Portugal MADELEINE McCANN: Missing from Praia da Luz, Portugal - 3 May 2007 - Age 3 (1 Viewer)

Madeleine Beth McCann (born 12 May 2003) disappeared on the evening of 3 May 2007 from her bed in a holiday apartment at a resort in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve region of Portugal. Her whereabouts remain unknown.[3] The Daily Telegraph described the disappearance as "the most heavily reported missing-person case in modern history".[4]

Madeleine was on holiday from the UK with her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann; her two-year-old twin siblings; and a group of family friends and their children. She and the twins had been left asleep at 20:30 in the ground-floor apartment, while the McCanns and friends dined in a restaurant 55 metres (180 ft) away.[5] The parents checked on the children throughout the evening, until Madeleine's mother discovered she was missing at 22:00.

Disappearance of Madeleine McCann - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Scotland Yard Reveal Latest Findings in Search for Madeleine

In a world exclusive with the BBC, Scotland Yard reveals their latest findings in the search for Madeleine McCann

findmadeleine.com

MADELEINE McCANN: Missing from Praia da Luz, Portugal - 3 May 2007 - Age 3

Madeleine Beth McCann (born 12 May 2003) disappeared on the evening of 3 May 2007 from her bed in a holiday apartment at a resort in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve region of Portugal. Her whereabouts remain unknown.[3]

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[Guess Who]

She could get a maximum sentence of 6 months in jail, based on the guidelinese, if she is found guilty. But her time in custody would count. If there is no violence, it is not a particularly serious offence.

Personally, I think the McCann's could have dealt with this differently and it is a waste of police and court time.

Harassment and stalking

sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Harassment and stalking are classed as offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and (where the offending is racially or religiously aggravated) the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Both offences relate to behaviour that is repeated and unwanted.
Harassment is behaviour intended to cause a person alarm or distress. The behaviour must occur on more than one occasion but it does not have the be the same kind of behaviour on each occasion. Common harassment incidents include:

• texts, voicemails, letters or emails
• comments or threats
• standing outside someone’s house or driving past it

Harassment involving putting people in fear of violence is a more serious offence. It involves two or more harassment incidents that leave the victim fearing that violence will be used against them.
Stalking involves persistently following someone. It does not necessarily mean following them in person and can include watching, spying or forcing contact with the victim through any means, including through social media.
Stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress is a more serious offence. It involves two or more occasions that have caused the victim to fear violence will be used against them or had a substantial adverse effect on their day-to-day activities, even where the fear is not explicitly of violence. Evidence that the stalking has caused this level of fear could include the victim:

• changing their route to work, work patterns or employment to avoid contact with the stalker
• putting additional home security measures in place
• moving home
• suffering physical or mental ill-health

For both harassment and stalking, the offence is more serious if it is racially or religiously motivated, that is carried out because of someone's racial or ethnic origin or their religion or lack of religion.

Sentencing​

Parliament sets the maximum (and sometimes minimum) penalty for any offence. When deciding the appropriate sentence, the court must follow any relevant sentencing guidelines, unless it is not in the interests of justice to do so.

What is the maximum sentence for harassment or stalking?​

If the offence is harassment or stalking:

• the maximum sentence is six months’ custody
• if racially or religiously aggravated, the maximum sentence is two years’ custody

If the offence is harassment (putting people in fear of violence) or stalking (involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress):

• the maximum sentence is 10 years’ custody
• if racially or religiously aggravated, the maximum sentence is 14 years’ custody

How about the lady that caused this problem be the one to handle themselves differently? As in, just go away and leave them alone. This issue is not the fault of the McCann's at all.

 

[Tresir]

How about the lady that caused this problem be the one to handle themselves differently? As in, just go away and leave them alone. This issue is not the fault of the McCann's at all.

The McCanns you mean? If they had used a babysitter then Maddie would never have gone missing. Then the publicity was so OTT for years and there has been at least a dozen "Maddies" come forward over the years. There are still detectives on the case, which has cost millions from the public purse, just because of the parents negligence.

