🔗 Share this article

Maddie McCann twin siblings, Sean and Amelie, have testified in court that their encounters with an alleged stalker were extremely disturbing and unsettling. The siblings explained feeling stressed and scared by a woman who claimed she was their long-lost sister.

Relentless Contact Described as Frightening

Appearing via video link, Amelie described how the defendant, the 24-year-old, reached out to her repeatedly through online platforms and letters. Amelie explained the persistence was quite scary since you don’t know what she’ll do next.

Messages from the defendant were presented in the trial, in which she described memories of living in the McCann household that she claimed were recalled during hypnotherapy. She testified, It's very upsetting that she’s coming up with these alleged memories, despite the fact she’s not Maddie.

Altered Pictures Increased Distress

The court heard that the accused had created images of herself and Amelie as young girls, which the prosecution said were made with ChatGPT. A number of these photos were transmitted through online channels, while others were printed and included in a letter to her.

Amelie stated, It was unpleasant, it made me feel very uncomfortable. She had clearly altered the images to make me look more like her, which was very disturbing. I was aware I didn’t look like that, I understood it had been manipulated.

Emotional Toll on the Family

Amelie also spoke about the impact of the alleged harassment on her mother, their mother, who testified about being confronted at her residence by the defendant and her alleged accomplice, a 61-year-old woman.

I think my mother found it the most difficult. My mother was targeted by Julia to a greater extent than the rest of us and I think it definitely had a negative effect on her and her wellbeing, she testified. It’s upsetting when a person is begging you to accept their claims and manipulating your feelings, to the point you are questioning yourself.

Sibling's Testimony on Anxiety and Online Scrutiny

In a witness statement presented to the court, her brother stated that for him, he had not been severely affected by the defendant's accused harassment. However he had been upset that she was attracting online attention, with people posting hurtful and unjust comments about his mother and father.

If Wandelt was not mentally ill and was fully aware she is not Maddie, yet continues to assert she is, that will be very upsetting for me, he said. I do not believe she is my sibling. The reality that the defendant is engaging in this behavior has caused me a significant amount of anxiety and I find it profoundly disturbing.

The defendant and her co-defendant deny harassing the family family. Proceedings continue.