Levi Bellfield

Overview

Levi Bellfield (born 17 May 1968) was a British murderer. He was described by police as a prime suspect in the murder of Amanda Dowler. He was a former nightclub bouncer and a manager of a car clamping business. He was convicted on 25 February 2008 of murdering Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange. He was also convicted of the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy.

Timeline

• 14 October 1983 — Marsha Louise McDonnell was born.
• 17 May 1968 — Levi Bellfield was born.
• 5 February 2003 — Marsha McDonnell died in hospital after being beaten over the head with a blunt instrument near her home in Hampton.
• 1990 — Levi Bellfield was convicted of assaulting a police officer.
• 1981 — Levi Bellfield’s first conviction was for burglary.
• 14 October 2001 — Bellfield was charged with abduction and false imprisonment of Anna-Marie Rennie at Whitton.
• 21 March 2002 — Amanda Dowler went missing in Walton-on-Thames.
• 28 May 2004 — Kate Sheedy was run over as she crossed the road near an entrance to an industrial estate in Isleworth.
• 25 August 2004 — Bellfield was admitted to hospital with a suspected breakdown after taking an overdose and telling a friend: "You don't know what I've done".
• 9 November 2004 — Bellfield was first identified as a suspect in connection with the crimes.
• 22 November 2004 — Bellfield was not questioned until 22 November 2004.
• 16 December 2003 — Bellfield was charged with the attempted murder of Irma Dragoshi at Longford Village.
• 1 March 2006 — Bellfield was charged.
• 19 August 2004 — Amelie Delagrange died in hospital the same night she was found at Twickenham Green.
• 25 February 2008 — Bellfield was found guilty of the murders of McDonnell and Delagrange and the attempted murder of Sheedy.
• 26 February 2008 — The following day, Bellfield was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he should never be released.
• 30 January 2009 — Documentary "My Dad the Serial Killer" was shown on Channel 4.
• 30 March 2010 — The Crown Prosecution Service announced on 30 March 2010 that he is to be charged with her murder, and Bellfield was charged with the kidnap and murder of Dowler and the attempted kidnap of then 12 year old Rachel Cowles on 20 March 2002.
• 30 March 2010 — Bellfield was charged with the kidnap and murder of Dowler, and the attempted kidnap of Rachel Cowles.
• 20 March 2002 — Attempted kidnap of then 12 year old Rachel Cowles occurred.

Background

Levi Bellfield was born in Isleworth, West London, to Joseph Rabetts and Jean (now Bellfield). He was of Romani gypsy descent. When he was eight, his father died at age 37 of a heart attack. He had two brothers and a sister and was brought up on a West London council estate. He attended Crane Junior School, Hampton and Feltham Comprehensive.

Bellfield was married four times and fathered 11 children with five women. The youngest three were with his most recent partner Emma Mills.

By 2002, he had nine convictions. He had been convicted of burglary in 1981. He was convicted of assaulting a police officer in 1990. He also had convictions for theft and driving offences. When police and media profiles discussed his background, Detective Chief Insp Colin Sutton described him in detail during the murder hunt, and multiple former partners described controlling behaviour.

People

Levi Bellfield

Levi Bellfield was a former nightclub bouncer and manager of a car clamping business. Police described him as a prime suspect in the murder of Amanda Dowler.

