Madeleine McCann's Siblings Detail Alleged Stalker's Actions as Extremely Disturbing and Unsettling

Madeleine McCann twin siblings, Sean and Amelie, have told the court that their encounters with an accused stalker were deeply upsetting and unsettling. They described feeling stressed and frightened by a woman who claimed she was their missing sister.

Relentless Contact Detailed as Scary

Testifying via video link, Amelie stated how the accused, the 24-year-old, reached out to her repeatedly through social media and letters. Amelie explained the relentlessness was very frightening since it's impossible to predict what her next move might be.

Communications from the defendant were presented in the trial, in which she described memories of living in the family home that she claimed were recovered under hypnosis. Amelie testified, It's very disturbing that she's inventing these supposed recollections, despite the fact she’s not Madeleine.

Altered Pictures Increased Distress

The court heard that Wandelt had produced pictures of Amelie and herself as children, which the state alleged were made with AI tools. A number of these images were transmitted through social media, while others were printed and included in a letter to her.

She said, It was unpleasant, it caused me to feel very uncomfortable. It was evident she altered the images to make me appear similar to her, which was quite distressing. I was aware I didn’t look like that, I understood it had been changed.

Psychological Toll on the Household

Amelie also spoke about the effect of the alleged harassment on her parent, their mother, who testified about being approached at home by Wandelt and her alleged accomplice, Karen Spragg.

I think my mother found it the hardest. She was harassed by the defendant more than the others in the family and I believe it certainly had a negative effect on her and her mental health, she said. It's distressing when a person is pleading with you to accept their claims and manipulating your feelings, to the point you are doubting your own judgment.

Sibling's Statement on Anxiety and Digital Scrutiny

In a witness statement read to the court, her brother stated that for him, he had not been severely affected by Wandelt's alleged harassment. However he had been upset that she was drawing online attention, with people posting nasty and unfair comments about his parents.

If Wandelt was not mentally ill and was fully aware she is not Madeleine, yet makes these claims, that will be very distressing for me, he said. I am convinced she is my sister. The reality that Julia is engaging in this behavior has caused me a significant amount of stress and I consider it deeply troubling.

Wandelt and her co-defendant deny stalking the McCann family. The trial are ongoing.