Serial killer Levi Bellfield confessed to murdering Lin Russell and her daughter Megan during a dialog with a cellmate, lawyers for the man twice convicted of the killings tell.
Michael Stone, now fifty seven, is serving three lifestyles sentences with as a minimum 25 years in penal advanced for the killings in Chillenden, Kent, which disturbed the nation in 1996.
Lin’s elder daughter, Josie, nine, miraculously survived the frenzied attack, by which even the family dog, Lucy, develop into slaughtered. It is no longer known what Josie thinks of the most modern traits, nonetheless she has continuously maintained Stone is responsible.
Stone’s lawyers tell Bellfield confessed in dimension and intimately to a fellow prisoner whom he had grown to belief, and that an fair look confirmed he develop into reach the scene of the murders after they took position.
But in a chilling audio section recorded in his cell and released by his family this night, Bellfield rubbishes the claims that he murdered the pair.
Stone develop into realized responsible in 2001 largely on the strength of a disputed cell confession and has fought a power pleasing battle to optimistic his title.
Milly Dowler murderer Bellfield branded the allegations from Stone’s lawyers the work of a ‘fantasist’ and ‘compulsive liar’.
Serial killer Levi Bellfield (left, a police mugshot) allegedly confessed to murdering Lin Russell and her daughter Megan in 1996. Michael Stone, now fifty seven, (upright, initiating air the Court docket of Charm in 2005) is serving three lifestyles sentences with as a minimum 25 years in penal advanced
The explosive raft of claims and counter claims started this afternoon at a press conference at at 33 Bedford Row Chambers in central London.
Stone’s lawyers announced that they had submitted a file of most modern evidence to the Felony Instances Evaluation Payment (CCRC), which would possibly per chance presumably refer the matter to the Court docket of Charm, which has the energy to quash convictions.
Police delight in disregarded the basis of his appeal.
Stone’s solicitor Paul 1st Baron Beaverbrook mentioned: ‘We now delight in viewed evidence of a beefy confession by Levi Bellfield that he has admitted the Russell murders and within the confession Bellfield describes how he came across Lin Russell and her two adolescents.
‘How he attacked them with a hammer and he explains his motivation for the killing. The confession is detailed and has a call of information that are no longer within the general public domain.
‘We now delight in an fair look who has viewed Levi Bellfield shut to the scene of the murders at about the time they had been committed and importantly now we delight in identified forensic fabric from the scene of the murders which corroborates the confession made by Levi Bellfield.
‘The Russell murders by Levi Bellfield matches perfectly along with his modus operandi. He’s a person known to attack and homicide girls folks. His weapon of decision is a hammer.’
In a recording despatched to national media this night, Bellfield claimed the ‘vile and false’ allegations came from a dialog he had with serial rapist Richard Baker.
Bellfield, who is now known as Yusuf Rahim, mentioned: ‘It appears to be like to be Mr Baker has made an allegation of a so-called cell confession.
‘In my perceive such vile, false allegations don’t warrant a response. They are what they’re – the words of a lonely… rapist who craves the spotlight.’
He alleges Baker develop into ‘ crime’ and watched BBC documentary The Chillenden Murders earlier than he came ahead alleging Bellfield has confessed.
Lin, forty five, and Megan, who develop into correct six, had been the victims of a frenzied attack as they walked along a restful country lane in Kent, on their contrivance encourage from a college swimming gala within the village of Chillenden. They are pictured in an undated handout listing
Shaun Russell along with his vital other Lin and daughters Megan (2nd left) and Josie (upright), who survived the attack. Claims by Stone’s lawyers that Bellfield admitted to the murders had been denied by him in a recorded message from his cell
Josie Russell is now a a success textile artist, who announced her engagement to her boyfriend of 12 years, Iwan Griffith, in August aged 30. She is pictured at dwelling in August 2014
Stone’s lawyers claimed Bellfield mentioned he saw the Russells by chance and went to chat about cramped print which Stone’s pleasing team train would ideal be known by the killer.
Bellfield develop into reportedly terrorized about DNA advances announcing ‘my lifestyles in prison would possibly per chance presumably be over within the occasion that they would possibly per chance presumably characterize it develop into me’ and that it would possibly per chance presumably ‘trot his mom in two’.
