The Controversy Surrounding Levi Bellfield’s Civil Partnership

Recently, a new law has been enforced that prevents the most serious offenders from getting married behind bars. This law came into effect after Levi Bellfield’s civil partnership was blocked. Bellfield is a convicted murderer who abducted and killed 13-year-old Milly Dowler, along with other heinous crimes, and is serving two whole-life sentences.

There was a public outcry when it was revealed that Bellfield, one of the UK’s most notorious criminals, was set to marry in prison after getting engaged to a female visitor. Despite challenges and legal battles, Bellfield managed to secure legal aid worth up to £30,000 to fight for his right to marry on human rights grounds. However, the Ministry of Justice vowed to change the law to prevent such events from happening in the future.

In response to the impending wedding, Bellfield altered his marriage application to instead apply for a civil partnership. This move prompted the government to hasten the implementation of the new law. The legislation, which falls under the Victims and Prisoners Act, affects more than 70 individuals serving whole-life orders, such as Rose West and Wayne Couzens.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed the importance of prioritizing the rights of victims over those who have committed heinous crimes. The new law aims to prevent offenders from enjoying moments in life that were taken away from their victims. Mahmood emphasized the need to support and provide justice to the victims of such crimes.

While the law prohibits marriage for killers serving whole-life sentences, there are provisions for exceptional circumstances where the justice secretary can permit ceremonies to take place. The Ministry of Justice maintains the authority to make decisions based on specific situations.

The controversy surrounding Levi Bellfield’s civil partnership sheds light on the complexities of allowing serious offenders to partake in life events while serving time for their crimes. The implementation of the new law reflects a shift towards prioritizing the needs and rights of victims over those of the perpetrators. It also sets a precedent for how such cases will be handled in the future, ensuring that justice is served and victims are not further tormented by witnessing offenders celebrating events that were denied to their loved ones.