There are certain cases that get covered in the media that grab your attention, whether it's missing children, murdered people, or even robberies and attacks. When Milly Dowler went missing in 2002 I remember the media coverage. At 21 I was concerned for the girl and hoped she would be found alive and well. I am sorry to say that didn't happen, and it wasn't until 2011 that Levi Bellfield was convicted of her murder.
About Levi Bellfield
In February of 2008 Levi Bellfield was found guilty of the murders of Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange, and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
On 30th March 2011 Levi Bellfield was charged with Milly Dowler's abduction and murder. The trial began on 10th May 2011 and he was found guilty on 23rd June 2011. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with the judge recommendation that he should never be released.
After Bellfield's conviction Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton of Metropolitan Police, who led the murder hunt, said:
"Bellfield has a massive ego to feed, he thinks he's God's gift to everyone. He drives around in his car, feels a bit 'whatever' and sees some young blonde girl. The young blonde girl says 'go away' and he thinks 'you dare to turn down Levi Bellfield, you're worth nothing' and then she gets a whack over the head. It is shown in the case of Kate Sheedy. She was smart enough to think she didn't like the look of his car and crosses the road. He thinks 'you think you're so clever' and whoosh, he runs over her."
Levi Bellfield was named as a suspect in connection with numerous unsolved murders and attacks on women dating back 1990 as well as the murder of his childhood girlfriend, 14 year old Patsy Morris in 1980. An investigation could not find enough evidence to link him to "any case for which he had not already been convicted".
Levi Bellfield's victims
Amanda Jane "Milly" Dowler
On 21 March 2002 Milly Dowler was reported missing after failing to return home from school and not being seen since walking along Station Avenue in Walton on Thames that afternoon.
At 3:07pm Milly left school and walked to the railway station with a friend. They got off one stop before Milly's usual stop of Hersham and went to eat at a cafe. She called her father at 3:47pm to say she'd be home in 30 minutes and they left the cafe and Milly walked home alone. Milly Dowler was last seen alive at 4:07pm walking along Station Avenue by a friend of her sister, who was waiting at a bus stop. A CCTV camera further along the road showed no images of Milly. A red Daewoo Nexia, which belonged to Emma Mills - Levi Bellfield's girlfriend, was photographed driving past by the same camera at 4:32pm.
Milly was reported missing at 7pm. There followed a nationwide search including 100 police officers and helicopters searching fields, streets and rivers. Crimewatch UK included a direct appeal in the hope she'd run away, her mother expressed hope her daughter had run away, but said she couldn't think of a reason why she would want to do so.
In June 2002, despite further searches, the offer of a £100,000 reward by a national tabloid newspaper The Sun, and her parents continued to send text messages to her phone hoping they would get a reply, but Milly remained missing. That month police said she was probably dead.
On 18th September 2002 naked human remains were discovered in Yately Heath Woods. The cause of death could not be determined due to the severity of decomposition. Identification was confirmed using dental records. Milly's phone, bag, and purse were never discovered.
In August 2009 police submitted a document containing evidence of Bellfield's involvement in the murder of Milly Dowler. On 30th March 2010 Levi Bellfield was charged with the kidnapping and murder of Milly Dowler. He was convicted on 23rd June 2011.
Marsha McDonnell
Marsha McDonnell was a 19 year old had completed her A-Levels and was taking a gap year and was described as "quiet and hard-working", and she was a netball player and talented violinist. She had planned to travel to Australia before attending University.
Marsha was found in February 2003 with head injuries and was admitted to hospital. She died two days later. The post mortem found that she had been beaten over the head with a blunt instrument and had suffered multiple skull fractures and bleeding around the brain. It is thought that the wound was inflicted shortly after she got off the bus.
Levi Bellfield sold his car for £1,500 six days after the murder, having bought it for £6,000 just 5 months earlier.
Kate Sheedy
In May 2004 Kate Sheedy had attended a party that she'd organised for her fellow classmates where she had given a speech, she was celebrating the end of school.
Kate, then aged 18, was run over as she crossed the road. After being hit by the car she managed to get to her phone to call an ambulance and her mother. She told her mother she was dying. She was found within minutes and taken to hospital where she spent several weeks recovering from her multiple injuries. Kate Sheedy survived the attack and gave evidence, nearly 4 years later, when Levi Bellfield was tried for her attempted murder.
Amelie Delagrange
Amelie was a 22 year old French student visiting the UK and was studying Applied Languages at University. Her parents described her as "happy, smiling and loving" and Amelie had worked in a bakery called Mont Blanc.
On the evening 19th August 2004 Amelie had made plans to go for drinks with friends. She called her boyfriend at 8:30pm and asked him to join them, but he was moving house and declined the offer. CCTV footage showed Amelie getting on a bus just after 9:30pm. She accidentally missed her stop and walked back home after getting off the bus. She was seen by passers by at 10pm.
At 10:30pm Amelie Delagrange was found unconscious with a pool of blood surrounding her head. She had serious head injuries. She was taken to hospital but died shortly after midnight. Amelie's phone and handbag were missing.
Within 24 hours police established she might've been killed by the same person that killed Marsha McDonnell 18 months earlier.
Bellfield reportedly confessed to the murder while on remand.
No comments
Post a Comment