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Bouncer 'beat students to death' Bouncer 'beat students to death'
(20 minutes later)
A nightclub doorman murdered two female students and attacked three other women, the Old Bailey has heard. A nightclub doorman murdered two female students and attacked three other women after stalking them at bus stops and on buses, the Old Bailey has heard.
French student Amelie Delagrange, 22, and gap year student Marsha McDonnell, 19, both died after being struck on the head with blunt objects.French student Amelie Delagrange, 22, and gap year student Marsha McDonnell, 19, both died after being struck on the head with blunt objects.
All the attacks happened in a small part of south-west London between October 2001 and August 2004. The attacks were in south-west London between October 2001 and August 2004.
Levi Bellfield, 39, from West Drayton, west London, denies two murder charges and five other charges.Levi Bellfield, 39, from West Drayton, west London, denies two murder charges and five other charges.
Mr Bellfield is also charged with the attempted murder of 33-year-old Irma Dragoshi and causing her grievous bodily harm, and attempting to murder former convent school head girl Kate Sheedy, then 18.
He further denies the kidnap and false imprisonment of Anna-Maria Rennie, then 17, on 14 October 2001.
Bellfield, a well-built, 6ft 1in tall, left-handed man, has tattoos and worked as a doorman and a car clamper.Bellfield, a well-built, 6ft 1in tall, left-handed man, has tattoos and worked as a doorman and a car clamper.
Similar casesSimilar cases
Brian Altman, prosecuting, said: "There are such similarities between the offences that the chances of them having been committed by two or more men working independently can safely and sensibly be excluded, such that all the offences were the work of one man and that man was Levi Bellfield." Brian Altman, prosecuting, said there were so many similarities between the offences that "they were the work of one man and that man was Levi Bellfield".
Miss McDonnell was "bludgeoned to death" just yards from her front door as she made her way home from a night out with friends in February 2003. He said attacks were carried out on women who had got off buses or were at bus stops.
These women were targeted victims of a predatory man who stalked bus stops and bus routes in vehicles looking for young women to attack Brian Altman, prosecuting
Mr Altman said both Marsha McDonnell and Kate Sheedy were followed by a man in a car as they travelled on well-lit buses.
He said: "Although the lighting inside the buses was intended to help passengers, it would also come to have a "more sinister purpose which could never have been foreseen".
"It allowed the attacker of these women to see into the bus from the outside.
"Thus these women were not chance victims of a street attacker," Mr Altman said.
"These women were targeted victims of a predatory man who stalked bus stops and bus routes in vehicles looking for young women to attack."
Marsha McDonnell was "bludgeoned to death" just yards from her front door after she had got off a bus and was making her way home from a night out with friends in February 2003.
She died from severe head injuries following the attack in Priory Road.She died from severe head injuries following the attack in Priory Road.
Miss Delagrange died of severe head injuries following an attack on Twickenham Green, west London in August 2004. Miss Delagrange died of severe head injuries following an attack on Twickenham Green, west London in August 2004. She had missed her bus stop and was walking home.
BELLFIELD CHARGES The murder of Amélie Delagrange (above) at Twickenham Green on 20 August 2004The attempted murder of Kate Sheedy at Worton Road, Isleworth, on 28 May 2004The attempted murder of Irma Dragoshi at Longford Village on 16 December 2003Unlawfully and maliciously causing grievous bodily harm to Irma Dragoshi The murder of Marsha McDonnell on 4 February 2003Kidnapping Anna-Maria Rennie at Hospital Bridge Road, Twickenham, on 15 October 2001The false imprisonment of Anna-Maria RennieBELLFIELD CHARGES The murder of Amélie Delagrange (above) at Twickenham Green on 20 August 2004The attempted murder of Kate Sheedy at Worton Road, Isleworth, on 28 May 2004The attempted murder of Irma Dragoshi at Longford Village on 16 December 2003Unlawfully and maliciously causing grievous bodily harm to Irma Dragoshi The murder of Marsha McDonnell on 4 February 2003Kidnapping Anna-Maria Rennie at Hospital Bridge Road, Twickenham, on 15 October 2001The false imprisonment of Anna-Maria Rennie
Mr Bellfield is also charged with the attempted murders of Irma Dragoshi, then 33, and former convent school head girl Kate Sheedy, then 18.
In December 2003, Mrs Dragoshi was attacked at a bus stop in the village of Longford, near Heathrow Airport with a blunt instrument and was left with amnesia.In December 2003, Mrs Dragoshi was attacked at a bus stop in the village of Longford, near Heathrow Airport with a blunt instrument and was left with amnesia.
Kate Sheedy suffered extensive injuries when she was hit by a car which reversed back over her before driving off in May 2004. Violent struggle
Circumstantial evidence Kate Sheedy suffered extensive injuries when she got off a bus and was hit by a car which reversed back over her before driving off in May 2004.
Mr Bellfield further denies the kidnap and false imprisonment of Anna-Maria Rennie, then 17, on 14 October 2001. Anna-Maria Rennie, who now lives in Spain, was at a bus stop in Twickenham, south-west London, when an attempt was made to bundle her into a car.
Ms Rennie, who now lives in Spain, was at a bus stop in Twickenham, south-west London, when an attempt was made to bundle her into a car.
Mr Altman said: "As he tried to get her to the car, despite being absolutely petrified, she kicked and struggled violently.Mr Altman said: "As he tried to get her to the car, despite being absolutely petrified, she kicked and struggled violently.
"It paid off because she managed to break away about 1.5 metres from the car.""It paid off because she managed to break away about 1.5 metres from the car."
She described her attacker as fat with tattoos.She described her attacker as fat with tattoos.
Mr Altman said there was direct and "compelling" circumstantial evidence linking Mr Bellfield to the crimes. Mr Altman said there was both direct and "compelling" circumstantial evidence linking Mr Bellfield to the crimes.
The cases of Miss McDonnell, Miss Delagrange and Miss Sheedy were linked by the "non-coincidental presence" at each of a vehicle associated with Mr Bellfield, he said.
The court also heard Miss McDonnell and Kate Sheedy were followed by their attacker as they travelled on well-lit buses, Mr Altman said.
The case continues.The case continues.