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Maddie McCann brother and sister, Sean and Amelie, have told the court that their interactions with an alleged stalker were deeply upsetting and unsettling. The siblings described feeling stressed and scared by a woman who claimed she was their missing sister.

Relentless Communication Described as Frightening

Testifying via video link, she stated how the accused, the 24-year-old, reached out to her repeatedly through online platforms and written correspondence. Amelie explained the relentlessness was very scary since you don’t know what her next move might be.

Communications from Wandelt were presented in court, in which she described recollections of being in the family home that she claimed were recalled under hypnosis. Amelie told the court, It’s quite disturbing that she’s coming up with these alleged memories, despite the fact she’s not Maddie.

Fabricated Pictures Increased Distress

The court heard that Wandelt had produced pictures of Amelie and herself as children, which the prosecution alleged were made with AI tools. Some of these images were sent through social media, while additional ones were printed and enclosed in a letter to her.

She stated, I didn’t like it, it made me feel very uneasy. It was evident she edited the images to make me look more like her, which was very distressing. I knew I didn’t look like that, I knew it had been manipulated.

Psychological Impact on the Household

Amelie also discussed the effect of the supposed stalking on her mother, Kate, who testified about being approached at her residence by the defendant and her co-defendant, a 61-year-old woman.

I think my mum found it the most difficult. My mother was targeted by Julia more than the others in the family and I think it certainly took its toll on her and her wellbeing, she said. It’s upsetting when a person is begging you to accept their claims and manipulating your emotions, to the extent you are doubting your own judgment.

Sibling's Testimony on Anxiety and Digital Scrutiny

In a testimony read to the court, her brother stated that for him, he had not been too badly affected by Wandelt's accused harassment. But he had been distressed that she was drawing social media scrutiny, with people posting nasty and unfair things about his mother and father.

If Wandelt was not suffering from a psychological condition and was fully aware she is not Madeleine, yet makes these claims, that would be very distressing for me, he testified. 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 stress and I find it profoundly troubling.

The defendant and Spragg deny stalking the McCann household. The trial are ongoing.