Madeleine McCann's sister Amelie says alleged stalking left family 'stressed and on edge'

Summary

A trial of two women accused of stalking the family of Madeleine McCann, who went missing in 2007, is continuing at Leicester Crown Court
Julia Wandelt, 24, from Lubin in south-west Poland, and Karen Spragg, 61, of Caerau, Cardiff, both deny a charge of stalking Gerry and Kate McCann
Linda McQueen and daughter Ellie McQueen - family friends of the McCanns - have been giving evidence to the trial on Thursday
Madeleine's sister Amelie also spoke at the stalking trial via video-link
She told the court her mother was hit the hardest by the case, and that the harassment took a "toll on her and her wellbeing"
Ms McCann told the court she did not need to do a DNA test Ms Wandelt had demanded to prove the defendant was Madeleine
Earlier, Madeleine's brother Sean said in a statement that Ms Wandelt's claims she was his sister were "upsetting and disrespectful"

Live Reporting

Edited by Alex Smith and Heather Burman, with reporting from George Torr and Isaac Ashe at Leicester Crown Court

Recap: Kate and Gerry McCann give evidence in courtpublished at 10:06 BST
George Torr
BBC News, East Midlands

Yesterday Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann both gave evidence from the witness in Leicester Crown Court behind a blue privacy curtain.
Here's what we heard:
- Mrs McCann said the first contact with defendant Julia Wandelt occurred "about three years ago"
- A voicemail from Ms Wandelt to Mrs McCann was played to the court
- Mrs McCann said Ms Wandelt contacting her daughter Amelie was "the final straw", prompting her to call the police
- The court heard of Mrs McCann's relief that she was not in Rothley when Ms Wandelt turned up at a vigil marking Madeleine's disappearance on 3 May 2024
- "You're not Madeleine, stop calling", Mr McCann told the defendant
- "Kate was very distressed" when the defendants appeared at house, Mr McCann said
- Mr McCann said he saw Ms Wandelt on a US TV show
- He added the defendants turning up at his house "brought back horrible memories"
- Mr McCann said there were "three reasons for no DNA test"
- Karen Spragg "spoke of cover-ups and conspiracy theories", the court heard
Image source, PA Media
The defendants have arrivedpublished at 10:01 BST

Ms Wandelt and Mrs Spragg have entered the courtroom.
They are sitting one chair apart today.
Welcome to our live updatespublished at 10:00 BST
Alex Smith
BBC News Online

Good morning and welcome back to our live coverage of the trial of Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg, who are each charged with stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of missing Madeleine McCann.
Ms Wandelt, 24, and Mrs Spragg, 61, are each charged with stalking causing serious alarm and distress to the pair between June 2022 and February this year.
The prosecution opened its case against Ms Wandelt, of Jana Kochanowskiego in Lubin, Poland, and Mrs Spragg, of Caerau Court Road, Cardiff, on Monday.