News Reports
Latest: Bus stop murderer gets life
 |
| Murderer: Levi Bellfield |
To see the video click here
Bouncer Levi Bellfield has been jailed for life today after being found guilty of murdering two lone women he stalked at bus stops.
Bellfield, 39, was convicted of murdering students Amelie Delagrange, 22, and Marsha McDonnell, 19, and of the attempted murder of schoolgirl Kate Sheedy, then 18.
However, the former wheel clamper refused to face the court to hear his sentence because of the "bad publicity" he had received.
His barrister William Boyce QC told trial judge Mrs Anne Justice Rafferty: "Overnight there has been what some consider to be a quite extraordinary explosion of bad publicity.
"There has been a welter of accusations of other crimes by him."
He added: "He chooses not to return."
Milly suspect
After the verdicts at the Old Bailey yesterday, it was revealed that he is also suspected of kidnapping and killing schoolgirl Milly Dowler.
 |
| Murdered: Marsha McDonnell |
Sentencing Bellfield to three life sentences, Mrs Justice Rafferty said: "You have reduced three families to unimagined grief.
"The statements I have read and the words the court heard this morning were hard for many a professional to bear.
"Marsha McDonnell was yards from her home in a quiet residential area of Hampton. Aged 19, she was beaten to the head and left to die on the pavement.
| "What dreadful feelings went through your head as you attacked and, in two cases snuffed out a young life, is beyond understanding." | | Mrs Anne Justice Rafferty |
|
"Kate Sheedy lives due to her own courage and resource. The girl who you left lying on the road after you had driven and reversed over her. She said her goodbyes to her parents as she waited to die.
"Amelie Delagrange came to the UK expecting to be safe. She was beaten to the head and left to die on Twickenham Green during an August night.
"Three young women upon whom you preyed in the dark as they stood or walked near to or from buses.
"What dreadful feelings went through your head as you attacked and, in two cases snuffed out a young life, is beyond understanding."
DCI Colin Sutton, the officer who led the investigating team, was called to witness stand by the Judge after sentencing and was told "the road had sometimes been rocky, but this case had depended on hours and hours of painstaking work, had relied on dedication and patience, and I commend you and your team".
Kate Sheedy and the families of Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange were in court during the trial which lasted three-and-a-half months.
Bellfield is said to have winked, made gestures and mouthed obscenities at the families during proceedings.
To see the video click here
For full trial coverage click here
8:11am Tuesday 26th February 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: ric, kingston on 11:36am Tue 26 Feb 08
can someone remind me how long life actually is?
can someone remind me how long life actually is?
Posted by: ric, kingston on 11:39am Tue 26 Feb 08
oh its a 'whole life' sentence.
the bbc worded it better.
thats good news for the familys.
oh its a 'whole life' sentence.
the bbc worded it better.
thats good news for the familys.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
