This piece explains a lot.
Milly Dowler's father was a suspect in her disappearance after police found bondage material at their family home, the Old Bailey is told.
www.bbc.co.uk
And here's what I wrote on another forum on the day of his conviction:
"Levi Bellfield was already serving a whole life tariff in respect of his previous convictions so this trial was, in part I assume, in order to bring some kind of closure for the family. I therefore feel that Bob Dowler's statement that the trial has been 'too high a price to pay' quite extraordinary in the circumstances and feel certain he wouldn't be saying that if all his dirty little secrets were not now in the public demain. As for her sister saying that the day her parents were questioned in court was worse than finding out her sister had been murdered.....well, words fail me.
Milly had been unhappy at home, partly because of the things she found out about her father, as is apparent in some of the things she wrote. He was treated by the police as a suspect.
The case against Levi Bellfield was totally circumstantial.I feel it is ridiculous not to expect the defence to bring this into evidence. They are paid to put other people in the frame, muddy the waters, create doubt. They did their job.
And, having followed the trial, I don't feel that Milly's name was sullied in any way.
Unfortunately, each family statement today seemed to focus on their own suffering caused by the trial.....rather than as a result of the loss of Milly.
I've always thought they have been very dignified throughout the past nine years but I thought they came across badly today."