26/02/2008

Bus Stop Killer Given 'Life-Long' Sentence

Bus stop killer Levi Bellifield, who is now the main suspect in the 2002 Milly Dowler murder, has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Bellfield, 39, was found guilty of murdering students Amelie Delagrange, 22, Marsha McDonnell, 19, and the attempted murder of schoolgirl Kate Sheedy, 18.

He has also been named a prime suspect in the murder of schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

Bellfield refused to attend the hearing because of a "welter of accusations" that he was behind other unsolved crimes.

William Boyce QC told trial judge Mrs 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."

Bellfield, a former nightclub doorman, trawled bus stops late at night looking for young women on their own. He is due before an Old Bailey judge later today.

Bellfield, who had denied the charges, showed no reaction as the verdicts were returned.

Police say they are also investigating his possible role in nearly two dozen other attacks.

Bellfield is the third high profile killer to be jailed by courts in less than a week.

(CD/JM)

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