When someone comes forward they should have a set procedure to follow with Maddie's DNA fully available so they can be checked out straight away. This has been rumbling on for 3 years that I know of.

£13 million pounds so far just since 2011 and that is just the UK investigation. So that figure doesn't cover other forces such as the Portuguese LE investigation costs.

Madeleine McCann investigation given further £108k funding

The three-year-old disappeared from an apartment in Portugal in May 2007.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Guess Who]

The McCanns you mean? If they had used a babysitter then Maddie would never have gone missing. Then the publicity was so OTT for years and there has been at least a dozen "Maddies" come forward over the years. There are still detectives on the case, which has cost millions from the public purse, just because of the parents negligence.

When someone comes forward they should have a set procedure to follow with Maddie's DNA fully available so they can be checked out straight away. This has been rumbling on for 3 years that I know of.

£13 million pounds so far just since 2011 and that is just the UK investigation. So that figure doesn't cover other forces such as the Portuguese LE investigation costs.

Madeleine McCann investigation given further £108k funding

The three-year-old disappeared from an apartment in Portugal in May 2007.

www.bbc.co.uk

It says in an above link you posted that they did check her DNA and they told her they did.

Yes, they should have done something differently then, but this issue is 100% the fault of the last that just can't take "no" as an answer.

It would be stupid for anybody to think that they did not test her DNA because that would mean their cost for investigating this could be over if she was found to be her, especially since they say they have both parents DNA and Maddie's DNA.

 

[Tresir]

It says in an above link you posted that they did check her DNA and they told her they did.

Yes, they should have done something differently then, but this issue is 100% the fault of the last that just can't take "no" as an answer.

It would be stupid for anybody to think that they did not test her DNA because that would mean their cost for investigating this could be over if she was found to be her, especially since they say they have both parents DNA and Maddie's DNA.

Well they didn't. She has been trying since 2022 and it was only just done when she was recently arrested. So it took 3 years .

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

But again, (we've already had this conversation in circles) why are they going to take MORE money and MORE resources to do a direct comparison, when her DNA results already don't match the ancestry of Maddie / parents. Certainly we don't need to waste money and resources to appease people? She's been ruled out. By DNA. This trial isn't to determine if she's Maddie.

 

[Tresir]

But again, (we've already had this conversation in circles) why are they going to take MORE money and MORE resources to do a direct comparison, when her DNA results already don't match the ancestry of Maddie / parents. Certainly we don't need to waste money and resources to appease people? She's been ruled out. By DNA. This trial isn't to determine if she's Maddie.

The money is already being spent by keeping these detectives on the case part time. It is in the interest of solving the case, catching the perp and eliminating potentials that they should be checking the DNA. As Maddie was an IVF baby and it has already been stated her DNA is not the same as the twins then this may not be straight forward. Eg perhaps the egg or sperm was donated so only one side is known. I really don't exactly understand why they only have Maddie's DNA from a pillowcase for example.

Either way this surely cannot continue like this forever looking for Maddie. At some point the investigation has to be solved or shelved. This criminal case of stalking is separate to the investigation itself.

 

[Guess Who]

But again, (we've already had this conversation in circles) why are they going to take MORE money and MORE resources to do a direct comparison, when her DNA results already don't match the ancestry of Maddie / parents. Certainly we don't need to waste money and resources to appease people? She's been ruled out. By DNA. This trial isn't to determine if she's Maddie.

Exactly!

 

[Tresir]

From post 344 upthread.

Leicester Crown Court heard that Wandelt asked the software to compare her DNA to a sample taken from the floor where Madeleine disappeared in Praia da Luz, Portugal, which a forensic scientist previously told the court does not match Gerry McCann’s DNA profile.

 

[Tresir]

Video report of Julia's testimony Monday. She was back on the stand Tuesday also.

Madeleine McCann trial: 'Stalker' reveals 'big factor' behind belief she may have been missing girl

Julia Wandelt told her lawyer that she didn't think she was the daughter of her parents and this led to her researching cases of missing children.

news.sky.com

 

[Tresir]

Recap of yesterday in court and updating today in real time.

Woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann tells stalking trial she is 'not a liar or attention seeker'

 

[Regina]

How about the lady that caused this problem be the one to handle themselves differently? As in, just go away and leave them alone. This issue is not the fault of the McCann's at all.

Right?
Victim-blaming is the most despicable, unforgivable defense strategy of all.

 

[Tresir]

I am posting this article in case any of it comes up at the trial or if the defendant calls them as witnesses.

Oh god, woman claiming she’s Madeleine McCann drops ALL the new ‘proof’ found at crime scene

She's finally posted all the results from DNA, teeth, eyes, and voice analysis

thetab.com

 

[Tresir]

This is the Guardian report of Monday's testimony.

Woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann tells court of ‘sympathy’ for family

Julia Wandelt, 24, says McCann family were ‘misled’ about missing girl’s case by police, who are still ‘abusing cases’

www.theguardian.com

Woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann tells court of ‘sympathy’ for family​

Julia Wandelt, 24, says McCann family were ‘misled’ about missing girl’s case by police, who are still ‘abusing cases’
Sammy Gecsoyler and PA Media
Mon 27 Oct 2025 19.17 GMT
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An alleged stalker who claimed to be Madeleine McCann has told a court she has “sympathy” for the missing girl’s family and “never” meant any harm.
Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old Polish national, claimed the McCann family had been “misled” about Madeleine’s case by police, who were still “abusing cases”.
Wandelt, from Lubin in south-west Poland, is alleged to have peddled the myth she was Madeleine, while stalking Kate and Gerry McCann by sending emails, making calls and turning up at their home.
During her evidence at Leicester crown court on Monday, she told jurors: “I actually even have sympathy for them [the McCanns], even though I am in prison for eight months, because they look for their child and I look for my parents.”
Wandelt added that she “can’t imagine” how it feels for them as their daughter’s case remains unsolved. She said: “Three years of finding out my journey and who I am it feels like ages, so actually I can’t imagine …”
Her lawyer, Tom Price KC, asked Wandelt if she disliked the McCanns. She said: “No, I always defended them, I still even now defend them.”
She said she “never” meant any harm to the family.
Wandelt also told her trial she believed the police were “not interested” in finding Madeleine and that she believed the girl’s parents had been “misled” by officers.
Asked why she had contacted Gerry McCann directly, she said: “Because I think they were misled because if the police treated their daughter’s case the way they treated me, I’m not surprised they didn’t find their daughter, and I think they should know because my case is just an example of how police [are] still abusing cases.
“It is 18 years since Madeleine disappeared … the police are not interested in finding Kate and Gerry’s daughter, that is my opinion.”
Wandelt became emotional when talking about her contact with Madeleine’s sister Amelie McCann and the memories she had of her childhood, adding that she had been through “three years of hell” and still did not know who she was.
Wandelt told the stalking trial she had “tried everything”, including contacting Interpol, the Metropolitan police and missing persons charities, before she went to the McCanns.
She told the court: “I did not want to contact Kate and Gerry and the McCann family until I contacted every single person I can.”
Questioned about hate she had received from members of the public, Wandelt said: “There was a bounty on my head … I don’t know if it was a joke but someone did this … I was getting a lot of hate, people wishing I would die.”
Wandelt told the court that she had limited memories of her childhood and “could only remember abuse” after experiences with her step-grandfather. She told the court she had self-harmed and attempted suicide after she was abused by him.
Wandelt said a sketch of a suspect in the Madeleine case looked “quite similar to the person who abused me” and had the same surname, which she said was a “big factor” in her believing she was the girl.
She told the court she had not known how big Madeleine’s story was before she read about the case, and denied claiming to be Madeleine for attention or money.
Asked about her motivation to claim to be Madeleine, she told the court she “could not be able to heal from my trauma if I never fully know who I am”.
Wandelt said she had spoken to her parents many times about taking a DNA test, partly because they look different to her, which they refused. She told the court she still questions her identity.
Wandelt and her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, 61, of Caerau Court Road in Caerau, Cardiff, both deny one count of stalking between June 2022 and February this year.
Wandelt will continue her evidence on Tuesday.

