Thirty years after the 1996 murders of Lin and Megan Russell, a new episode of the podcast "On The Case" is delving into the unanswered questions and the potential connection of serial killer Levi Bellfield. Lin Russell, 45, and her six-year-old daughter Megan were killed, while Megan's older sister, Josie, then nine, survived the attack in Chillenden, Kent.
Michael Stone was convicted of the murders a year later, following a BBC "Crimewatch" reconstruction. Stone, who has maintained his innocence, is currently serving a life sentence. His case is under review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which will determine if it warrants referral to the Court of Appeal. If Stone is exonerated, it would represent one of the longest-standing miscarriages of justice in British history.
In an interview for "The Crime Desk," Stone asserted that serial killer Levi Bellfield was involved in the killings. Bellfield is currently serving multiple life sentences for other murders, including those of Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell, and Amélie Delagrange. In 2022, Bellfield reportedly signed a written confession admitting to the Chillenden murders, though he later withdrew it. Paul Bacon, Stone's solicitor, has stated that Bellfield signed another confession. However, the CCRC rejected this document, deeming Bellfield's testimony not credible.
Matt Young, a reporter featured in the podcast, told "On The Case" that Stone's legal team believes the police did not adequately consider Bellfield's confession. "As far as Stone's legal team are concerned, the police never believed Bellfield's confession," Young stated. He added that while the team may not place significant hope in Bellfield's statement, they maintain his involvement. Young noted that Bacon, Stone's long-time solicitor, spent considerable time interviewing Bellfield in prison over approximately a year, describing the process as extensive and Bellfield's involvement as significant.
During his investigation for the podcast, Young spoke with residents in Chillenden. He reported that none of the locals he interviewed, including those present at the time of the murders who had spoken with the police, believed Michael Stone was guilty. "Every resident we spoke to, including people who were there at the time, who spoke to police during their investigation, all the neighbours – every single one of them just finds it impossible to believe it was Michael Stone," Young said.
