Michael Stone’s solicitor says Levi Bellfield’s confession could free him after 26 years behind bars
‘This will prove he’s innocent’: Michael Stone’s solicitor says Levi Bellfield’s four-page confession to killing Lin and Megan Russell in hammer attack is an ‘astonishing breakthrough’ that could free client after 26 years behind bars
Levi Bellfield has made a formal confession to murders of Lin and Megan RussellBrutal killings of mother and six-year-old daughter in 1996 shocked the nationLawyers for Bellfield submitted a four-page statement detailing the murders Michael Stone was convicted of murders in 1998 but always claimed innocenceStone’s lawyers now believe Bellfield’s statement ‘will prove he’s innocent’
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Solicitors for Michael Stone say serial killer Levi Bellfield’s confession to the murders of Lin and Megan Russell in Kent in 1996 is an ‘astonishing breakthrough’ that could free their client.
In a harrowing four-page statement, Bellfield has formally confessed to the murders, providing chilling details of the attack.
Lin, 45, her two daughters, nine-year-old Josie and Megan, six, as well as their dog Lucy, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack. Only Josie survived, sustaining horrific injuries.
The deaths in the picturesque village of Chillenden, Kent, 26 years ago shocked the nation.
Michael Stone is currently serving three life sentences for the murders of Mrs Russell and her daughter Megan, who were found bludgeoned to death in Chillenden, Kent, in July 1996.
Stone’s solicitor said he has received a ‘genuine’ four-page statement from Bellfield in which he details his involvement in the killings, which would mean his client had suffered a miscarriage of justice.
Solicitor Paul Bacon said: ‘I can say I have received a four-page statement from Bellfield, which is a genuine confession, it’s an absolutely astonishing breakthrough.
‘I will now meet with colleagues following this remarkable development to finally, after many years, get freedom for Michael Stone. This is the evidence that will prove he is innocent.’
Lawyers for Michael Stone, who is currently serving three life sentences for the murders of Mrs Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan, claim he could be a victim of a miscarriage of justice
In a harrowing four-page statement, convicted serial killer Levi Bellfield has formally confessed to the murders of Lin and Megan Russell, providing chilling details of the attack
Amelie Delagrange, 22 whose body was found Thursday August 19 2004, with a serious head injury lying on Twickenham Green, south west London
Levi Bellfield is currently serving life in prison for the murder of schoolgirl Millie Dowler
Bellfield is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of schoolgirl Millie Dowler.
He has also been convicted of murdering Marsha McDonnell and Amélie Delagrange and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, and will never be considered for parole. Bellfield is thought to be the only criminal in UK legal history to be serving two whole-life orders.
Michael Stone has consistently insisted his innocence, and Bellfield’s statement could mean he has suffered a miscarriage of justice.
The document, seen by The Sun, goes into appalling detailing about how Bellfield brutally attacked the family and even killed the family dog after it bit him.
Barrister Mark McDonald said on Twitter yesterday: ‘For over 21 years I have represented Michael Stone who was wrongly convicted of the Chillenden murders.
‘Levi Belfield has made a full written confession to the crimes.
‘Michael Stone is innocent and must be immediately released from prison.
‘Stone has been in prison for 26 years despite plenty of evidence that this is a miscarriage of justice.’
Lin, 45, her two daughters, six-year-old Megan and nine-year-old Josie, as well as their dog Lucy, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack. Only Josie survived. The deaths in the picturesque village of Chillenden, Kent in 1996 shocked the nation
Marsha McDonnell, 19, with a friend before her murder in February 2003 in Hampton
Lin Russell, 45, her two daughters, six-year-old Megan (above with her mother) and nine-year-old Josie, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack in 1996
Bellfield’s statement says that he was wearing a ‘pair of marigold washing up gloves’ and had the hammer in his right hand as he stopped the Russell family walking along a lane.
He claims that his intention was ‘to just attack Lin’, but quickly changed his mind on hearing the screams, presumably of Megan and Josie Russell.
The 14-paragraph statement then goes into detail about how he led the Russell off of a track before killing them, and then driving back to his Twickenham home before heading off to work.
He claims that the following day he threw the hammer he used to carry out the attacks into the Thames near Walton, Surrey.
The publication reports that Bellfield made the statement to solicitor Paul Bacon, who represents Michael Stone.
He ends the statement by saying it was the first time he had ‘committed a crime and another person has been arrested for it’, before apologising to Stone and the Russell family ‘for my heinous acts’.
Michael Stone (pictured) is currently imprisoned after twice being convicted of the Russell murders. He has consistently insisted his innocence, and Bellfield’s statement could mean he has suffered a miscarriage of justice
Stone has twice been found guilty of their murders and is serving three life sentences, but no scientific or identification evidence links him to the scene. Pictured: Police revisiting the scene in 2001
It is believed the document has been sent to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) which has the power to investigate alleged miscarriages of justice.
Last year, Mr McDonald said a bootlace found at the scene could be an ‘absolutely huge’ and crucial piece of evidence.
He said there is ‘no forensic, no identification evidence at all’ against Stone, and said the bootlace could yield DNA that would ‘undoubtedly point away’ from his client.
Kent Police said its position on Stone’s conviction remains unchanged.
Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Fotheringham of Kent Police said: ‘Following two trials at which Stone was found guilty by a jury on both occasions, and an appeal to the High Court, Michael Stone remains convicted of the murders of Lin and Megan Russell, and the attempted murder of Josie Russell in 1996.
‘Michael Stone made an application to apply for a Judicial Review in respect of his conviction in September 2012. The Honourable Mr Justice Blake ordered that permission for the application should be refused.
‘The Criminal Case Review Commission commenced an extensive re-examination of the murder investigation in 2017 and has had access to all forensic evidence, documentation and exhibits from the original investigation, the review by Hampshire Police, details of the two Crown Court trials and appeals to the High Court.
‘The shoelace which was seized as part of the original investigation was made available to the CCRC. All evidence from the examinations on the shoelace were recorded and disclosed to the CCRC.’
