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Milly Dowler trial: Mother collapses at Old Bailey | Milly Dowler trial: Mother collapses at Old Bailey |
(40 minutes later) | |
Milly Dowler's mother has collapsed after giving evidence in the trial of the man accused of murdering her 13-year-old daughter. | Milly Dowler's mother has collapsed after giving evidence in the trial of the man accused of murdering her 13-year-old daughter. |
Sally Dowler had to be helped by two family liaison officers after taking the stand at the Old Bailey in London. | |
Levi Bellfield, 42, denies abducting and murdering Milly and attempting to kidnap another girl in March 2002. | Levi Bellfield, 42, denies abducting and murdering Milly and attempting to kidnap another girl in March 2002. |
Asked about notes in which Milly had said she was unhappy, Mrs Dowler told the court they were a "happy family". | |
Mrs Dowler sobbed when Jeffrey Samuels QC, prosecuting, asked her about letters Milly wrote which suggested Gemma, 16, was the favoured daughter. | |
Once she regained her composure, Mrs Dowler replied: "I was not aware of that. I was shown the note and it was not true. She never said that to me." | |
'Nervous breakdown' | |
When she was asked about hidden poems and a "goodbye" letter that were found after Milly's disappearance, she said such notes were common among girls her age. | |
She also said she had spoken to Milly after the teenager found her husband's bondage material. | |
Mrs Dowler said: "I was shocked to find them there as well. She was upset. | |
"I shouted at him and we had an argument and he said he would remove them." | |
She told the court there had been no change in Milly's behaviour following the discovery, but was reminded that she had told officers of "a slight change for a while". | |
Mrs Dowler replied: "It was 10 years ago. It was really hard to recall it. | |
"Over the space of 10 years, I had a nervous breakdown and it is very difficult for me to recall it. | |
"If she had any problems, she would have come and talked to me about them. I think we had a good relationship." | |
Mrs Dowler told the jury she did not recognise the picture the poems and letter painted of Milly. | |
"I would not describe her as a dark and depressing person. There had been issues at school and there had been some issues of bullying. | |
"She found that upsetting," Mrs Dowler added. | |
Bob Dowler sobbed in court on Monday when he told the jury police informed him he was a suspect after his daughter disappeared. | Bob Dowler sobbed in court on Monday when he told the jury police informed him he was a suspect after his daughter disappeared. |
Mr Dowler, an IT consultant, denied having anything to do with her disappearance and said he was concerned police were wasting time. | |
Milly disappeared on 21 March 2002 in Station Avenue, Walton-on-Thames, near where Bellfield lived in Collingwood Place. | Milly disappeared on 21 March 2002 in Station Avenue, Walton-on-Thames, near where Bellfield lived in Collingwood Place. |
Her remains were discovered six months later. | Her remains were discovered six months later. |
The trial has been adjourned until Wednesday. | The trial has been adjourned until Wednesday. |