Victims and other named individuals

• Marsha Louise McDonnell (born 14 October 1983) — She died in hospital on 5 February 2003 after being beaten over the head with a blunt instrument near her home in Hampton.
• Kate Sheedy — She was then aged 18 at the time she was run over on 28 May 2004. She survived and later gave evidence against Bellfield.
• Amelie Delagrange (born 2 February 1982) — She was a French student visiting the UK. She was found at Twickenham Green on an evening with serious head injuries and died in hospital on 19 August 2004.
• Anna-Marie Rennie (then aged 17) — She was charged in connection with her abduction and false imprisonment at Whitton on 14 October 2001.
• Irma Dragoshi (then aged 39) — She was the subject of Bellfield’s attempted murder charge at Longford Village on 16 December 2003.
• Amanda Dowler (13) — She went missing in Walton-on-Thames on 21 March 2002 and was found dead in Hampshire six months later. She was also involved in later charge developments.
• Rachel Cowles (then aged 12) — She was the subject of the attempted kidnap charge mentioned with Bellfield’s later Dowler charges.
• Emma Mills — Bellfield’s last girlfriend, who told police about his pattern of chasing small blonde girls.
• Joseph Rabetts — Bellfield’s father, who died when Bellfield was eight at age 37 of a heart attack.
• Jean (now Bellfield) — Bellfield’s mother.
• Bobbie-Louise — Presented the documentary "My Dad the Serial Killer".
• Phil and Ute — Marsha McDonnell’s parents.
• Nathalie — Marsha McDonnell’s sister.
• Shane McDonnell — Marsha McDonnell’s uncle.
• Olivier Lenfant — Amelie Delagrange’s boyfriend.
• Jean Francois and Dominique — Amelie Delagrange’s parents.
• Dominique and Jean-Francoise Delagrange — Also named as her parents in a statement.
• Sarah Bell — Named as author of a BBC News profile.
• Det Ch Insp Colin Sutton — The Metropolitan Police officer who led the murder hunt and gave quoted statements.
• Det Sgt Jo Brunt — Spoke to several ex-girlfriends and gave quoted statements.
• Hairdresser Irma Dragoshi — Identified by name in connection with the attempted murder charge.

The offence

Murder of Marsha McDonnell

Marsha McDonnell died in hospital after being beaten over the head with a blunt instrument near her home in Hampton. She was believed to have been killed just after she got off the 111 bus from Kingston upon Thames at the stop on Percy Road.

Attempted murder of Kate Sheedy

Kate Sheedy, then aged 18, was run over as she crossed the road near an entrance to an industrial estate in Isleworth on 28 May 2004. She survived but suffered multiple injuries and spent several weeks in hospital. She later gave evidence against Bellfield when he was tried for attempted murder nearly four years later.

Murder of Amelie Delagrange

Amelie Delagrange was a French student visiting the UK. She was found at Twickenham Green on an evening with serious head injuries and died in hospital the same night. Within 24 hours, the police established that she may have been killed by the same person who had killed Marsha McDonnell 18 months earlier.

Bellfield reportedly confessed to the murder while on remand.

Investigation

Detectives tracked down a number of ex-girlfriends, who described a similar pattern of behaviour when they got involved with Bellfield. In an interview, Detective Chief Insp Colin Sutton described Bellfield’s behaviour when police began dealing with him as shifting quickly between charm and violence.

Detectives also considered Bellfield a possible suspect in other crimes beyond the three he was convicted of. Det Ch Insp Sutton said: "We looked at a dozen crimes in west London and we have not been able to eliminate Levi from any of them. I fear we may have only scratched the surface."

Bellfield was first identified as a suspect on 9 November 2004, but not questioned until 22 November 2004.

During police surveillance, Bellfield was seen driving around in his van, talking to young girls at bus stops.

Arrest

Bellfield was arrested after the attacks ended in 2004 when he was taken into custody following the investigation narrative. He had refused to attend court after his conviction.

Trial

Bellfield was found guilty of the murders of McDonnell and Delagrange and the attempted murder of Sheedy on 25 February 2008.

Jury verdicts on other charges

The jury failed to reach verdicts on two other charges:

• the kidnap and false imprisonment of Anna-Maria Rennie (17) at Whitton on 14 October 2001
• the attempted murder of hairdresser Irma Dragoshi (33 in the BBC narrative; also described as 39 in the case summary section) at Longford Village on 16 December 2003

The Crown Prosecution Service said it would not seek a retrial on the two counts.

Sentencing

The following day, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he should never be released on 26 February 2008. Bellfield was not in court to hear his sentence because he refused to attend court due to "unfair press coverage" following his conviction.

The European Court of Human Rights was reviewing whether lifelong imprisonment amounts to a violation of human rights legislation. If the court decided lifelong imprisonment was unlawful, Bellfield and all other prisoners serving such sentences in Europe would have their cases recalled to court for a new minimum term to be set.

Appeals

It has since been reported that Bellfield is planning to appeal against his convictions.

Outcome

Bellfield was convicted on 25 February 2008 of murdering Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange and of the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy.

Two other counts were unable to reach verdicts, and the Crown Prosecution Service said it would not seek a retrial.

Aftermath

A documentary titled "My Dad the Serial Killer" was shown on Channel 4 on 30 January 2009. It was presented by Bellfield’s first child Bobbie-Louise and also featured three of his other daughters, their mother, and the mother’s daughter from her second marriage. Bellfield’s first three children’s mother stated that their relationship began when she was 18, that he was charming at first but became violent after the birth of their first child, and that she stayed with him for a few more years until finally ending the relationship after he raped her at least twice.