 

[GrandmaBear]

One expert is unnamed, another they can't find any qualifications for, and things seem photoshopped.

I should mention I am the one who said the twins DNA is different. That is what I found on my first search result. Days later I looked again and the same source said all children are the bio children of both McCanns so clearly it can't be believed.

I am not a fan of the McCanns or their choices but I stand fast in they do not deserve this harassment and the emotional roller coaster it results in.

 

[Tresir]

One expert is unnamed, another they can't find any qualifications for, and things seem photoshopped.

I should mention I am the one who said the twins DNA is different. That is what I found on my first search result. Days later I looked again and the same source said all children are the bio children of both McCanns so clearly it can't be believed.

I am not a fan of the McCanns or their choices but I stand fast in they do not deserve this harassment and the emotional roller coaster it results in.

As I said, i posted it in case any of them will appear as witnesses. We have a bit of prior knowledge then, if they do. I haven't seen any witness lists so we don't know ATM.

 

[Tresir]

This is the whole of today's testimony from Sky news.

Madeleine McCann trial latest: 'I'm not crazy,' alleged stalker told McCanns in message - as she tells court DNA test encouraged her

A 24-year-old woman accused of stalking Madeleine McCann's family is giving evidence at Leicester Crown Court for a second day. The jury has heard she sent a message to the parents saying she's not "crazy" - and she opened up on a DNA test she says encouraged her. Follow the latest below.

news.sky.com

See link for details.




o take over later.

 

[Tresir]

Updating BBC link for today. JW is continuing her testimony.

Woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann back on the stand as stalking trial continues

Julia Wandelt, 24, and Karen Spragg, 61, are charged with stalking Kate and Gerry McCann.

www.bbc.co.uk

Woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann back on the stand as stalking trial continues​

Summary​

• Julia Wandelt is continuing to give evidence at Leicester Crown Court, where she is on trial accused of stalking the family of Madeleine McCann
• The 24-year-old, from Lubin in south-west Poland, has repeatedly claimed she is missing Madeleine, who disappeared in 2007
• The court hears she sent messages to Madeleine's mother, Kate, claiming to have memories of being abducted in Portugal
• She also wrote a letter to Kate, beginning "dear mum", and ending with "lots of love, Madeleine"
• Miss Wandelt travelled to the UK for a vigil for Madeleine in her home village in Leicestershire, the court hears, and spoke to the parish priest
• But Miss Wandelt tells jurors she is "not a liar or attention seeker" - and adds she felt "ashamed" people had given her money
• The defendant also discusses her appearance on the Dr Phil talk show in March 2023, which was organised by an American woman who contacted her
• Miss Wandelt and Karen Spragg, 61, of Caerau, Cardiff, deny stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, causing serious alarm and distress between June 2022 and February 2025

Live Reporting​

Edited by Alex Smith, with reporting from Matt Taylor and Dan Hunt at Leicester Crown Court

1. More details of letter sent to Kate McCann revealed in courtpublished at 11:46
   11:46​

   Mr Russell Flint KC has continued reading out details of the letter from Mrs Spragg to Mrs McCann.
   The message, read to the court, said Julia Wandelt had reached out to various authorities but "no-one wants to help her".
   It added Miss Wandelt had taken a DNA test in Poland, which suggested she was "a close family member" of the McCanns.
   The message, read to the court, continued: "The next step is, we're going to find a scientist who can read this better.
   "This can't be ignored. Julia has the same markings and the same faces as Madeleine. She also has a scar on her cheek which Madeleine also has."
   "I'm talking to you as a mother, please understand how Julia feels. She wants to know if she is or if she isn’t Madeleine," the letter, read to the jury, added.
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2. 'I have become close to Julia'published at 11:35
   11:35​