Stone’s barrister, Worth McDonald, mentioned: ‘This evidence needs to examined by the Court docket of Charm and, if believed, will lead to the main miscarriage of justice due to the Birmingham Six.’
Mr 1st Baron Beaverbrook mentioned there develop into predicament over Kent Police’s investigation and Mr McDonald mentioned the skill had been ‘unenthusiastic’ when handed the brand new evidence.
Stone’s sister Barbara mentioned the brand new evidence offered her and her brother the ‘biggest hope’ to optimistic his title.
She added: ‘Mick’s been in penal advanced for two decades and that is two decades too long for someone who has no longer committed against the law.
‘He wants you to know he’s terribly hopeful, he fully believes Bellfield has committed these crimes.
CRUCIAL DETAILS OF TRIAL THAT HAVE MADE IT SO CONTENTIOUS
Stone(pictured) develop into convicted on the basis of claims by three penal advanced inmates that he had confessed to them
Though Michael Stone develop into twice realized responsible of murdering Lin and Megan Russell, his case has been contentious.
Stone develop into convicted on the basis of claims by three penal advanced inmates that he had confessed to them.
After one in every of the inmates admitted quickly after the trial ended that that they had lied and one other develop into discredited, a re-trial develop into ordered.
But one in every of the witnesses, Damian Daley, held hasty and mentioned Stone confessed to the hammer murders thru a heating pipe into the next cell at Canterbury Penitentiary, something Stone maintains develop into a lie.
There develop into no forensic evidence to enhance Stone’s conviction.
One explicit point of controversy develop into a shoe lace realized reach the homicide scene, which Stone’s supporters claimed would possibly per chance presumably characterize his innocence nonetheless had been lost by Kent Police.
Officers mentioned the shoelace develop into restful of their possession nonetheless had been DNA examined so in most cases it develop into no longer of stamp.
Police delight in disregarded the deserves of Stone’s appeal present an explanation for.
‘Though we delight in now had our doubts within the past, when he has viewed the contents of the brand new evidence, he’s somewhat confident it is him that’s accomplished it.
‘He’s somewhat hopeful nonetheless, relish myself, we would possibly per chance presumably no longer allow ourselves to assume the justice procedure will seemingly be form to us this time so we remain hopeful nonetheless it all depends upon and depends on the CCRC making the referral.’
Identified because the bus stay killer, Bellfield, forty nine, is at display serving two complete lifestyles phrases, for the murders of Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange, and for the tried homicide of Kate Sheedy(pictured, initiating air the Passe Bailey in 2008)
A spokesman for the CCRC mentioned they got the application from Stone’s lawyers on August 23 and the case is at display below active investigation.
Assistant Chief Constable for the Kent and Essex Severe Crime Directorate, Reduce Downing, mentioned: ‘We in actuality feel it is no longer contemporaneous and is unfair on the victims to continue to raise questions or re-liberate cramped print about the homicide investigation and subsequent conviction of Michael Stone.’
Identified because the bus stay killer, Bellfield, forty nine, is at display serving two complete lifestyles phrases, for the murders of Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange, and for the tried homicide of Kate Sheedy.
Now going below a brand new title after changing to Islam, the conventional wheel clamper triggered outrage by within the smash admitting raping and murdering thirteen-three hundred and sixty five days-frail Milly during a prison interview in Could presumably well well 2015.
It is widely believed by detectives that Bellfield is responsible for a immense decision of different crimes courting encourage to the Eighties.
He has been linked to 24 violent assaults and rapes within the 2 decades earlier than he develop into caught in 2004.
Paul 1st Baron Beaverbrook told a press conference in London(pictured) this afternoon that Milly Dowler’s murderer Bellfield admitted the killings in penal advanced
Stone’s barrister, Worth McDonald, mentioned: ‘This evidence needs to examined by the Court docket of Charm and, if believed, will lead to the main miscarriage of justice due to the Birmingham Six’
HOW JOSIE MANAGED TO COPE AFTER HORRIFIC EVENTS OF 1996
Josie Russell’s rehabilitation after the homicide of her mom and sister develop into a long, gradual job – it develop into a three hundred and sixty five days earlier than she would possibly per chance presumably keep in touch one more time – nonetheless Josie insecure medical doctors along with her progress.
