Raab seeks legal advice to block Bellfield’s plan to marry

SERIAL killer Levi Bellfield’s plan to marry in jail prompted a government review yesterday as Boris Johnson said he was “sickened and appalled”.

Dominic Raab, the Justice Secretary, is taking urgent legal advice to see if there is a way he can block the application by Bellfied to marry his fiancée, said to be a prison visitor in her 40s whom he has befriended while in the high-security Frankland jail in county Durham. Mr Raab said the Government’s planned Bill of Rights would aim to close the loophole that let criminals like Bellfield marry in jail under Article 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

“This is the kind of case where we need written down in UK law a clear set of criteria, that shouldn’t be trapped by an elastic interpretation of human rights,” he said. “I think most people will think it defies common sense that the Government can’t insist, in relation to Category A high-security prisoners, the proper safeguarding consideration is taken into account.”

Bellfield has applied for permission to marry while he is serving two whole life orders for murdering Marsha Mcdonnell, 19, Amelie Delagrange, 22, and Milly Dowler, 13.

It is understood that the woman began corresponding with Bellfield after he wrote to her two years ago. She now visits him weekly, according to The Sun.

His right to marry is protected under the ECHR’S Article 12 and the decision can generally only be refused if there is a safety risk or a legal objection.

Ministry of Justice lawyers believe there may be a chance to challenge under a provision in the Marriage Act that lets a prison governor object to their building being used for a wedding.

This has been potentially overridden by subsequent case law, which could let Bellfield mount a legal challenge.