   Mr Russell Flint KC has also been reading a letter from Mrs Spragg to Kate McCann, mother of missing Madeleine.
   The message from Mrs Spragg to Mrs McCann said: "You do not know me, I want to reach out about Julia Wandelt."
   The letter, read out to the court, continued: "I have become close to Julia since she made a terrible mistake, which was a typing error."
   The court heard Miss Wandelt posted "I am Madeleine McCann" on social media, but according to messages from Mrs Spragg to Mrs McCann, she meant "I believe I am Madeleine".
   Miss Wandelt said she used the words "I am Madeleine McCann" in the name of her account to get the attention of the police.
   "Julia had a lot of hate and death threats made to her. The media has portrayed her as some crazy person," Mrs Spragg said to Mrs McCann in her letter.
   "Julia has seen a psychologist and has spent hours talking to her about her memories."
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3. Mrs Spragg followed co-defendant on social mediapublished at 11:16
   11:16​

   The court heard in late September 2024, Mrs Spragg was following Miss Wandelt on social media.
   Mr Russell Flint KC has read out messages from Mrs Spragg to Miss Wandelt, saying she had seen the DNA comparison between Miss Wandelt and Madeleine McCann on Instagram.
   Messages from Mrs Spragg, the court heard, included: "I believe you are and they know you are, that's why they won't do the DNA test.
   "You are going to expose something big. Someone needs to take you seriously.
   "Keep up the good work."
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4. Karen Spragg's lawyer begins asking Miss Wandelt questionspublished at 11:12
   11:12​

   Simon Russell Flint KC, the lawyer for Mrs Spragg (pictured below), has started to ask questions of Julia Wandelt.
   Leicester Crown Court heard Det Con Mark Draycott made a call to Miss Wandelt, telling her he is from Operation Grange.
   Mr Russell Flint KC said Det Con Draycott told Miss Wandelt: "All I'm going to say is the same as I did in 2022, you are not Madeleine McCann."
   Jurors heard Miss Wandelt asked Det Con Draycott for a copy of the DNA results, to which he said the DNA had not been tested.
   Miss Wandelt, the court heard, asked why, to which Det Con Draycott said: "We can't spend public money on something like that."
   Jurors were told Miss Wandelt questioned why they didn't do the test, given the resources the investigation had, and said she had a lot of supporters who would have happily paid.
   "If it had been done back in 2022, none of us would be here today," Miss Wandelt said.
   
   
   Image source,PA Media
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5. I wanted to take action, defendant sayspublished at 11:02
   11:02​

   Miss Wandelt said she returned to Poland on 9 December 2024, and on 19 February 2025, she returned to the UK.
   Miss Wandelt added she wanted to get a DNA test from a lab accepted by UK authorities, which she said her co-defendant Mrs Spragg booked.
   "I wanted to take real action," Miss Wandelt said.
   Miss Wandelt added she also wanted to take a "short break from all of this", and spend some time with Mrs Spragg.
   The court heard the day after attending the annual vigil for Madeleine McCann, on 3 May 2024, Miss Wandelt went to Charing Cross Police Station in London.
   Miss Wandelt said she explained to them why she could be Madeleine and asked for a DNA test.
   She said she was told that someone from the McCann investigation would be in touch.
   The DNA test was later destroyed, the court heard.
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6. Alleged McCann stalker asked what she wanted when she gave police documentspublished at 10:57
   10:57​

   Mr Price KC asked Miss Wandelt what she hoped would happen with the material she gave to Sgt Harper at the police station in Leicester.
   Miss Wandelt said she hoped by giving documents to Sgt Harper, there would be an investigation into her claims.
   "Everything comes back to Operation Grange [the Met Police investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance]. There is no way to get a proper investigation because Operation Grange had the first say," Miss Wandelt added.
   Mr Price KC asked Miss Wandelt if she thought her claims in Leicester would lead to a separate investigation, to which she said "yes".
   When asked if anything further happened, Miss Wandelt said "no".
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7. DNA expert left in 'uncomfortable situation'published at 10:54
   10:54​

