Saturday, June 25, 2011
Dowler family 'paid high price'
The family of murdered teenager 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 the 13-year-old 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 mother, Sally, said their daughter had been defamed in court.
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.
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.
Mr Dowler said outside court: "The trial has been a truly horrifying ordeal for my family, 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.
"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."
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.
Speaking outside court Ms Cowles said she was "hurt and angry" by what she called media coverage which had "robbed her of justice".
Milly's remains were found in Yateley Heath Wood, Hampshire, six months after she was last seen.
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-13908358
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