Other charges and possible other victims

Bellfield was charged with abduction and false imprisonment of Anna-Marie Rennie (then aged 17) at Whitton on 14 October 2001, after she identified him in a video identity parade four years later.

Bellfield was also charged with the attempted murder of Irma Dragoshi (then aged 39) at Longford Village on 16 December 2003. The jury failed to reach verdicts on this charge.

Police also suspected Bellfield in relation to other attacks on women. Police also raised the possibility that more victims would come forward, including reference to other attacks described during trial coverage, including six attempted date rapes involving drugs.

Amanda Dowler charges

Surrey Police submitted a dossier to the CPS containing evidence regarding Bellfield’s alleged involvement in the murder of Amanda Dowler in August 2009. On 30 March 2010, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that Bellfield was to be charged with her murder. On 30 March 2010, Bellfield was charged with the kidnap and murder of Dowler and the attempted kidnap of then 12 year old Rachel Cowles on 20 March 2002.

Modus operandi and police theories

At the time of the attacks, Bellfield ran a wheel-clamping business that operated in the western suburbs of London. During evidence at the Old Bailey, he explained to the jury how to succeed in the clamping business.

Police officers could only make conjectures about motivation, as Bellfield maintained his innocence throughout.

Quoted statements about Bellfield’s behaviour

Detective Chief Insp Colin Sutton said:

"When we started dealing with him he came across as very jokey, like he's your best mate. But he's a cunning individual, violent. He can switch from being nice to being nasty, instantly."

Det Sgt Jo Brunt said:

"He was lovely at first, charming, then completely controlling and evil. They all said the same."

Det Sgt Jo Brunt quoted one former girlfriend’s account, saying:

"We asked her what she did about going to the toilet and she said she would rather wet herself than have moved from that stool. That shows how frightened they were of him."

Det Ch Insp Sutton said:

"He dotes on his mother and her on him. It's a troubling relationship,"

Det Ch Insp Sutton also described Bellfield’s relationship with his mother:

"He dotes on his mother and her on him. It's a troubling relationship," said Sutton.

Quoted statements about motivation and theories

Det Ch Insp Sutton explained his theory and said:

"He has a massive ego to feed, he thinks he's God's gift to everyone. He drives around in his car, feels a bit 'whatever' and sees some young blonde girl. Young blonde girl says 'go away' and he thinks 'you dare to turn down Levi Bellfield, you're worth nothing' and then she gets a whack over the head. "

Det Ch Insp Sutton also said:

"It is shown in the case of Kate Sheedy she was smart enough to think she didn't like the look of his car and crosses the road. He thinks 'you think you're so clever' and whoosh, he runs her over."

Det Ch Insp Sutton said about the attempt to connect multiple crimes:

"We looked at a dozen crimes in west London and we have not been able to eliminate Levi from any of them. I fear we may have only scratched the surface."

Police and surveillance-related narrative statements

Bellfield searched for victims on streets he knew intimately. Sutton’s theory suggested timing around Bellfield passing her in his van, and CCTV cameras showed her walking towards Twickenham Green after she missed her stop on the bus home. She slowed her pace between the last two sightings around the time Bellfield passed her. Sutton said she probably stopped to speak to him. Within minutes she was said to have attacked and left her to die.

Bellfield claimed it was no coincidence that all his victims were of a similar appearance. Bellfield’s last girlfriend Emma Mills told police Bellfield always chased after small blonde girls with large chests.

While under police surveillance, Bellfield was seen driving around in his van, talking to young girls at bus stops.

Evidence and incidents mentioned during the case

Wheel-clamping business and evidence

At the time of the attacks, he ran a wheel-clamping business with a motley crew of workers described in media coverage as having names like "Builder Bob" and "Fat Brian." At times, he made good money, and while giving evidence at the Old Bailey he explained to the jury formula on how to succeed in the clamping business.

Bellfield’s hospital admission

Bellfield was admitted to hospital on 25 August 2004—six days after Delagrange’s death—with a suspected breakdown after taking an overdose and telling a friend: "You don't know what I've done".

