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Man to face Milly murder charge | Man to face Milly murder charge |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A former doorman will be charged with the kidnap and murder of Milly Dowler, the Crown Prosecution Service said. | A former doorman will be charged with the kidnap and murder of Milly Dowler, the Crown Prosecution Service said. |
The body of 13-year-old Milly was found on Yateley Heath in Hampshire in September 2002, six months after she went missing in Walton-on-Thames. | |
She disappeared near a railway station on her way home from school. | She disappeared near a railway station on her way home from school. |
Levi Bellfield, 41, will be charged with the kidnap and murder of Milly on 21 March 2002 and attempting to kidnap another girl the previous day. | Levi Bellfield, 41, will be charged with the kidnap and murder of Milly on 21 March 2002 and attempting to kidnap another girl the previous day. |
The CPS said the charges were to be made against Mr Bellfield, from west London, after it received a large dossier of circumstantial evidence. | |
Nigel Pilkington of the CPS and DCI Maria Woodall announce Levi Bellfield is to stand trial | |
Nigel Pilkington of CPS South East said a summons had been obtained from Staines Magistrates' Court and would be served on Mr Bellfield. | |
He said: "After carefully reviewing all the evidence in this case, I have now reached the decision that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to charge Levi Bellfield with three offences." | He said: "After carefully reviewing all the evidence in this case, I have now reached the decision that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to charge Levi Bellfield with three offences." |
Mr Bellfield faces charges that he kidnapped Milly Dowler on 21 March 2002, and that he murdered her the same day. | Mr Bellfield faces charges that he kidnapped Milly Dowler on 21 March 2002, and that he murdered her the same day. |
He also faces charges that he attempted to kidnap another girl, Rachel Cowles, 19, on 20 March 2002. | |
Milly disappeared after calling her father on 21 March to say she would be home in half an hour. | Milly disappeared after calling her father on 21 March to say she would be home in half an hour. |
Dental records | |
A UK-wide search was carried out for Milly, and her remains were eventually found in September 2002 about 25 miles (40 km) from where she was last seen. | |
The teenager was identified by dental records. | The teenager was identified by dental records. |
Police have continued to search for a red Daewoo Nexia car caught on CCTV which they believe was used to transport Milly's body. | |
Levi Bellfield, 41, faces three charges, the CPS said | |
Mr Pilkington added that he would be meeting Milly's parents, Sally and Bob Dowler, to explain the CPS decision. | |
"Milly Dowler's family have been informed of that decision this morning and I will be meeting with them shortly to explain my decision to them personally." | |
Speaking at his home, Ms Cowles's father, John, said he had not been told of the decision by the CPS to charge Mr Bellfield. | |
Surrey Police Det Supt Maria Woodall said: "The investigation into the abduction and murder of Milly Dowler has been long and complex, spanning the last eight years. | |
"We welcome the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service today." |