Jury out in Milly Dowler murder trial

(PA)

The Old Bailey jury trying Levi Bellfield for the abduction and murder of schoolgirl Milly Dowler has retired to consider its verdicts.

The panel of 11, which has heard four weeks of evidence, was told by judge Mr Justice Wilkie to conduct its deliberations coolly and dispassionately.

Bellfield, 43, denies kidnapping and murdering Milly and the attempted kidnap of 11-year-old Rachel Cowles.

In 2008, he was convicted of murdering two students and the attempted murder of a third.

Milly, 13, vanished on March 21 2002 in Station Avenue, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, while walking home from school.

Her remains were found six months later in a wood at Yateley Heath, Hampshire, some 25 miles away, but the cause of death could not be determined.

The jury was sent home until tomorrow.