The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said last year there was no way to stop him and that it was determined to change the law.
It’s understood Bellfield recently changed his marriage application to instead apply for a civil partnership.
Image: Milly Dowler was snatched from the street and murdered by Bellfield in 2002. Pic: PA
Image: French student Amelie Delagrange was killed in Twickenham, southwest London
The move is believed to have prompted the government to speed up the introduction of the new law, which comes in today.
The legislation is part of the Victims and Prisoners Act and applies to killers serving whole-life orders, currently more than 70 people including the likes of Rose West, Wayne Couzens and Lucy Letby.
Marriage requests could only previously be refused if a prison governor believed there were security concerns.
“Victims should not be tormented by seeing those who commit the most depraved crimes enjoy the moments in life that were stolen from their loved ones,” said Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
“That is why I have acted as soon as possible to stop these marriages and give victims the support they deserve.”
The justice secretary will retain the right to permit ceremonies in very exceptional circumstances, said MoJ officials.
Three Americans freed from Russian prisons under a landmark exchange deal have landed back in the US.Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan were part of a deal which saw 24 people released in the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. They were welcomed on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland by US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.Asked about […]
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