Story perspectives

Trial Begins for Woman Accused of Stalking McCann Parents

10/14/2025

Summary

Story summary

Julia Wandelt, 24, is on trial for stalking Madeleine McCann's parents at Leicester Crown Court.
Prosecutors say Wandelt sent more than 60 messages in a single day.
She left emotional voicemails claiming to remember the abduction and insisting she was not dead.
Co-defendant Karen Spragg, 61, also faces charges.
Both women deny the allegations.

History

Historical Context

Madeleine McCann, a three-year-old British girl, disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007. The case became a global phenomenon, with over 8 million euros spent on investigations. Despite extensive media coverage and multiple inquiries, including Operation Grange initiated by the Metropolitan Police in 2011, her whereabouts remain unknown, highlighting the enduring impact of high-profile abductions on families and society.

1 of 2

Story summary

Julia Wandelt, 24, is on trial for stalking Madeleine McCann's parents at Leicester Crown Court.
Prosecutors say Wandelt sent more than 60 messages in a single day.
She left emotional voicemails claiming to remember the abduction and insisting she was not dead.
Co-defendant Karen Spragg, 61, also faces charges.
Both women deny the allegations.

1 / 2