Criminal Cases Review Commission Reopens Investigation into Michael Stone Conviction for Chillenden Murders in Kent

Nearly 30 years after the brutal hammer attack that killed Lin Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan in rural Chillenden, Kent, questions are resurfacing about whether the right person was ever held accountable.

Michael Stone, convicted for the murders and the attempted killing of nine-year-old Josie Russell, has maintained his innocence for decades.

Now, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has reopened its investigation, examining key evidence and witnesses that helped secure Stone’s conviction.

The Controversial Witness at the Heart of the Case

Central to Stone’s original trial and retrial was Damien Daley, a career criminal who claimed Stone confessed to the killings in a prison cell.

The judge in the 2001 retrial warned jurors that Daley’s testimony was crucial—the case “stands or falls” on whether they believed him.

Stone and his legal team have long argued that Daley lied, implicating Milly Dowler killer Levi Bellfield instead.

The CCRC is now investigating Daley’s reliability more thoroughly, reviewing his medical records, criminal history, and statements made while in prison.

Daley, jailed for life in 2014 for murder, had a history of drug addiction dating back to adolescence, raising further questions about his credibility.

Forensics and Missing Evidence

Beyond Daley, modern forensic techniques are being applied to evidence from the original crime scene.

Notably, items like Lin’s blood-stained shoelace and Josie’s tights—some of which were misplaced or untested for years—could now yield new information.

Professor Angela Gallop, a leading forensic expert, has outlined multiple areas for re-examination, including heavily bloodied sticks near the scene, fingernail scrapings, and even blood from the family dog Lucy, who was also killed.

Gallop recommends using Y-STR DNA testing to detect male profiles even amidst female DNA, offering hope that previously inconclusive items may finally reveal the truth.

Levi Bellfield Remains a Focus

Stone’s team has long argued that Levi Bellfield, a convicted killer serving a whole life sentence for multiple murders, may have been responsible.

Bellfield confessed to the Chillenden murders in 2023, prompting the CCRC to revisit forensic and testimonial evidence connected to him.

Items such as a balaclava found near the scene, containing unknown hairs and fibers, are among those slated for modern analysis.

Stone remains adamant he will not admit guilt.

“It’s not about being free, but about clearing my name and exposing the truth,” he told the Daily Mail.

Family Support and Lingering Strain

Stone’s sister Barbara, a registered mental health nurse, has been a steadfast supporter over the decades.

With time pressing—many family members have passed—Barbara ensures Stone still receives monthly support and remains in daily contact.

Meanwhile, Josie, now in her late 30s, has built a life as a textiles artist, living with the long shadow of that fateful day.

What’s next?

The CCRC’s renewed investigation will continue testing old evidence with modern forensic methods, scrutinize Daley’s credibility, and explore Bellfield’s potential involvement.

With retrials decades in the past and key witnesses no longer alive, the path to clarity is complicated, but experts hope that advances in DNA testing and careful review of testimonial evidence could finally resolve lingering doubts.

The commission has stressed that a real possibility of overturning Stone’s conviction is required before any referral to the Court of Appeal, and the review remains ongoing.

Meanwhile, Stone’s legal team continues to press for a thorough, modern re-examination of the case.

Summary

Michael Stone’s conviction for the 1996 Chillenden murders of Lin and Megan Russell is under renewed review by the CCRC.

Key witness Damien Daley’s credibility is being reassessed, modern forensic testing is being applied to previously untested or missing evidence, and Levi Bellfield remains a potential suspect.

Stone maintains his innocence, while family members and experts await the outcome of this extensive probe, hoping to uncover the truth nearly three decades after the tragedy.