Overview

• Kate McCann told Leicester Crown Court she felt distressed after an uninvited doorstep encounter in which Julia Wandelt called her “mum” and pleaded for a DNA test.
• Prosecutors said Wandelt repeatedly contacted the family between June 2022 and February 2025, including about 60 phone calls to Kate McCann in a single day.
• Jurors heard Wandelt sent messages and letters, including one signed “Madeleine,” and attended a vigil, which the McCanns avoided over fears of a confrontation.
• The prosecution described a planned campaign of harassment and told the court there is unequivocal scientific evidence excluding any familial link; Wandelt denies stalking.
• Proceedings continue today with testimony from Madeleine’s siblings, Sean and Amelie, after Wandelt was earlier escorted from court following an emotional outburst.