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Maddie McCann twin siblings, Amelie and Sean, have told the court that their encounters with an alleged harasser were deeply upsetting and unsettling. The siblings described feeling stressed and scared by a woman who insisted she was their long-lost sister.

Relentless Contact Detailed as Frightening

Appearing remotely, she stated how the defendant, Julia Wandelt, reached out to her repeatedly through social media and letters. She said the persistence was quite scary because it's impossible to predict what she’ll do next.

Communications from Wandelt were read in court, in which she described recollections of being in the family home that she said were recovered during hypnotherapy. Amelie testified, It's very disturbing that she's inventing these alleged recollections, even though she isn't Maddie.

Altered Pictures Increased Unease

The court learned that Wandelt had produced pictures of Amelie and herself as children, which the prosecution alleged were made with ChatGPT. Some of these images were transmitted through social media, while additional ones were produced physically and included in a letter to her.

Amelie stated, I didn’t like it, it caused me to feel very uncomfortable. It was evident she altered the pictures to make me look more like her, which was quite distressing. I knew I didn’t look like that, I knew it had been changed.

Psychological Impact on the Family

She also discussed the effect of the alleged stalking on her mother, their mother, who gave evidence about being approached at her residence by Wandelt and her alleged accomplice, a 61-year-old woman.

I think my mother found it the most difficult. She was targeted by the defendant more than the rest of us and I think it certainly took its toll on her and her wellbeing, Amelie testified. It's distressing when someone’s pleading with you to believe them and manipulating your feelings, to the point you are doubting your own judgment.

Sibling's Statement on Stress and Digital Scrutiny

In a witness statement presented to the court, Sean McCann said that for him, he had not been too badly affected by the defendant's accused harassment. However he had been upset that she was attracting online attention, with people posting nasty and unfair comments about his mother and father.

If she was not suffering from a psychological condition and was completely conscious she is not Maddie, yet continues to assert she is, that would be very distressing for me, he said. I am convinced she is my sister. The fact that the defendant is engaging in this behavior has resulted in a significant amount of anxiety and I consider it deeply troubling.

Wandelt and Spragg have pleaded not guilty to stalking the family household. Proceedings continue.