Alleged victim 'unreliable' (From Your Local Guardian)

Alleged victim 'unreliable'

4:51pm Thursday 7th February 2008 in

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One of the women allegedly attacked by Levi Bellfield was "half-baked" and "unreliable," the jury was told this week.

Defending William Boyce said during his final speech that Anna-Maria Rennie, who Bellfield allegedly attempted to abduct in Whitton in October 2001, was "demonstrably unreliable".

Bellfield, 39, of West Drayton, denies attempting to kidnap Anna-Maria plus two murders and two attempted murders.

Mr Boyce urged the jury to assess the credibility of Anna-Maria in giving evidence and referred to her admission that she may have drunk alcohol on the night of the incident and possibly used cannabis.

He told the jury: "Then you have someone who is not only half-baked' but also taking drugs and drinking at the same time. "

He reminded jurors that she admitted having no memory of the 10 to 20 minutes she spent talking to the man whom she claimed picked up her and dragged her towards his car before she escaped. Anna-Maria blamed her memory lapses on having dyslexia.

Mr Boyce said: "This is only evidence in relation to the Anna-Maria case - there's no support for it at all. It's contradicted by other evidence - she contradicted herself.

"You have a witness who is demonstrably unreliable."

The trial continues.