Madeleine McCann Brother and Sister Detail Supposed Harasser's Behavior as Deeply Upsetting and Unsettling

Madeleine McCann brother and sister, Sean and Amelie, have testified in court that their encounters with an alleged stalker were extremely disturbing and unsettling. The siblings described feeling anxious and scared by a woman who insisted she was their missing sister.

Persistent Contact Described as Frightening

Testifying via video link, Amelie described how the accused, Julia Wandelt, contacted her multiple times through social media and letters. Amelie explained the relentlessness was very frightening because you don’t know what her next move might be.

Messages from the defendant were read in court, in which she described memories of being in the family home that she claimed were recalled under hypnosis. Amelie testified, It’s quite upsetting that she's inventing these supposed memories, despite the fact she’s not Madeleine.

Altered Images Heightened Distress

Jurors learned that the accused had created images of Amelie and herself as children, which the prosecution alleged were generated with AI tools. A number of these photos were sent through online channels, while additional ones were printed and included in a mail to Amelie.

She said, I didn’t like it, it made me feel very uncomfortable. She had clearly altered the images to make me look more like her, which was very distressing. I was aware I didn't resemble that, I understood it had been changed.

Emotional Impact on the Family

She also discussed the effect of the alleged stalking on her mother, their mother, who testified about being approached at home by the defendant and her co-defendant, a 61-year-old woman.

I think my mum experienced it as the most difficult. My mother was targeted by Julia to a greater extent than the rest of us and I think it certainly had a negative effect on her and her wellbeing, she testified. It's distressing when a person is pleading with you to believe them and playing with your emotions, to the extent you are doubting your own judgment.

Brother's Testimony on Stress and Online Attention

In a testimony read to the trial, her brother said that for him, he had not been too badly impacted by the defendant's accused harassment. However he had been upset that she was drawing online attention, with people saying hurtful and unjust things about his parents.

If she was not mentally ill and was fully aware she is not Madeleine, yet continues to assert she is, that will be very distressing for me, he testified. I do not believe she is my sister. The fact that Julia is doing this has resulted in a great deal of anxiety and I find it deeply troubling.

Wandelt and her co-defendant have pleaded not guilty to harassing the family family. The trial are ongoing.