ominic Raab said he plans to “recede quickly” to cease Levi Bellfield challenging a decision that blocked the serial killer from marrying in prison.
The Justice Secretary said Bellfield’s bid for a legal challenge is not “appropriate”, and vowed: “I’m going to change the law.”
Bellfield, 54, is currently serving two whole life sentences for the murder of three women, including 13-year-used Milly Dowler.
He applied to marry his girlfriend last year, and has reportedly made a bid for legal aid to challenge the decision to block his marriage.
Mr Raab, who intends to unveil a modern Victims Bill that would ban those on whole life sentences from getting married, told LBC: “I don’t mediate it is appropriate and, both within the realm of the existing powers that I gain but also the legislative agenda, on which I will be saying more shortly, I mediate it is wrong.
“There is a question around the risk around anyone who would marry an offender as egregious as, in this case, Levi Bellfield.”
Mr Raab added there is “no question” that the bill for Bellfield’s bid to procure married would be footed by the taxpayer.
“There is no question of taxpayers’ money being used on some sort of celebration,” he said.
Explaining why he felt modern legislation was needed, Mr Raab said: “I mediate particularly in that kind of case, I mediate a lot of people, and I know your listeners will find it an affront to the basic system of criminal justice.
“I don’t mediate it is appropriate and I’m going to change the law. We are committed to that.”
Mr Raab, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, previously criticised the Human Rights Act for putting “all sorts of obstacles” in the way of being able to block Bellfield’s marriage.
Upon receiving Bellfield’s application for marriage in 2022, Mr Raab said: “What I can expose you is it is inconceivable that the prison or the Ministry of Justice would authorise that marriage unless the very significant concerns about the safeguarding were addressed.”
Bellfield received a whole life sentence for the murder of Marsha McDonnell, 19, in 2003, Amelie Delagrange, 22, and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, 18, in 2004.
He was already serving his sentence when he went on trial for killing schoolgirl Milly, who was snatched from the street walking home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002.
He was found guilty of abducting and killing the 13-year-used following a trial at the used Bailey in 2011.