Serial killer Levi Bellfield has been prevented from having a civil partnership under a new law that prohibits the most serious offenders from getting married behind bars. Bellfield, who is serving two whole-life orders for multiple murders, including that of Milly Dowler, applied for a civil partnership recently, prompting the government to implement the restriction from Friday. Previously, Bellfield had sought legal aid to challenge a decision blocking his marriage to his girlfriend. The new law, part of the Victims and Prisoners Act, aims to prevent heinous criminals from enjoying important life events they denied their victims. Victims and their families should not have to endure seeing offenders celebrate moments that were taken from their loved ones, according to Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood. While prisoners serving whole-life orders will be denied the opportunity to marry or have a civil partnership, the lord chancellor can grant exceptions in exceptional circumstances. Bellfield, who received a life sentence for multiple murders and the attempted murder of another victim, was convicted of abducting and killing Milly Dowler in 2011.
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