Julia Wandelt has finished giving evidence at Leicester Crown Court, where she is on trial accused of stalking the family of Madeleine McCann
The 24-year-old, from Lubin in south-west Poland, has repeatedly claimed she is missing Madeleine, who disappeared in 2007
The defendant burst into tears when told there is "no scientific evidence" linking her to the McCanns at all, saying she is "exhausted" and adding "I don't care any more"
Co-defendant Karen Spragg, 61, from 61, of Caerau, Cardiff, will not give evidence
Miss Wandelt denies altering images sent to Madeleine's sister, Amelie, to try to make her look more like the missing child
Earlier, the Polish national became upset and asked why she is standing in court. She said she "did not do anything wrong"
The pair deny stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, causing serious alarm and distress between June 2022 and February 2025
Operation Grange is the name given to the Metropolitan Police investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
It was launched in 2011 and, as of June this year, had cost about £13.3m.
The Met said it continued to work with and support colleagues from law enforcement in Portugal and Germany, with the operation funded by the Home Office.
Continuing his cross-examination, Mr Duck KC said it was "very dangerous" to rely on information from the internet, referring to Miss Wandelt's use of ChatGPT in her research.
Miss Wandelt, in response, told the court she had "no other choice" as she said the police would not help her.
Mr Duck KC asked Miss Wandelt about her appearance on TV in the US and the evidence for the claim she made about being missing Madeleine.
She said she did not have "a lot of" evidence.
Mr Duck said Miss Wandelt's appearance on Dr Phil generated "enormous interest" and kept her public profile "very high".
In response, Miss Wandelt said: "You make it look like I was there for attention or fun. It was not that.
"I was fooled by Fia [Johansson] who said I would get a DNA test with Kate and Gerry."
Miss Wandelt added Fia Johansson "controlled everything" and said: "I couldn't even get out of her house if I wanted."
A police officer from Operation Grange - the Metropolitan Police investigation into Madeleine's disappearance - rang Miss Wandelt on 29 June 2022 to assure her she was not the missing child, the court heard.
Miss Wandelt did not recall this, but the jury was told the officer said he had explained police had gone over her material and used their expertise to confirm she was not Madeleine.
The defendant confirmed she had sent photographs of her in an email the day before.
Jurors heard that according to an officer, Miss Wandelt said she was "very grateful" for the call and was relieved she was not Madeleine McCann.
Miss Wandelt said she remembered the call, adding she did not say those words to the officer.
"I was not told that I'm not Madeleine," Miss Wandelt said.
Mr Duck KC told the court there was "not much activity" before June 2022, which Miss Wandelt disputed and said "there was" and added she did not get access to "my evidence".
The prosecutor continued and asked Miss Wandelt what her evidence was to support her contention she was Madeleine McCann.
She said: "Not a lot at that time."
In response, Mr Duck KC said: "That’s something of an understatement."
Miss Wandelt told the prosecutor: "That's why I asked for help."
Miss Wandelt contacted the Find Madeleine campaign on 22 June 2022, the court has heard, two days before calling the hospital and asking to speak to Mr McCann.
Mr Duck KC said there was "not much" evidence of Miss Wandelt making inquiries before attempting to speak to the McCanns.
In response, Miss Wandelt said she made "hundreds of attempts" to contact the police.
Mr Duck KC asked Miss Wandelt if she noticed any dissimilarities between her and Amelie McCann.
The defendant told the court it "depends" on what photos you look at.
"There are photos of me which look like Madeleine," she added.
"Not to my surprise, they were not shown in this courtroom."
In response, Mr Duck KC told Miss Wandelt to "feel free" to show them to the court.
The cross-examination has moved on to discuss a phone call Miss Wandelt made to a hospital switchboard in June 2022.
Jurors heard she said she was Madeleine McCann and asked to speak to Glenfield Hospital, where the McCanns worked.
Miss Wandelt said she could not fully recall saying "I think I'm Madeleine", but told the court she contacted the hospital as others did not want to help her.
The court has been told of an official complaint Miss Wandelt made to Leicestershire Police.
In it, she said she believed the McCanns were involved in the kidnap of their own daughter.
Miss Wandelt told the court she regretted writing the allegation.
Asked if she accepts her DNA bears no resemblance to Madeleine's, Miss Wandelt said: "Yes, I understand it."
In response, Mr Duck KC said: "Isn't that the end of this charade? Your story, your fabrication?"
Miss Wandelt said: "It's not fabrication."