Victim particulars and biographical details mentioned in coverage

Marsha McDonnell

Marsha McDonnell was described as an "attractive blonde" in court coverage and she had completed her A-levels and was taking a gap year before starting university when she died. She was attacked just yards from the Hampton home she shared with her parents, Phil and Ute, her two sisters and younger brother. She was working in a gift shop in Kingston and had visited the cinema with friends on the night she was attacked.

Her sister Nathalie was quoted as saying:

"She always thought of other people. She was a free spirit."

Her uncle Shane McDonnell made statements including:

"Five years have passed since the night our beloved Marsha was so cruelly taken from this world, a girl that only had love in her heart, brutally slain by a man who only has hate in his."

Shane McDonnell said:

"For her family, life will never quite be the same ever again, the pain and hurt that we carry will always be there. It is a sentence with no remission."

In a longer quote about Marsha, he said:

"Marsha we miss you, our world now is incomplete, like a rainbow with a colour missing, we thank you for the joy that you brought us in your short life, your goodness, sense of fun, spirit and passion for life remain with us"

A music room at the local children’s hospice was dedicated to her memory.

Bellfield sold his Vauxhall Corsa car for £1,500 six days after the murder, having bought it for £6,000 just five months earlier.

Kate Sheedy

Kate Sheedy was described as the head girl at her convent school in Isleworth at the time of the attack. She had spent the evening saying goodbye to friends after her last day at Gumley House School and was walking home when she was mown down by a car. The trial heard she remained mentally and physically scarred by the attack.

In a statement, Ms Sheedy said:

"On the day I was attacked I was celebrating about moving onto a new and exciting time in my life. "

She also said:

"All that hope and excitement was taken from me and I thought my life had changed for ever."

Ms Sheedy explained:

"I will never be able to forget what happened to me, the scars on my body and the memories I have, are something I will never be rid of, but hopefully I can move on."

The attack meant she attended university a year later than she had hoped. She was granted her predicted grades, AAB, by the exam board and was studying history and drama at York University.

A BBC quote from outside court stated:

"I have waited for nearly four years for this day and it is hard to express how much it means to me,"

and also:

"The road to recovery has been emotionally and physically hard. "

and:

"There were times when I thought I would never get better. "

and:

"The fact that Bellfield has been found guilty means more than I can say."

Amelie Delagrange

Amelie Delagrange had a "passion for the English language" and moved to Britain to further her studies. She was from Amiens in France. She passed her baccalaureate exams "with ease", and spent six weeks living in Manchester as part of a language course.

She enjoyed and wanted to return to the UK and had been living in Twickenham for just three months when she was killed. She worked at a patisserie in Richmond and had a close circle of both English and French friends.

Her parents Jean Francois and Dominique travelled from France to the Old Bailey. Her mother was quoted saying:

"She was a good student, sensible, and never gave her parents any problems,"

Her boyfriend Olivier Lenfant described her as:

"a sensible girl who thought she lived in a safe area."

In a statement, the parents Dominique and Jean-Francoise said:

"It is nearly four years since our lives and our family's lives were so seriously disrupted, descending into a horror - a living nightmare."

and:

"We would like to have heard from Bellfield a confession of sorts, some evidence of remorse. In this we were disappointed."

A memorial tree and a bench were placed on Twickenham Green by the local community and her family dedicated to her memory.

In the BBC coverage, Jean Francois and Dominique were quoted as attending the trial as their "way of being there in memory of our daughter". Mr Delagrange said:

"This court trial has at least allowed us to understand the final page of her very short existence. "

and:

"Today we have arrived at the last chapter of this very short tragedy of Amelie's life."

Frances and other quoted family detail

In the BBC coverage, the mother of Amelie Delagrange said Bellfield showed an "unbelievable level of arrogance" and that he winked and mouthed obscenities to family members during the trial.

Other details

Disputed/contested elements and innocence

Bellfield maintained his innocence throughout. Police officers could only make conjectures about motivation.

Bellfield’s relationships and controlling behaviour

Former partners described a similar pattern. A couple of weeks after a relationship began, Bellfield was said to take a woman’s mobile phone and swap it with another containing only his number, saying it was all she needed. He was also said to stop her from seeing friends, parents, or going out without his permission, and to constantly phone to check what she was doing.

One former girlfriend’s account was described as Bellfield telling her to sit on a stool in the kitchen and not move following an argument. He then went to bed and she was said to have sat there all night.

Documentary and media framing

The documentary "My Dad the Serial Killer" was shown on Channel 4 on 30 January 2009 and included multiple family members.