Man denies murders of two students

Levi Bellfield, 39, used a blunt object to kill both French language student Amelie Delagrange, 22, and gap-year student Marsha McDonnell, 19, it is alleged.

Bellfield, from west London, denies murdering both women and attacking three others. All the attacks took place at or near bus stops in an area of south-west London, Brian Altman, prosecuting, told an Old Bailey jury.

"These women were targeted victims of a predatory man who stalked bus stops and bus routes in vehicles looking for young women to attack," he said.

The court heard that Miss McDonnell was attacked within sight of her home in February 2003 after taking the 111 bus home following a night out with friends to see the Leonardo di Caprio film Catch Me If You Can. As she made her way home just after midnight the "attractive blonde" was fatally attacked in quiet, residential Priory Road, Hampton, where she lived with her parents.

Mr Altman said both Miss McDonnell and 18-year-old Kate Sheedy, another of Bellfield's alleged victims, had travelled home on well-lit buses on the nights they were attacked. "It allowed the attacker of these women to see into the bus from the outside. Thus these women were not chance victims of a street attacker," he said.

Miss Delagrange, who was living in the UK to improve her English, was attacked in August 2004 in Twickenham after spending the evening with friends. She took a bus home and missed her stop, and was walking back up Hampton Road and across Twickenham Green when she was killed, the court heard.

The first attack was in October 2001 when Anna-Maria Rennie, then 17, was approached late at night at a bus stop in Twickenham, when a man put her in a bear hug and tried to bundle her into a car. She eventually managed to break free. In December 2003, Irma Dragoshi, then 33, was attacked at a bus stop in the village of Longford, near Heathrow Airport.

Mr Altman told the jury there was direct evidence linking Bellfield to the attacks on Mrs Dragoshi and Miss Rennie and "compelling" circumstantial evidence connecting him to the three other attacks.

As well as the two murders, Bellfield denies the attempted murder of Miss Sheedy and Mrs Dragoshi. He also denies causing Mrs Dragoshi grievous bodily harm with intent. In addition, he denies the kidnap and false imprisonment of Miss Rennie. The case was adjourned until Monday.