"It Feels Like We Are the Criminals": The Dowlers and Rachel Cowles After the Bellfield Trial, 2011
At the end of Levi Bellfield's trial in June 2011, Milly Dowler's family, Surrey Police and Rachel Cowles spoke to the press; Milly's sister said the family felt "like we are the criminals." Bellfield is heard only in brief police-interview clips.
- Subject
- Levi Bellfield
- Recorded
- about 2011
- Runtime
- 3:38
Content warning: Concerns the abduction and murder of a 13-year-old girl and the attempted abduction of an 11-year-old girl. No graphic detail.
The Recording
This is a 3-minute-38-second video posted on June 24, 2011, the day Levi Bellfield was sentenced, by Surrey and Berkshire Media, the regional newspaper publisher behind the Surrey Advertiser. It gathers the statements made to the press at the end of his Old Bailey trial for the murder of Milly Dowler: a family statement, Milly's mother Sally Dowler, her sister Gemma Dowler, a Surrey Police officer, and Rachel Cowles. Two short excerpts of Bellfield's police interview are cut in; in them he says only "No," "No comment" and "No," about 3 seconds in all.
Historical Context
Amanda "Milly" Dowler, 13, disappeared on her way home in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, on March 21, 2002; her remains were found in Yateley Heath Woods, Hampshire, in September 2002. Levi Bellfield had been convicted in 2008 of the murders of Marsha McDonnell and Amélie Delagrange and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, and was serving a whole life order when he was tried for Milly's murder.
Circumstances
Bellfield was found guilty of Milly Dowler's abduction and murder at the Old Bailey on June 23, 2011, and received a second whole life order on June 24. He had also been charged with the attempted abduction of Rachel Cowles, then 11, in the same area on March 20, 2002. After the guilty verdict, newspaper coverage led Mr. Justice Wilkie to discharge the jury on that count, which was left on file.
What the Recording Covers
The family statement notes that the next day, June 25, would have been Milly's 23rd birthday and asks to be left alone. Sally Dowler says seeing "that man" in court was "grotesque and distressing," that the protection of his rights "seems so unfair," and that she hopes his life in prison "is a living hell." Gemma Dowler, who was 16 when her sister disappeared, says she "had no other choice but to grow up," that the scales "seem to be tipped so much towards the defendant," and that "it feels like we are the criminals"; she remembers Milly as "a shoulder to cry on, a fashion guru." In the interview excerpts, the detective notes that Bellfield never denied the crime and asks whether his actions were those of an innocent man; Bellfield answers "No." The Surrey Police officer announces the whole life sentence, pays tribute to Bob, Sally and Gemma Dowler, and says the force was "enormously disappointed" that the jury "were not given the opportunity to reach their verdict" on the Rachel Cowles count because of media coverage. Rachel Cowles says giving evidence "brought back many memories" and that she hopes to "put this ordeal behind me."
What Makes the Recording Significant
It brings together, on the day of sentencing, the family's public reaction, the police statement on the collapse of the Cowles count, and a statement by Rachel Cowles in her own name.
Archival Importance
A same-day local-press record, posted by the Surrey Advertiser's publisher.
Important Caveats
The first "No" (01:11) is attributed to him by context. The reader of the birthday statement is not identified (possibly Bob Dowler), and the Surrey Police officer is not named. Sally Dowler's wish that Bellfield be treated "with the same brutality he dealt out to his victims" is her own statement. Rachel Cowles was the subject of an attempted-abduction charge, not a sexual-assault charge, and speaks under her own name; the count against Bellfield was left on file, with no verdict. In January 2016, Surrey Police announced that Bellfield had admitted Milly's abduction and murder; he later denied it.
Dowler Family Member: Tomorrow, Saturday the 25th of June, would have been Milly's 23rd birthday, and as always, we will remember the happy, fun-loving and talented girl that she was, but who was never allowed to fulfill her potential. This is a gap in our lives that can never be filled. We would ask now to be left alone, to try and put the pieces of our life back together, and try and look to the future.
Sally Dowler: To actually see that man in court, a man capable of such a vile and inhuman crime, has been grotesque and distressing for us. The length the system goes to protect his human rights seems so unfair compared to what we as a family have had to endure. I hope, whilst he is in prison, he is treated with the same brutality he dealt out to his victims, and that his life is a living hell. For a mother to bury her child in any circumstances is truly agonizing, but to bury your child when you know she died in such an appallingly awful way is terrible.
Levi Bellfield: No. [captions "no"; not in Whisper; probably the end of "No comment" as in V169, cut by the edit]
Detective: That's exactly what you said, "No comment." Found that very interesting, I'll tell you [unclear: "for while" (captions) / "for a while" (second machine pass); V169 has the same phrase, probably "why"]: you didn't deny it. (captions; second machine pass fragmentary)
Levi Bellfield: No comment. (captions; not in Whisper or the second machine pass)
Detective: You didn't say, "It's not me." (captions; second machine pass "We didn't say, it's not me")
Gemma Dowler: When this all happened nine years ago, I was 16. I had no other choice but to grow up. I feel I have missed out on some wonderful teenage years. I waved goodbye to the happy family we were, and I realized life would never be the same again. The scales seem to be tipped so much towards the defendant rather than us, the family who have suffered an almighty loss. It feels like we are the criminals, and our family has been on trial (second machine pass; Whisper and captions "a half family"). She was the best sister anyone could ask for. She was a shoulder to cry on, a fashion guru, a person who could make you laugh even when you felt sad, and she would light up a room as soon as she entered. She really was a star.
Detective: Do you honestly believe that your actions over the 21st and the 22nd of March 2002 are the actions of an innocent man?
Levi Bellfield: No.
Detective: [unclear: "Then are you" (Whisper) / "And are you" (captions; second machine pass gives both)] an innocent man?
Surrey Police Officer: Serial killer Levi Bellfield has today been given a whole life sentence for murdering 13-year-old Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler. This ends nine years of uncertainty for Milly's parents, Bob and Sally, and her sister Gemma, and I want to pay tribute to them for their outstanding strength and courage. The judge has discharged the jury on the attempted kidnap of 11-year-old Rachel Cowles, due to the inappropriate level of media reporting. We are enormously disappointed that the jury were not given the opportunity to reach their verdict on Rachel, due to the media coverage in some quarters since yesterday afternoon. I would like to pay tribute to Rachel, who showed enormous strength and courage in facing Bellfield in court.
Rachel Cowles: Giving evidence in court brought back many memories, and I hope now I can put this ordeal behind me and move on with my life. I'm pleased that justice has been served for the Dowlers today, and that the verdicts will start to bring some closure to them. And lastly, I would like to thank my family and friends for all their [unclear: "hard love" (Whisper, captions and second machine pass); sense unclear] and support during this time and the last nine years. Thank you. [03:35: speech ends; clip runs to 03:38.] ---