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Milly Dowler murder probe still active
Ben Bailey5 Aug 2009
Police said the investigation into the murder of 13-year-old Milly Dowler remained an "active inquiry" after a man arrested in connection with the probe was released without charge.
The 40-year-old from west London, named locally as Nirmal Gharu, was questioned for several hours yesterday over the disposal of a red Daewoo Nexia car.
Detectives believe prime suspect Levi Bellfield used the car to transport Milly's body from Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002.
The death of Amanda Dowler, known to her family and friends as Milly, remains one of Britain's most notorious unsolved crimes.
The fate of the red car, owned by Bellfield's then girlfriend Emma Mills, is central to the continuing police inquiry.
It was captured on CCTV minutes after Milly disappeared while walking home from school in Walton-on-Thames on March 21 2002.
Six months later, her skeletal remains were found 30 miles away by mushroom pickers in Yateley Heath, Hampshire.
A Surrey Police spokeswoman said last night: "The 40-year-old man arrested by Surrey Police after voluntarily attending a police station has been released without charge.
"The man, from west London, was questioned about the potential disposal of a red Daewoo Nexia car, which police have appealed for information about as part of their investigation into the murder of Milly Dowler.
"The investigation into Milly's death remains an active inquiry."
Officers have been painstakingly building a case against Bellfield since he was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in November 2004 over other matters.
Bellfield, 41, was told last year that he would die in jail after he was found guilty of murdering students Marsha McDonnell, 19, and Amelie Delagrange, 22.
He was also convicted of the attempted murder of schoolgirl Kate Sheedy, 18. All of the women were attacked near bus stops in south-west London.
The former nightclub bouncer and wheelclamper was arrested and interviewed over Milly's death four years ago.
Officers believe they have compelling circumstantial evidence which links him to the crime and plan to interview him again.
In a newspaper interview earlier this year, Bellfield spoke out for the first time and admitted driving the car.
He said it was sitting low on its suspension, something that further aroused police suspicion, because he was transporting tools and building gear.
The vehicle was reported stolen from a pub car park in Hounslow several days later and has not been seen since.
In their hunt for the car, police searched 35 miles of waterways and 40 other water sites, including reservoirs and lakes in Surrey and neighbouring counties.
Detectives believe it is likely that one of Bellfield's many contacts in the motor trade arranged for it to be crushed by a scrap dealer.
Reader views (2)
RACE isnt an issue the fact he is a murderer is enough ,and untill the case is solved anyone that has information should be questioned.
- Sarah, middlesex, 09/08/2009 13:54
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Funny how the murderer's race isn't an issue in this case, or that there aren't loads of comments complaining about how the white community has a problem with serial killers.
- Nolan, Londonist, 05/08/2009 12:15
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