A Polish woman who gained international attention after claiming to be missing British child Madeleine McCann has appeared in court facing stalking allegations.
Julia Wendell, 22, is accused of persistently targeting a police officer with unwanted communications in a case that has drawn significant media interest given her previous high-profile claims about her identity.
Courtroom Questioning
During proceedings at a district court in Poland, the presiding judge directly questioned Wendell about whether she maintains her belief that she is Madeleine McCann, who disappeared from a Portuguese holiday apartment in 2007.
The defendant's response to this line of questioning remains undisclosed at this stage of the legal process.
Background of the Case
Wendell rose to prominence last year when she publicly declared she believed herself to be the missing British child, presenting various pieces of evidence to support her claim.
Her assertions were met with widespread scepticism from both investigators and the McCann family, with forensic testing ultimately disproving her connection to the missing person case.
Current Legal Proceedings
The present case centres on allegations that Wendell engaged in stalking behaviour towards a police officer. The court heard details of the alleged pattern of unwanted contact that forms the basis of the prosecution's case.
Legal representatives for both sides presented their arguments as the hearing progressed, with the court considering the evidence before it.
Ongoing Investigation
While this separate legal matter unfolds, authorities continue their long-standing investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who would now be 21 years old.
The Metropolitan Police maintain an active investigation into the case, though recent years have seen limited breakthroughs in establishing what happened to the missing child.