   The court heard correspondence between Miss Wandelt and Dr Monte Miller, read out by Mr Price KC, that discussed the findings of a DNA report Dr Miller compiled.
   Miss Wandelt told the court no money exchanged hands between her and Dr Miller.
   "I wanted some time later to get the full report," Miss Wandelt added.
   The court heard by the time the report was on the internet, Dr Miller found himself in a bit of an "uncomfortable situation" because of the attention on his report.
   Mr Price KC asked Miss Wandelt how many experts she contacted in her DNA research.
   In response, Miss Wandelt said: "I wanted to see anyone who would respond. If none of them responded, I planned to email some others."
   The court heard Dr Miller was the only person to respond.
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8. Defendants went to police station, court hearspublished at 10:37
   10:37​

   The court heard that after the delivery of the letter to the McCanns' address, Miss Wandelt and Mrs Spragg went to Beaumont Leys Police Station.
   Mr Price KC, defending Miss Wandelt, asked why she went to the police station, to which Miss Wandelt said she wanted to pass the [DNA] documents to a police officer.
   Miss Wandelt, the court heard, spoke to a Sgt Harper and then filled in a complaint to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
   Mr Price KC read out the the extracts of the complaint, which included a refusal to conduct a DNA test, failure to respond to a data access request and improper exercise of police power, and that she was threatened with arrest.
   Miss Wandelt said: "I was left feeling targeted."
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9. Recap: What happened yesterday?published at 10:26
   10:26​

   Here is what we heard in court yesterday:
   • Jurors heard Miss Wandelt (pictured below) received personal photographs of the McCanns on holiday from a woman whom she saw is friends on Facebook with Russell O'Brien, who was with the McCanns in Portugal when Madeleine disappeared in 2007
   • Miss Wandelt was asked by her barrister - Tom Price KC - why she contacted Madeleine McCann's sister Amelie. Miss Wandelt said: "I think I just tried everything I could after being pushed away by charities and institutions. I think I was desperate. No-one wanted to help me."
   • The jury heard Fia Johansson, an American woman, contacted Julia Wandelt in February 2023 after Miss Wandelt went public with her story that she believed she was missing Madeleine Ms Johansson told Miss Wandelt she was "in danger" in Poland
   • The court heard Miss Wandelt contacted Kate McCann - mother of missing Madeleine McCann - for a "couple of reasons"
   • The defendant discussed her appearance on the Dr Phil talk show in March 2023, which was organised by Fia Johansson
   • Miss Wandelt said she told Kate McCann that police officers involved in the search for missing Madeleine did not want to take any statements from her, because she feared it meant they were not taking possible leads seriously
   • Jurors heard Miss Wandlet talk about her friendship with co-defendant Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff. Mr Price KC asked her what the nature of the contact was at first, to which Miss Wandelt said: "She was a supporter of mine and I always engaged with supporters."
   • The court heard she travelled to the UK for a vigil for Madeleine in her home village in Leicestershire, and spoke to the parish priest
   • In December 2024, the court heard Miss Wandelt returned to the UK with a DNA report from Dr Monte Miller, a US DNA expert. Miss Wandelt said she and co-defendant Karen Spragg went to the address of the McCanns with screenshots of the response from Dr Miller and screenshots of the DNA profiles
   • The court heard Julia Wandelt, in a voicemail to Kate McCann, said: "I just want to tell you what I remember, you can decide if you want to do a DNA test."
   • Miss Wandelt told jurors she did not intend to cause any upset to Kate McCann, and thought she could provide assistance to her
   • The court heard Miss Wandelt recall the moment she met Kate McCann. Miss Wandelt said she asked for "two minutes" from Mrs McCann, but she said "no" and told Miss Wandelt she would call the police
   • The court heard Miss Wandelt sent a letter to Kate McCann after the face-to-face encounter on 7 December 2024, which started with "dear mum", and ended with "lots of love, Madeleine". When asked by Mr Price KC why she phrased it like that, Miss Wandelt said: "The reality is I believed that she is my mother."
   
   Image source,Julia Wandelt
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10. Trial of women accused of stalking McCann family continuespublished at 10:12
    10:12​

    Good morning from Leicester Crown Court.
    We are continuing to report from the trial of Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg, who are both accused of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of missing Madeleine McCann.
    Miss Wandelt, 24, is back on the stand.