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Levi Bellfield: Milly Dowler family paid 'too high a price' Milly Dowler family: 'Too high a price' for Bellfield conviction
(40 minutes later)
The family of murdered 13-year-old Milly Dowler have said they paid "too high a price" for the conviction of Levi Bellfield.The family of murdered 13-year-old Milly Dowler have said they paid "too high a price" for the conviction of Levi Bellfield.
Bellfield was given a whole-life tariff for murdering Milly in Surrey in 2002.Bellfield was given a whole-life tariff for murdering Milly in Surrey in 2002.
Her father Bob Dowler said the trial had been a "mentally scarring process" and the justice system was loaded unfairly in favour of the criminal. Milly's father Bob Dowler said the trial had been "mentally scarring" and the justice system was loaded unfairly in favour of the criminal.
The Director of Public Prosecutions said it raised "fundamental questions" about the treatment of victims. The director of public prosecutions said it raised "fundamental questions" about the treatment of victims.
Keir Starmer QC added: "Those questions require answers and we will be contributing to the review by the Ministry of Justice into all aspects of victim support." Keir Starmer QC said: "Those questions require answers and we will be contributing to the review by the Ministry of Justice into all aspects of victim support."
'Adverse publicity''Adverse publicity'
Milly's mother, Sally, said their daughter had been defamed in court as unhappy and depressed. Milly's mother, Sally Dowler, said their daughter had been defamed in court as unhappy and depressed.
She said the trial had been a "truly awful experience" but "at last the man responsible for the cruel murder of our darling daughter" had been brought to justice. She said the trial had been a "truly awful experience".
But she said "at last the man responsible for the cruel murder of our darling daughter" had been brought to justice.
Bellfield had also faced a charge of attempting to abduct Rachel Cowles, who is now 21, but the jury was discharged and there will be no retrial.Bellfield had also faced a charge of attempting to abduct Rachel Cowles, who is now 21, but the jury was discharged and there will be no retrial.
Defence lawyers cited an "avalanche of adverse publicity" following his conviction for murdering Milly Dowler on Thursday. Defence lawyers cited an "avalanche of adverse publicity" following Bellfield's conviction on Thursday for murdering Milly.
The Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC, is to consider whether there has been any possible contempt of court. Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC is to consider whether there has been any possible contempt of court.
Speaking outside court Ms Cowles said she was "hurt and angry" by what she called media coverage which had "robbed her of justice". Speaking outside court Ms Cowles said she was hurt and angry by what she called media coverage which had "robbed her of justice".
Mrs Dowler said Milly was a "happy, vivacious and fun-loving girl" rather than the depressed girl she was described as by Bellfield's defence team. 'Grotesque and distressing'
Mrs Dowler said Milly was happy, vivacious and fun-loving, rather than the depressed girl described by Bellfield's defence team.
She added: "To actually see the man in court - a man capable of such a vile and inhuman crime has been grotesque and distressing for us.She added: "To actually see the man in court - a man capable of such a vile and inhuman crime has been grotesque and distressing for us.
'Living hell' "The length the system goes to protect his human rights seems so unfair compared to what we, as a family, have had to endure."
"The length the system goes to protect his human rights seems so unfair compared to what we, as a family, have had to endure. Mrs Dowler said the "pain and grief" of Milly's murder would never go away.
"I hope whilst he is in prison he is treated with the same brutality he dealt out to his victims and that his life is a living hell." Mrs Dowler collapsed after giving evidence during the trial, which had heard letters and poems written by her daughter describing herself as a "disappointment".
Mrs Dowler also said the "pain and grief" of Milly's murder would "never go away".
She added: "We have just had to learn to live alongside it.
"A day has not passed when we did not think of her and the life she might have led."
Mrs Dowler collapsed after giving evidence during the trial which heard letters and poems written by her daughter, describing herself as a "disappointment", read out.
Following this, the prosecution decided not to call Milly's sister Gemma to give evidence.Following this, the prosecution decided not to call Milly's sister Gemma to give evidence.
Details of the family's private life were also revealed in court, including the fact that Milly discovered pornography magazines at the family home.Details of the family's private life were also revealed in court, including the fact that Milly discovered pornography magazines at the family home.
It was also revealed that Mr Dowler was initially considered a suspect in her disappearance after police found bondage material at their family home.It was also revealed that Mr Dowler was initially considered a suspect in her disappearance after police found bondage material at their family home.
During the prosecution's closing speeches, Brian Altman QC accused Bellfield of putting Milly's grieving parents on trial.During the prosecution's closing speeches, Brian Altman QC accused Bellfield of putting Milly's grieving parents on trial.
'Cruel and inhuman'
Mr Dowler said the trial had been a "truly horrifying ordeal for the family".Mr Dowler said the trial had been a "truly horrifying ordeal for the family".
He said: "We have had to relive all the emotions and thoughts of nine years ago when Milly first went missing and was then found murdered.He said: "We have had to relive all the emotions and thoughts of nine years ago when Milly first went missing and was then found murdered.
"During our questioning my wife and I both felt as though we were on trial."During our questioning my wife and I both felt as though we were on trial.
"The questioning of my wife was particularly cruel and inhuman, resulting in her collapsing after leaving the stand."The questioning of my wife was particularly cruel and inhuman, resulting in her collapsing after leaving the stand.
"We despair of a justice system which is so loaded in favour of the perpetrator of the crime.""We despair of a justice system which is so loaded in favour of the perpetrator of the crime."
Milly's sister, Gemma Dowler said: "I can honestly say that the day my mother and father were questioned by the defence QC Mr Samuels was the worst day of my life.Milly's sister, Gemma Dowler said: "I can honestly say that the day my mother and father were questioned by the defence QC Mr Samuels was the worst day of my life.
"It is hard to believe but it was worse than when I heard the news that the remains were that of my sister Milly."It is hard to believe but it was worse than when I heard the news that the remains were that of my sister Milly.
"The way my parents were questioned can only be described as mental torture. Have they not suffered enough?""The way my parents were questioned can only be described as mental torture. Have they not suffered enough?"
She added: "The way they can portray my lovely sister as a depressed teenager has shocked me terribly. The worst part being that she isn't here to defend herself.
"To have to listen to that was emotionally scarring. It feels like we are the criminals and our family have been on trial."
Roger Coe Salazar, of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the South East, said: "There is no doubt that this experience has been extremely distressing for the Dowler family and it is impossible not to be moved and disturbed by the sentiments they have expressed today.Roger Coe Salazar, of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the South East, said: "There is no doubt that this experience has been extremely distressing for the Dowler family and it is impossible not to be moved and disturbed by the sentiments they have expressed today.
"I and my staff find the courage that they have displayed over such a long period of time, and most recently during the trial, most humbling. "I and my staff find the courage that they have displayed over such a long period of time, and most recently during the trial, most humbling."
He added: "During the course of Sally Dowler's cross examination the prosecution did object to questioning by the defence wherever we legitimately could.
"After witnessing the distress the experience caused Mrs Dowler we decided not to call Milly's sister, Gemma, to give evidence."
Milly's remains were found in Yateley Heath Wood, Hampshire, six months after she was last seen.