Mr Duck KC has told Miss Wandelt her "DNA would match" Madeleine's if they were the same person.
"Your profile bears no relation to Madeleine's," he added.
In response, Miss Wandelt said: "If parents are related, there can be more mismatches."
Mr Duck KC asked the defendant if she was suggesting Mr and Mrs McCann were related.
She replied: "Yes."
Mr Duck KC has read out an email, signed by co-accused Mrs Spragg, to Operation Grange.
The email touched on the issue of DNA.
Reading it out in court, Mr Duck KC said: "If you believe Julia is not Madeleine, then why not do a DNA?
"It’s a reasonable question to ask. You must know she is Madeleine and don't want her found."
Mr Duck KC then asked Miss Wandelt if she shared the same view as her co-defendant.
She replied: "Yes."
Another message from Mrs Spragg, read to the jury, said: "Everyone knows the McCanns are guilty."
Speaking to the court, Miss Wandelt said: "I do not believe this is their guilt.
"I believe they had no other choice. They are not guilty in my point of view. In Karen's point of view, they're guilty."
The jury has heard there were "many times" Miss Wandelt said "I am Madeleine McCann" directly to Mrs McCann.
Miss Wandelt said that was because of memories she had, but also to get the attention of the police.
An extract of a message from Miss Wandelt to Mrs McCann, read to the court, said: "I remember how you hugged me.
"The pink teddy bear. I remember you came into the room before the abduction happened and you were rubbing my head saying you love me and you will find me."
Mr Duck KC asked if it was a "genuine memory", to which Miss Wandelt replied "yes".
He continued: "Are you asserting to this jury that Kate McCann knew of this abduction and told you she would find you?"
In response, Miss Wandelt said: "Yes."
Mr Duck KC continues his questions and asks Miss Wandelt whether there were occasions where she said she was Madeleine.
In response, MIss Wandelt agreed and said "I believed I was".
The court heard Fia Johansson, an American woman, paid for Miss Wandelt's travel and accommodation in Hamburg and then Los Angeles.
Jurors heard Miss Johansson arranged things for Miss Wandelt, including the appearance on Dr Phil's TV show.
Miss Wandelt said: "I didn't want to go there. I wanted a DNA test.
"She fooled me."
Miss Wandelt told the court that Miss Johansson said there would be a DNA test with the McCanns', which changed to ancestry tests when they arrived in the US.
Jurors heard Miss Wandelt was told by Miss Johansson that the result of the ancestry result was that she was 100% Polish.
Mr Duck KC has now begun asking Miss Wandelt about her correspondence towards Amelie McCann on 28 April 2024.
The court heard she also tried to contact her in January, but Miss McCann did not respond.
"I don't know where I should look for help," Miss Wandelt added.
The court has resumed following a break, with Mr Duck KC continuing his cross-examination of Miss Wandelt.
He asked if she has had opportunity to reflect on her comments on whether she is Madeleine McCann.
Miss Wandelt said: "I've spent lunchtime crying."
Here is a round-up of what we heard in court this morning:
Image source, Julia WandeltMr Duck KC asked Miss Wandelt: "As we stand here, do you still entertain the belief that you may be Madeleine McCann?"
She responded: "It's neither yes or no. It's very easy to provide me with documentation. If I am not her and if it's really negative, I would like to see the documentation.
"Now, I would say I'm 50-50."
The prosecution repeated the question, asking for a yes or no answer.
Miss Wandelt said: "It would be neither yes or no. I'm in between."
When Mr Duck KC asked what would satisfy her, Miss Wandelt said: "An investigation into my disappearance into what happened to me."
Miss Wandelt has told the court she has concerns for her safety, especially after someone in prison allegedly "slipped something" in her drink days before her trial.
The 24-year-old said "someone should finally investigate my claims properly", because even if she is acquitted of the stalking charge, she said she would still not know her identity.
Jurors heard a friend - whose wife was a victim in the Post Office scandal, offered to pay for her DNA test because she is also a "victim of a miscarriage of justice".
When answering questions from Mrs Spragg's barrister, Simon Russell Flint KC, Miss Wandelt said: "Even in prison, a few days before my trial, someone slipped something in my drink and the officers didn't want to help.
"I have been concerned about my safety since I told my story."
The defendant tearfully told the jury she agreed she was "vulnerable", adding she had been "fooled, duped and conned" by an American woman called Fia Johansson, who offered to help her with her claims she was Madeleine McCann.