A court heard Kate McCann share the incident that prompted her to contact the police regarding two women accused of harassing her family over her missing daughter Madeleine. Shielded from the defendants, Kate detailed how Julia Wandelt, 24, and Karen Spragg, 61, approached her at home and sent numerous letters and messages. Kate highlighted the pivotal moment when Wandelt allegedly reached out to her daughter, causing her to take action.
During the trial, Kate recounted her initial encounter with Wandelt three years ago when she contacted the hospital switchboard where Kate and Gerry, her husband, work. Kate accused Wandelt of bombarding them with letters, calls, voicemails, and WhatsApp messages. However, it was the revelation that Wandelt tried to contact her daughter that pushed Kate to involve the authorities, especially after her daughter Amelie disclosed such attempts.
Gerry emotionally described to the court the distress caused by the alleged stalking on their family, particularly the messages sent to Amelie. As parents, they strive to shield their children from the negative impact of social media and the online world. Kate clarified that she chose not to engage with Wandelt’s messages, emphasizing her desire to protect her children.
The court learned that Wandelt relentlessly called and messaged Kate, even claiming to be Madeleine in a voicemail. The prosecutor revealed that on a single day last year, Wandelt attempted to contact Kate over 60 times. The trial includes Wandelt and Spragg, with the latter facing accusations of stalking for causing distress through phone calls, letters, and visits to the McCann family residence. The legal proceedings are ongoing.