Title: Court Case Commences for Woman Accused of Stalking McCann Family
Article Text:
Julia Wandel, who asserted her identity to be that of the missing child Madeleine McCann, has been brought before the court facing four separate charges of stalking Madeleine's family. Known alternatively as Julia Wandelt, she was taken into custody at Bristol Airport on Wednesday under the suspicion of causing severe distress and fear through stalking.
Originally from Poland, Wandel was remanded in custody post her appearance at the Leicester Magistrates' Court on Friday. She is expected to present her plea at the city's crown court on April 7. According to court records, the 23-year-old is accused of delivering messages, leaving voice mails, and making unannounced visits to the family residence between January 3, 2024, and February 15, 2025.
The court documents further state that Wandel is accused of visiting the McCanns' home in Leicestershire on two separate occasions - May 2 and December 7 - and sending WhatsApp messages to Kate and Gerry McCann, in addition to Instagram messages to Madeleine's siblings. It is reported that these actions significantly interfered with the family's routine activities and were distressing for them.
The unsolved case of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal in 2007, when she was just three years old, is one of the most publicized missing child cases in history.
A 60-year-old woman from Wales, who was also taken into custody with Wandel on the same suspicion, has been released on bail, according to the Leicestershire Police.
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