Bellfield to face murder trials

Marsha McDonnell was attacked after getting off a bus

Nightclub doorman Levi Bellfield, accused of murdering Marsha McDonnell and French student Amelie Delagrange, will stand trial next year.

Mr Bellfield, 38, appeared on a videolink from Woodhill Prison at a pre-trial hearing at the Old Bailey in central London on Friday.

Judge Christopher Moss set a trial date of 16 April next year.

He is accused of killing Miss Delagrange, 22, in August 2004, and Miss McDonnell, 19, in February 2003.

Further charges

The video link was briefly lost when the court room was affected by a power cut.

Mr Bellfield was remanded in custody until 3 October when he is due to appear for another pre-trial hearing.

Miss McDonnell died after she was struck on the head in Hampton, south west London, near her home in February 2003. She was returning from a night out with friends.

Miss Delagrange, who had moved to England to practice her English, died of severe head injuries following an attack on Twickenham Green, west London in August 2004.

Mr Bellfield has also been charged with the attempted murders of former convent school head girl Kate Sheedy, 18, and Irma Dragoshi, 36.

Miss Sheedy was attacked after getting off a bus in Isleworth on 28 May 2004. She was hit by a car, which then tried to reverse over her.

Ms Dragoshi was alleged to have been attacked in Longford, west London, on 16 December 2003.

Mr Bellfield has also been charged with the kidnap and false imprisonment of a fifth woman, Anna-Maria Rennie, on 15 October 2001.