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Milly murder: police quiz hammer killer over new evidence
Justin Davenport, Crime Editor20 Aug 2009
Detectives investigating the murder of schoolgirl Milly Dowler are to interview convicted killer Levi Bellfield about new evidence.
A file naming Bellfield as Milly's killer is to be presented to prosecution lawyers within the next week.
The dossier contains evidence which detectives hope will provide the breakthrough to link the killer with the 13-year-old's death.
Bellfield, 41, was jailed for life last year for the murder of students Marsha McDonnell, 19, and Amelie Delagrange, 22 in south-west London. He was also convicted of the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, 18.
He killed his victims by hitting them from behind with a hammer and attacked all the women near bus stops.
The former nightclub bouncer and wheelclamper emerged as a prime suspect for Milly's murder during the inquiry into the attacks. He was arrested and interviewed over the teenager's death four years ago.
Senior detectives from Surrey police believe they have circumstantial evidence which links him to her death. Sources close to the inquiry said the evidence, which cannot be revealed for legal reasons, emerged last December.
Amanda Dowler, known to her family and friends as Milly, vanished while walking home from school in Walton-on-Thames on 21 March 2002. Six months later her remains were found 30 miles away in Yateley Heath, Hampshire.
Officers have been building a case against Bellfield since he was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in November 2004 over other matters. Police are to pass five files, including thousands of pages of documents, to the Crown Prosecution Service. Legal experts must then decide if there is a realistic prospect Bellfield would be convicted.
Police continue to search for a red Daewoo Nexia car they believe was used to transport Milly's body. The car was captured on CCTV minutes after she disappeared and was owned by Bellfield's then girlfriend Emma Mills.
Sally and Bob Dowler, Milly's parents, have been told of the latest developments in the inquiry.
