Sister of Convicted Killer Michael Stone Breaks Silence Amid Case Review
The sister of Michael Stone, the man convicted for the brutal 1996 murders of Lin Russell and her daughter Megan, has spoken publicly for the first time as investigators reopen the case. Barbara Stone, 63, has voiced cautious optimism that new forensic analysis could lead to her brother's release after nearly three decades behind bars.
Chillenden Murders Case Under Fresh Scrutiny
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is currently conducting a comprehensive review of evidence that secured Stone's conviction. Michael Stone, now 65, was found guilty of killing 45-year-old Lin Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan in a savage hammer attack that shocked the nation.
The horrific incident occurred on July 9, 1996, as Lin Russell and her two daughters were walking home from a swimming gala in Chillenden near Canterbury. The victims were tied up and bludgeoned in what remains one of Britain's most notorious murder cases. Only nine-year-old Josie Russell survived the attack, though she suffered severe injuries.
Forensic Expert Compiles New Dossier
Forensic scientist Professor Angela Gallop has compiled a detailed dossier that sheds new light on the case. She has called for critical items from the crime scene to be re-analyzed using modern DNA testing techniques that were unavailable at the time of the original investigation.
Among the items being examined are:
- Lin Russell's trousers
- The shoelace used to tie up the victims
- Strips of towel employed as blindfolds and gags
- A balaclava discovered half a mile from the crime scene
Controversial Conviction and Maintained Innocence
Stone was convicted in 1998 and received three life sentences despite the absence of DNA evidence linking him to the crime scene. He has consistently maintained his innocence through two trials, a failed appeal, and multiple attempts to overturn the conviction.
Barbara Stone, a registered mental health nurse, told reporters: "For the first time, the professor is looking at this as a scientist, it's not people-related. She has recreated the scene as a scientist, and there are scenarios that have come out that have surprised both Mick and me."
Key Witness Credibility Questioned
The case review includes renewed scrutiny of career criminal Damien Daley, whose testimony proved crucial in Stone's 2001 retrial. Daley claimed Stone confessed to the murders while they shared a prison cell, evidence that significantly influenced the jury's decision.
Barbara Stone revealed: "In Mick's words, it was Daley who created the miscarriage of justice." She added that Daley has since admitted to lying about the alleged cell confession.
Family's Long Fight for Justice
Barbara Stone speaks with her brother daily at HMP Frankland in County Durham, where he is incarcerated alongside notorious serial killer Levi Bellfield. Remarkably, Bellfield himself claimed responsibility for the Russell murders four years ago, though authorities dismissed his confession as lacking credibility.
Despite serving more than 28 years, Stone has refused to apply for parole since becoming eligible in 2022, believing such an application would constitute an admission of guilt.
"We've been through this before," Barbara Stone acknowledged. "Things start to pick up, but then it all falls through. But he will never give up." She expressed particular hope in advancing DNA technology, noting that recent developments could finally provide the breakthrough her family has awaited for decades.
The CCRC's review represents the latest chapter in one of Britain's most controversial murder cases, with forensic science advancements potentially rewriting a story that has haunted both families for nearly thirty years.
