DNA samples taken from Julia Wandelt conclusively prove the 24-year-old Polish woman is not missing Madeleine McCann, Leicester Crown Court heard. The DNA was tested after Wandelt was arrested at Bristol Airport in February following allegations she stalked the McCann family.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell from Operation Grange, the ongoing Metropolitan Police investigation into Madeleine's 2007 disappearance from Portugal, told the jury that 12 people have previously claimed to be the missing girl. However, their DNA samples were not taken because it could "set a precedent".
Policy Exception Decision
Cranwell explained his usual policy on Tuesday: "We would not take DNA unless we believed that person was Madeleine because I did not want to set a precedent. If it became known in the media I had taken DNA off an individual quite likely not to be Madeleine, I was concerned I would have had a lot of people coming forward saying 'I'm Madeleine'."
The detective said he had genuine concerns about approaching the McCann family regarding DNA testing. "I genuinely have major concerns about approaching the (McCann) family to say I intend to take DNA from an individual - that could have raised their hopes. It could have been quite emotionally damaging and difficult for the family," he told the court.
Cranwell's own assessment was that Wandelt, from Lubin in south-west Poland, was not Madeleine because her eye pigment was in a different place, she had different coloured irises and was two years older than the missing girl. Despite this, he made the exceptional decision to take her DNA "in hope she may stop her behaviour towards the McCann family".
Test Results Revealed
He told the court: "It weighed heavily on my mind because this was against policy." The detective was aware Leicestershire Police were likely to arrest Wandelt and made the decision that DNA would be taken upon arrest.
In April, Cranwell visited Wandelt in custody and told her the DNA comparison results. "A comparison took place. It conclusively proved that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann," he said. During the visit, he told Wandelt: "You are not Madeleine McCann."
When Wandelt asked: "Do you really want to find Madeleine?", Cranwell replied: "Yes." He added: "There's a possibility she will never accept she's not Madeleine even when provided with scientific proof."
McCann Family Response
The court heard that after Wandelt's initial claims, Operation Grange asked the McCann parents to look at photographs of her. Gerry McCann responded by email saying he was "confident it's not Madeleine although some similarities", while Kate McCann replied: "Agreed."
Cranwell said he had concerns that DNA testing would add to the "media frenzy" and the "spotlight on the McCann family". Prosecutors allege Wandelt stalked Kate and Gerry McCann between June 2022 and February this year by sending emails, making phone calls and turning up at their home address.
Ongoing Trial
She allegedly peddled the myth that she was Madeleine during this period. Wandelt and her co-defendant Karen Spragg, aged 61 from Cardiff, both deny one count of stalking.
The trial continues on Wednesday.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
