Michael Stone Gives DNA Sample in 1996 Russell Murders Review After Bellfield Confession
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 9
Michael Stone Gives DNA Sample in 1996 Russell Murders Review After Bellfield Confession
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 9
Summary
Michael Stone is due to provide fresh DNA on Thursday as the Criminal Cases Review Commission re-examines his convictions for the 1996 murders of Lin Russell, 45, and her daughter Megan, 6.
The new sample is part of ongoing forensic work triggered after serial killer Levi Bellfield reportedly confessed to the killings, with Stone's lawyers arguing earlier tests found none of his DNA on key exhibits including a shoelace.
Stone, serving three life sentences, was convicted in 1998 and again in 2001 after his first conviction was quashed; later CCRC and court challenges failed before the case was reopened in 2023.
The CCRC said it is exploring forensic and other lines of inquiry to decide whether there is a real possibility the Court of Appeal would overturn the convictions, while former detective Colin Sutton said he sees no way Bellfield committed the murders.
A controversial conviction, a serial killer's confession. After 30 years, will DNA finally reveal the real murderer?
Why would a serial killer confess to murders he didn't commit, and could his lies derail the search for justice?
The Russell Murders: 30-Year DNA Breakthrough Could Overturn Michael Stone’s Conviction
Overview
Thirty years after the shocking murders of Dr. Lin Russell and her daughter Megan in Kent, new DNA testing is underway, offering hope for answers in a case long marked by controversy. Michael Stone, twice convicted and imprisoned for 26 years, has always denied involvement, and his conviction was based on disputed evidence, including an arrest made on a psychiatrist’s recommendation and a lack of direct forensic links. The renewed forensic review aims to resolve doubts that have persisted for decades, potentially bringing long-awaited closure to the victims’ family and the community still haunted by the tragedy.