Now, eleven years on, she is a a success textile artist, who announced her engagement to her boyfriend of 12 years, Iwan Griffith, in August aged 30.
The couple met in a pub in Caernarfon on December 31, 2005, whereas Josie develop into at university.
Josie, pictured along with her Welsh mountain pony in 1997, announced her engagement to her boyfriend of 12 years, Iwan Griffith, in August aged 30
The couple met in a pub in Caernarfon on December 31, 2005, whereas Josie develop into at university. Pictured: Josie in 1997
Their romance develop into sparked by their relish of the dramatic Welsh landscape. ‘We aren’t a lovey-dovey couple nonetheless there is relish and mutual appreciate,’ Josie mentioned.
Josie and Iwan now part dwelling, within the foothills of Snowdonia, where she and Megan had lived with their oldsters.
In 2011, the usage of cash from a belief fund and compensation for her injuries, Josie develop into ready to settle encourage the dwelling which the couple delight in lovingly renovated.
Her studio is the bed room that Lin adorned for her when she develop into a cramped lady.
Josie and Iwan now part dwelling, within the foothills of Snowdonia, where she and Megan had lived with their oldsters. Josie is pictured in 2006
It is no longer the first time Stone’s pleasing representatives delight in pointed the finger at Bellfield.
In 2011, Mr 1st Baron Beaverbrook claimed Milly’s killer develop into a larger match for the e-fit of the suspect issued through the police manhunt.
The claims additionally come months after a two-phase BBC documentary aired in Could presumably well well saw a panel of fair consultants re-watch the evidence and questioned whether Bellfield will seemingly be a more seemingly suspect, an accusation he has fiercely denied.
The Russells had been killed in 1996 internal months of transferring to Kent from north Wales. Josie, nine, survived despite awful injuries.
All three had been blindfolded with strips of Josie’s swimming towel as they returned dwelling from a college swimming gala and she and Megan had been tied to trees.
The two girls had been every struck seven events with a hammer, whereas her mom, a geologist, sustained 15 blows to the high, almost severing her mind at the stem.
In October 1998, a jury at Maidstone Crown Court docket realized heroin addict Stone(pictured internal a prison van) responsible of counts of homicide and tried homicide
Josie as a cramped one along with her pet rabbit Domino, at her North Wales Hillside cottage dwelling,(left) and in an undated handout listing
Josie wished intensive neurological remedy for a three hundred and sixty five days earlier than she would possibly per chance presumably also keep in touch one more time. She lives and works as an artist in north Wales, having returned to Gwynedd along with her father quickly after the attack.
Stone develop into realized responsible in 1998.
With none forensic evidence, the jury believed the predominant thrust of the prosecution’s case – three penal advanced inmates who claimed Stone had confessed.
One in every of the inmates admitted quickly after the trial ended that they had lied and one other develop into discredited.
Stone’s pleasing team challenged his conviction and a retrial develop into ordered.
But one in every of the inmates, Damien Daley, then aged 26, maintained Stone had confessed the crime to him.
In gradual 2001, Stone develop into all over one more time realized responsible and given three lifestyles sentences.
Bellfield,(pictured in an undated listing) who now calls himself Yusuf Rahim, is serving a complete-lifestyles tariff after being realized responsible of abducting and killing Milly following a trial at the Passe Bailey. He develop into jailed in 2011
As the raise addressed him, Stone shouted: ‘It wasn’t me your Honour, I did no longer make it!’
Since then Stone has failed in two appeal bids.
Josie, now 30, no longer too long within the past announced her engagement to her boyfriend of 12 years Iwan Griffith, 31, and plans to inaugurate a family of her have.
Milly develop into snatched from the boulevard whereas on her contrivance dwelling from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002
She is convinced the upright man is within the encourage of bars for the homicide of her mom and sister and develop into enraged about the contrivance the family’s wounds had been reopened when the BBC screened the documentary earlier this three hundred and sixty five days called The Chillenden Murders.
‘It did no longer appear to characterize anything,’ she mentioned. ‘We correct delight in to salvage on with our lives. We don’t desire it to come encourage one more time.’
