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Madeleine McCann's brother and sister, Amelie and Sean, have told the court that their interactions with an alleged harasser were extremely upsetting and unsettling. The siblings explained feeling stressed and scared by a woman who claimed she was their long-lost sister.

Relentless Contact Described as Frightening

Appearing via video link, Amelie stated how the defendant, Julia Wandelt, contacted her repeatedly through online platforms and letters. Amelie explained the relentlessness was quite scary since it's impossible to predict what she’ll do next.

Communications from Wandelt were read in the trial, in which she described recollections of being in the family home that she said were recalled during hypnotherapy. Amelie testified, It's very upsetting that she’s coming up with these alleged recollections, despite the fact she isn't Maddie.

Altered Pictures Heightened Unease

The court heard that the accused had produced images of Amelie and herself as children, which the prosecution alleged were generated with ChatGPT. A number of these images were sent through online channels, while additional ones were printed and included in a letter to Amelie.

She stated, It was unpleasant, it made me feel very uncomfortable. It was evident she altered the images to make me look more like her, which was very distressing. I knew I didn't resemble that, I understood it had been manipulated.

Emotional Toll on the Household

Amelie also discussed the impact of the alleged harassment on her parent, Kate, who testified about being approached at her residence by the defendant and her co-defendant, a 61-year-old woman.

In my opinion my mother experienced it as the hardest. My mother was harassed by Julia more than the rest of us and I believe it definitely had a negative effect on her and her wellbeing, Amelie said. It’s upsetting when someone’s begging you to accept their claims and manipulating your emotions, to the point you are doubting your own judgment.

Sibling's Testimony on Stress and Online Scrutiny

In a witness statement read to the trial, Sean McCann said that for him, he had not been severely affected by the defendant's accused stalking. However he had been upset that she was attracting social media scrutiny, with people posting hurtful and unjust comments about his parents.

If she was not suffering from a psychological condition and was completely conscious she is not Madeleine, yet continues to assert she is, that will be very distressing for me, he said. I am convinced she is my sister. The reality that Julia is engaging in this behavior has caused me a great deal of stress and I consider it profoundly troubling.

Wandelt and her co-defendant have pleaded not guilty to harassing the family household. Proceedings continue.