Alleged stalker urged Maddie parents 'not to think daughter is dead' – court

THE alleged stalker of Madeleine McCann's parents repeatedly begged them for a DNA test, and urged them to think that the missing girl was not dead, in a series of voicemails heard by a jury.

- SOPHIE ROBINSON

A court artist sketch of Julia Wandelt. Left, Karen Spragg outside court

Leicester Crown Court heard recordings of Julia Wandelt, 24, from Lubin in southwest Poland, audibly upset, as she left voice messages to Kate McCann last year over a period of months, at one point asking: “What if I'm her?”

Her co-defendant Karen Spragg, 61, started crying yesterday and had to leave the dock when recordings of the voicemails left by Wandelt to Mrs McCann were played to the court.

Wandelt, whose head was down while jurors listened to the recordings, was heard saying: “I know you probably think Madeleine’s dead. Well she is not. I really believe I’m her.

“Help me. Don't think Madeleine is dead. This is a chance. Please, I beg you. The police don’t want to help me, they don't want to help Madeleine. It’s all corrupt. I promise you that I will prove who I am because I know you love Madeleine”

In another message, she said: “You probably believe Madeleine is not alive any more. What if I’m her? What if there’s a small chance that I’m her?”

In another message to Mrs McCann, the court heard Wandelt claimed to have a nearly 70% DNA match with a sample taken from where Madeleine disappeared in Praia da Luz.