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Milly Dowler's family speak of 'torment and pain' over killer's confession Milly Dowler's family speak of 'torment and pain' over killer's confession
(about 7 hours later)
The family of the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler have broken their silence after her killer Levi Bellfield’s admission of guilt, describing their “torment and pain” at the gruesome details he gave police of the 13-year-old’s final hours. The family of the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler have described their “torment and pain” upon hearing of the 13-year-old’s prolonged rape and torture after her killer Levi Bellfield’s detailed admission of guilt.
In a statement, the Dowlers said they wanted to speak out because the reports so far had not reflected the real horror of Bellfield’s confession. “We feel we need to say something in addition to the information that has already been made public, as we do not think what has been revealed reflects the true heinousness of this man,” the statement said.In a statement, the Dowlers said they wanted to speak out because the reports so far had not reflected the real horror of Bellfield’s confession. “We feel we need to say something in addition to the information that has already been made public, as we do not think what has been revealed reflects the true heinousness of this man,” the statement said.
They described how Bellfield, who is serving a whole-life sentence, had tortured and raped Milly over two days, and their devastation at the news that Surrey police had investigated a possible accomplice to the crime. They revealed for the first time how Bellfield, a serial killer who is serving two whole-life sentences, had tortured and raped Milly over two days, and their devastation when they learned he might have been helped by an accomplice.
Bellfield contacted Surrey police almost nine months ago, insisting on speaking only to female police officers, the family revealed. His confession was prompted because he had spoken to fellow prisoners, giving them details of his crimes, and one was due to be released, risking the information becoming public. Last month Surrey police revealed Bellfield, a serial sexual killer, had confessed from his prison cell to Milly’s rape and murder. His claim that another individual was involved led detectives on 27 January to arrest a man in his 40s on suspicion of rape and assisting an offender. But he was released without charge and Surrey police said their inquiry was closed.
Milly disappeared as she walked home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in 2002. Bellfield was living just 50 yards away from where she was last spotted, and her decomposed body was found six months later by mushroom pickers near Fleet, Hampshire. The Dowler family indicated they were unhappy with the force’s handling of the investigation into the accomplice. They had had to “fight all the way,” they said, and were so concerned that they had had a private meeting with the home secretary in November last year.
Bellfield was already serving life for the murders of two other women, Amelie Delagrange, 22, and Marsha McDonnell, 19, as well as the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, 18, when he faced trial for killing Milly. For years, the killer had repeatedly refused to confess, yawning as he was led from court following his conviction, and refusing to return to be sentenced. Bellfield, who has never admitted his crimes before, contacted Surrey police almost nine months ago, insisting on speaking only to female police officers, the family revealed.
The family said Bellfield, who now goes by the name Yusuf Rahim, gave officers a “harrowing” account of Milly’s abduction, repeated rape, torture and her murder. His confession to detectives came after he had spoken to fellow prisoners at HMP Wakefield, giving them details of what he had done. Police informed the Dowler family of his confession because they were concerned that one inmate was due to be released and there was a risk the information might become public without the family’s knowledge, their statement said.
“Bellfield told the police that after abducting Milly and assaulting her at his flat a few yards from Walton station, he then drove her to his mother’s house,” they said. Bellfield was never charged with raping Milly because of the deterioration of forensic evidence. His confession to detectives in prison last year was the first time he had admitted his responsibility for her rape and murder.
“He reversed down a long driveway and then raped her in broad daylight over the boot of his car. Bellfield then moved her to another location, where the rape and torture continued for a number of hours, until the next day when he finally strangled her to death.” The father of five, who is unlikely to ever be released from prison, also made apparent admissions to police to a number of other historic sexually motivated killings. Nine police forces across the country are now examining his claims of responsibility for the murders, rapes and sexual assaults of young women over several years.
Milly’s family said their pain had only intensified after hearing the horrific account of her ordeal, and then being told by Surrey police they were now investigating an alleged accomplice involved in her abduction and rape. The Dowler family revealed far more about what happened to Milly after she was abducted on her way home from school in Walton-on-Thames in 2002 than detectives have put into the public domain. “Bellfield provided the officers with a harrowing account of Milly’s final 14 hours,” the family said.
“Hearing Bellfield’s account of how Milly spent her final hours before being murdered was shocking enough, but the news that there could have been another individual involved was devastating,” the family said. “After abducting Milly and assaulting her at his flat a few yards from Walton Station, he then drove her to his mother’s house. He reversed down a long driveway and then raped her in broad daylight over the boot of his car.
“There are no words to describe the additional torment and pain we have been going through since we were told this information. We had to remain silent for eight months whilst the police conducted their investigation. “Bellfield then moved her to another location, where the rape and torture continued for a number of hours until the next day when he finally strangled her to death.”
“Finally, when they made the arrest of the suspected accomplice, the person was questioned and released without charge in less than 10 hours as there was no evidence found.” The Dowler family said that a few days after being given the details last May of Bellfield’s confession, detectives informed them they were investigating an alleged accomplice.
The family said the pressure had been “unimaginable and has taken its toll on all of us”. “Hearing Bellfield’s account of how Milly spent her final hours before being murdered was shocking enough, but the news that there could have been another individual involved was devastating,” the family said. Hinting at disquiet with the police’s handling of this investigation, they added: “There are no words to describe the additional torment and pain we have been going through since we were told this information.
“We have had to fight every step of the way to get this far,” the statement said. The family also revealed they had met the home secretary, Theresa May, last November to tell her of their concerns. “We had to remain silent for eight months whilst the police conducted their investigation. Finally, when they made the arrest of the suspected accomplice, the person was questioned and released without charge in less than 10 hours as there was no evidence found.
“Now we know the final hours of Milly’s life, perhaps her soul, at long last, can finally rest in peace. The general public have always played a huge part in supporting us, for which we are eternally grateful and thankful. We believe that they should know what Bellfield did to our beautiful daughter and sister Milly.” “The pressure this has put us under as a family has been unimaginable and has taken its toll on all of us. We have had to fight every step of the way to get this far. In desperation last November we wrote to the home secretary to tell her of our concerns, and she met with us immediately.”
Milly disappeared as she walked home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in 2002. Bellfield was living just 50 metres away from where she was last spotted, and her decomposed body was found six months later by mushroom pickers near Fleet, Hampshire. Bellfield was already serving life for the murders of two other women, Amelie Delagrange, 22, and Marsha McDonnell, 19, as well as the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, 18, when he was tried and convicted in 2011 for murdering Milly Dowler.
The family explained in their statement why they had revealed the details of her last moments: “Now we know the final hours of Milly’s life, perhaps her soul, at long last, can finally rest in peace. The general public have always played a huge part in supporting us, for which we are eternally grateful and thankful. We believe that they should know what Bellfield did to our beautiful daughter and sister Milly.”