Milly's sister 'knew something bad had happened' when she didn't come home

Gemma told police 13-year-old Milly would not have run away or got into a stranger's car.

In a statement read to the court, Gemma, then 16, said she and her parents became alarmed when Milly failed to turn up from school nine years ago.

She said: "I knew immediately that something bad had happened to Milly and that she had been abducted. There is no way she would ever have run away from home or gone off with someone without telling us."

She added: "I do not think Milly would have got into a stranger's car or gone off with a stranger unless he told her something really convincing. She may have got into a car with someone she knew or trusted."

Gemma said she and Milly had been close. Milly had been sleeping in her bedroom for the previous three months after they watched a scary film.

She added: "We would go to bed at the same time and lie in the room chatting about our day. Milly and I didn't have any secrets and she would tell me about boys at school she fancied."

Gemma, now 25, sat holding hands with her father, Bob, as the statement was read. Her mother, Sally, was not at court.

Mrs Dowler collapsed in tears on Tuesday as she gave evidence.

Levi Bellfield, 43, denies abducting and murdering Milly and attempting to kidnap Rachel Cowles, 11, in March 2002.

Milly disappeared after leaving Walton-on-Thames station in Surrey and beginning the walk to her home along Station Avenue.