In a dramatic courtroom revelation that has sent shockwaves through the long-running Madeleine McCann investigation, a 70-year-old woman accused of stalking Kate McCann made the extraordinary claim that her DNA matches the missing girl.
The astonishing assertion emerged during proceedings at Leicester Crown Court, where the Polish national faces charges of persistently contacting the McCann family with unwanted communications.
'You Can't Dispute Facts'
The court heard how the defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sent multiple messages to Kate McCann containing what prosecutors described as "bizarre and distressing" content.
In one particularly shocking message played to the jury, the woman declared: "I'm 70 and my DNA matches missing Maddie. You can't dispute facts."
Years of Unwanted Contact
The prosecution outlined a pattern of behaviour spanning several years, during which the accused allegedly bombarded the McCann family with communications through various channels.
- Multiple messages sent to Kate McCann personally
- Claims of DNA connection to the missing child
- Persistent contact despite requests to stop
- Communications described as "distressing and obsessive"
Madeleine's Disappearance
The case revives painful memories of one of Britain's most high-profile missing person investigations. Madeleine McCann vanished from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007, when she was just three years old.
Despite numerous leads and an extensive international search operation spanning nearly two decades, her disappearance remains unsolved.
Legal Proceedings Continue
The stalking case continues at Leicester Crown Court, with the defendant maintaining her position regarding the DNA claims. The court must now determine whether her communications crossed the line from eccentric belief to criminal harassment.
Legal experts suggest the case highlights the challenging intersection between free speech, mental health concerns, and the protection of grieving families from unwanted attention.
The Metropolitan Police's Operation Grange, the ongoing investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, continues its work separately from this court case.
