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24 June 2011
Last updated at 10:38 ET
The family of murdered 13-year-old Milly Dowler have said they paid "too high a price" for the conviction of Levi Bellfield.
Bellfield was given a whole-life tariff for murdering Milly in Surrey in 2002.
Her father Bob Dowler said the trial had been a "mentally scarring process" and the justice system was loaded unfairly in favour of the criminal.
Milly's mother, Sally, said their daughter had been defamed in court as unhappy and depressed.
She said the trial had been a "truly awful experience" but "at last the man responsible for the cruel murder of our darling daughter" had been brought to justice.
'Pain and grief' Mrs Dowler said Milly was a "happy, vivacious and fun-loving girl" rather than the depressed girl she was described as by Bellfield's defence team.
She added: "To actually see the man in court - a man capable of such a vile and inhuman crime has been grotesque and distressing for us.
"The length the system goes to protect his human rights seems so unfair compared to what we, as a family, have had to endure.
"I hope whilst he is in prison he is treated with the same brutality he dealt out to his victims and that his life is a living hell."
Mrs Dowler also said the "pain and grief" of Milly's murder would "never go away".
She added: "We have just had to learn to live alongside it.
"A day has not passed when we did not think of her and the life she might have led."
Mr Dowler said the trial had been a "truly horrifying ordeal for the family".
He said: "We have had to relive all the emotions and thoughts of nine years ago when Milly first went missing and was then found murdered.
"During our questioning my wife and I both felt as though we were on trial.
"The questioning of my wife was particularly cruel and inhuman, resulting in her collapsing after leaving the stand.
"We despair of a justice system which is so loaded in favour of the perpetrator of the crime."
Bellfield had also faced a charge of attempting to abduct Rachel Cowles, who is now 21, but the jury was discharged and there will be no retrial.
Defence lawyers cited an "avalanche of adverse publicity" following his conviction for murdering Milly Dowler on Thursday.
Speaking outside court Ms Cowles said she was "hurt and angry" by what she called media coverage which had "robbed her of justice".
Milly's remains were found in Yateley Heath Wood, Hampshire, six months after she was last seen.
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Bellfield was given a whole-life tariff for murdering Milly in Surrey in 2002.
Her father Bob Dowler said the trial had been a "mentally scarring process" and the justice system was loaded unfairly in favour of the criminal.
Milly's mother, Sally, said their daughter had been defamed in court as unhappy and depressed.
She said the trial had been a "truly awful experience" but "at last the man responsible for the cruel murder of our darling daughter" had been brought to justice.
'Pain and grief' Mrs Dowler said Milly was a "happy, vivacious and fun-loving girl" rather than the depressed girl she was described as by Bellfield's defence team.
She added: "To actually see the man in court - a man capable of such a vile and inhuman crime has been grotesque and distressing for us.
"The length the system goes to protect his human rights seems so unfair compared to what we, as a family, have had to endure.
"I hope whilst he is in prison he is treated with the same brutality he dealt out to his victims and that his life is a living hell."
Mrs Dowler also said the "pain and grief" of Milly's murder would "never go away".
She added: "We have just had to learn to live alongside it.
"A day has not passed when we did not think of her and the life she might have led."
Mr Dowler said the trial had been a "truly horrifying ordeal for the family".
He said: "We have had to relive all the emotions and thoughts of nine years ago when Milly first went missing and was then found murdered.
"During our questioning my wife and I both felt as though we were on trial.
"The questioning of my wife was particularly cruel and inhuman, resulting in her collapsing after leaving the stand.
"We despair of a justice system which is so loaded in favour of the perpetrator of the crime."
Bellfield had also faced a charge of attempting to abduct Rachel Cowles, who is now 21, but the jury was discharged and there will be no retrial.
Defence lawyers cited an "avalanche of adverse publicity" following his conviction for murdering Milly Dowler on Thursday.
Speaking outside court Ms Cowles said she was "hurt and angry" by what she called media coverage which had "robbed her of justice".
Milly's remains were found in Yateley Heath Wood, Hampshire, six months after she was last seen.
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