Milly's parents

[lynbrown]

Why on earth is all the info about Milly's parents being brought out in court for the whole world to hear? It has no possible effect on her murder. I think it is shocking and should not be allowed.

[DTCwordfan]

who is Milly? Be more specific...

[boxtops]

I haven't heard all the news, but I heard that Milly had left a letter for them apologising for being such a disappointment to them. I don't ever remember hearing about that before. It makes one wonder if there is more to this than we have been told. It seems so long after the event.

[boxtops]

Milly Dowler, DT.

[sherrardk]

From what I have seen I couldn't agree more. They are not the suspects so what has their private life got to do with anything? It's appalling that a suspected murderer's defense team can put them through even more trauma in this manner in addition, no doubt, to having all the gruesome details raked over again.

[DTCwordfan]

I have lived outside the UK and still am clueless to this one

[DTCwordfan]

OK got you now, thas to Wilki.....

[Barmaid]

Because the defendant is running an "I didn't do it" defence. One of the ways of running this defence is to highlight other evidential items which might, just might, lead the jury to doubt that the defendant did it. By highlighting the "not the favourite daughter" "Bdsm porn" stuff etc the defence is trying to show that there is a slight doubt that Bellfield is guilty. All he needs is reasonable doubt. Bellfield does not need to prove who did it, the prosecution need to prove he did.

He might be a thoroughly nasty piece of work but he is still innocent until proven guilty. That's not to say I do not sympathise with the family, just simply answering your question.

[pretty_snowdrop]

I totally agree. Haven't they been through enough. It is not them in the dock being prosecuted.

[sherrardk]

Whilst I agree that justice has to be done and be seen to be done, maybe the judge could have stopped it being reported upon, doesn't seem to be something that should be broadcast all over the place.

[boxtops]

DT http://news.sky.com/s...ial_Of_Levi_Bellfield

[DTCwordfan]

Murders and Rapes etc can be brutal as the defence look to establish exonerating facts and scenarios that might mitigate their clients. Yes, it can be brutal, but it is an essential part of the process as if it was to flush out innocence, then they have done their job.

Part of the issue with AB that I have, as with some of the gutter press and comments from folk that I know, is their want to prejudge guilt until the trial is over - and then we must also remember that we are not there to hear every word.

One strange one going through at the moment is the Italians going for Amanda Knox for slandering the Iti police. How bizarre is that as there is an appeal against her murder about to start and there is strong evidence that she is actually not guilty (a Mafiaose coming forward to saying that she didn't do it but he knows who did and apparently also some cred evidence involved). You would have thought that they would have delayed this one until the appeal was over as, may be, she is right.

Back to this one, wait for the full case to come out......

[stokemaveric]

its levi belfield that is accused of murdering milly,why should the familys home life be dragged into the equation???...its him on trial not the families home life...

[Barmaid]

No, they are not being prosecuted prettysnowdrop, but equally the defendant is entitled to put up his defence.

There has to be very good reasons for reporting restrictions which are based on statute.

Yes it is awful for them - I can't begin to imagine the effect of the last 9 years - never mind the trauma of this trial, but the defendant is perfectly entitled to run his defence as he sees fit.

[Barmaid]

Well DT said it far better than I ever could.

[DTCwordfan]

There are even cases where the prosecution assume that they have a case and its watertight. One infamous one was the Robert Durst trial in Houston....Durst is an heir of the Revlon family and he murdered his male lover, chopped up the body and threw it in the Houston Ship Channel.

The prosecution went for Murder 1 which in Tx means a visit to the injection chair, eight folk pushing syringes...... They were complacent though and weren't professional. Result the Defence managed to establish a reasonable amount of doubt and therefore a Not Guilty verdict - Murder 1 rightly so must be unequivocal in proof. If they had gone for Murder 2 (Life) and accepts some circumstantial evidence, then they would have had him. However, such prosecutional arrogance should not be tolerated in the system, either in the US or even here, two countries (bar Louisiana) that accept Common Law as their legal system.

Hence I advocate the defence have EVERY right to explore all their avenues to potential mitigation, however abhorrent they may seem to the world and family involved.

[DTCwordfan]

And then, if he is found guilty after such extensive examination, then nail the bastard and lock him away for the full sentence - and hopefully they can get him impaled into Rampton.

We should bear in mind that if he ends up in and a-la Strangeways, his bum will be probably be cannon-fodder to the Boys as that is a way they tend to handle child murderers and rapists in prison - and hence a high suicide rate as well for such convicts - as the Prison Service will also turn a convenient blind-eye to such "activities" for "natural justice" to proceed.

[WuTang]

You are a queer fish!

Your knowledge in legal matters is as poor as your attempts at humour

try ,Prosecutorial

[nextqueen]

what did he exactly do to her? im wondering what evidence they have to go on.

[nextqueen]

sorry, supposedly .... do to her?!