Meanwhile Bellfield has accused Stone of attempting to bribe him to rep the blame for his crimes.
After a circulation of letters from Stone, Bellfield contacted his lawyers to induce the correspondence to stay, calling it ‘somewhat intolerable’.
Bellfield added that he had challenged Stone to a lie detector test.
Stone has spoken about his reluctance to make this claiming he had been urged that his historic past of psychiatric concerns and drug addiction would possibly per chance presumably impact its accuracy.
The killers are both in Durham’s high security Frankland prison, where they’re both being held in separate wings.
Kent Police mentioned Stone’s protests of innocence had been completely examined by the judicial procedure.
Bellfield had been given a complete-lifestyles time duration for murdering Marsha McDonnell, 19, in 2003, (left, in 2011) and murdering Amelie Delagrange, 22,(upright, in 2000) and attempting to homicide Ms Sheedy, 18, in 2004
HAMMER KILLER’S 20-YEAR FIGHT TO CLEAR HIS NAME IN ONE OF UK’S MOST NOTORIOUS CRIMES
July 9 1996 – At around four.25pm Lin Russell and her daughters Megan, six, and Josie, nine, are walking dwelling along Cherry Backyard Lane, reach the village of Chillenden in Kent, after they’re attacked by a person.
Dr Russell and her daughters are blindfolded, tied up with towels and shoelaces and bludgeoned over the high with a hammer, leaving the mom, Megan and the family dog Lucy ineffective. Josie survives.
December 1996 – Josie, who is restful recuperating from excessive head injuries, moves along with her father Shaun to inaugurate a brand new lifestyles in North Wales.
July 1997 – Extra than 9,000 folks are interviewed in connection with the case and over 1,000 statements taken.
July 17 1997 – Michael Stone, from Gillingham, Kent, is arrested and held at Chatham police area, then charged.
September 1997 – Josie attends an identification parade at Rainham police area reach Gillingham to try to rep out the man who killed her mom and sister.
October 1998 – Unemployed Stone appears to be like to be at Maidstone Crown Court docket charged with the hammer attack. He denies the charges.
Stone is speculated to please in admitted committing the attack in a dialogue with one other prisoner – Damien Daley – whereas being held at Canterbury Penitentiary.
Stone have to encourage as a minimum 25 years in prison earlier than he’ll be regarded as for parole
October 23 1998 – On the finish of a three-week trial Stone is realized responsible of murdering Dr Russell and Megan and seeking to homicide Josie, and is given three lifestyles sentences.
2000 – Doubt is raised over the convictions after the On daily basis Mail reviews that two key witnesses in opposition to Stone – Barry Thompson and Daley – had been paid Kent Police informers.
Thompson had told the 1998 trial that Stone described his failure to execute Josie as a ‘mistake’.
January 2001 – Stone is given leave to appeal in opposition to the convictions.
February 2001 – Three judges at the Court docket of Charm formally quash the homicide convictions and whisper a retrial.
October 2001 – Stone is convicted a 2nd time after a trial at Nottingham Crown Court docket.
March 2004 – Stone’s lawyers remove the upright to 1 other appeal.
January 2005 – Three Court docket of Charm judges throw out his 2nd appeal.
September 25 2006 – An fair inquiry story is published and divulges Stone, who had a historic past of psychological dysfunction, drug abuse and violence, had an ‘aggressive outburst’ on July four 1996, and told a psychiatric nurse that he wished to execute his old probation officer and his family.
December 21 2006 – Excessive Court docket raise Mr Justice Royce tells Stone he have to encourage as a minimum 25 years in penal advanced earlier than he’ll be regarded as for parole.
October 26 2010 – The Felony Instances Evaluation Payment refuses a new appeal over his conviction.
June 24 2011 – Stone’s solicitor Paul 1st Baron Beaverbrook says Levi Bellfield would possibly per chance presumably restful be regarded as as a suspect within the Russell murders, following his conviction over the abduction and homicide of schoolgirl Milly Dowler.
November 29 2017 – Attorneys for Stone relate they’ve new evidence of his innocence, including a ‘very detailed confession’ to the killings from Bellfield.
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