On the night of May 3, 2007, during a vacation in Praia da Luz, Portugal, Kate and Gerry McCann enjoyed dinner with friends at the tapas restaurant of the Ocean Club resort.
While conversing at the open-air eatery, the group of nine adults took turns checking on their children sleeping in hotel rooms nearby. When Kate went to see their three children – twins Sean and Amelie, and three-year-old Madeleine, she discovered Madeleine missing with an open window.
Following Madeleine’s disappearance, the case gained widespread attention, akin to the public frenzy surrounding Princess Diana’s death. However, for Kate and Gerry’s friends, known as The Tapas Seven, the reality differed significantly from the media’s portrayal.
Several members of the group are now entangled in a distressing development in the unsolved case, as the trial of Julia Wandelt, an alleged imposter of Madeleine, unfolds. Wandelt and Karen Spragg face accusations of stalking the McCann family, with unsettling details emerging during the trial at Leicester Crown Court.
Wandelt is alleged to have harassed the McCanns through various means, including incessant calls, messages, and attempts to prevent Kate from entering her home. The accused deny the charges against them.
The Tapas Seven, as they were dubbed, have been under scrutiny for their roles in the events surrounding Madeleine’s disappearance. Each member has faced unique challenges and allegations related to the case, further complicating an already perplexing situation.