The trial involving two women charged with stalking Madeleine McCann’s family has resumed, focusing on DNA sample collection in the search for the missing three-year-old.
Leicester Crown Court has heard testimony from Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, as well as their younger siblings, family friends, the local vicar, and the lead detectives on the missing person case, detailing the impact of the alleged actions of Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg on the family.
Wandelt, a 24-year-old Polish national from Lubin, is accused of claiming to be Madeleine and contacting the family. Alongside Spragg, a 61-year-old from Cardiff, they reportedly visited the family’s residence. The trial is ongoing.
Wandelt allegedly sent emails to the Find Madeleine website asserting her identity as Madeleine, which were then forwarded to Operation Grange, the Metropolitan Police’s investigation unit handling the case.
During the trial, it was revealed that Wandelt’s DNA profile did not match Madeleine’s, with forensic scientist Rosalyn Hammond testifying that there is no genetic correlation between the two individuals. Despite claiming a nearly 70% DNA match with a sample from where Madeleine disappeared, the evidence strongly suggests Wandelt is not biologically related to the missing child.
Stacy Gorman, a key figure in the campaign to find Madeleine from Washington DC, expressed concerns in court about the impact of Wandelt’s claims on the search efforts. Gorman highlighted the potential ramifications of people believing Wandelt’s assertions, leading to a halt in the search for Madeleine due to misinformation.
The court also heard about Wandelt’s persistent email correspondence with the campaign over several years, with requests for a DNA test and claims of being related to the McCann family. Despite these assertions, the evidence presented refutes any biological connection between Wandelt and the McCanns.
The trial is ongoing, with further testimonies and evidence to be presented in the coming sessions.