travelled from Cardiff to Leicestershire with the intention of providing Mrs McCann with a DNA report put together by US expert Dr Monte Miller.

Mr Flint KC also read out a WhatsApp exchange between Miss Wandelt and Mrs Spragg on 19 November 2024 about going through the McCanns’ bins.

Miss Wandelt said in a message: “We should get their DNA – this is the only way to prove it

“Kate will be alone at home. She won’t be controlled by Gerry.”

The court heard Mrs Spragg replied: “Yes we can go through their bins. LOL.”

When asked by Mr Flint KC whether the pair went anywhere near the bins, Miss Wandelt said “No.”

“Me and Karen were mostly joking about the bins,” Miss Wandelt said.

The trial continues.

Additional reporting by PA Media