A potential breakthrough in the case of the man convicted of the murders of Lin Russell and her daughter Megan could come from analyzing a dog lead linked to the crime scene. Michael Stone, the convicted individual, is scheduled to undergo a new DNA sampling by a miscarriage of justice investigator as part of a fresh forensic review on the 30th anniversary of the tragic events in Chillenden, Kent.
Forensic scientist Angela Gallop has recommended re-examining the leash that the family’s terrier, Lucy, was attached to during the brutal attack. Gallop believes that the lead and the stick it was tied to could hold valuable DNA evidence that might have been left by the perpetrator during the murders.
The upcoming scientific analysis will involve DNA-17 testing, capable of isolating male and female genetic material. Additionally, Stone’s saliva will be collected for Y-STR testing, a technique that can differentiate male DNA from mixed samples. These results, while not searchable in police databases, can be compared against potential alternative suspects.
Despite ongoing forensic assessments by the Criminal Cases Review Commission for several years, no tests have been conducted yet. Stone’s barrister, Mark McDonald, expressed hope that the DNA analysis could potentially exonerate his client, who has maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration.
Gallop’s report highlights several items, including the dog’s leash, teeth, scrapings from Lin’s hand, and a fingerprint from a lunchbox, that should undergo examination. Stone, who was convicted based on a disputed cell confession in 1998, has never had his DNA found at the crime scene despite extensive forensic scrutiny at the time of the murders.
In a new development, a forensic strategy devised by an expert at Eurofins laboratory has been shared with Stone’s legal team. The investigation dates back to the tragic incident where Lin and her daughters were brutally attacked while walking home from school, resulting in the deaths of Lin and Megan, and severe injuries to Josie, the sole survivor.
The case took a turn when witnesses reported seeing a suspicious individual driving a beige Ford Escort in the area, leading to Stone being identified as a possible suspect based on an E-fit. Despite prior rejections by the CCRC, Stone’s case has been under re-examination since 2017.
Notably, serial killer Levi Bellfield allegedly confessed to the Russell murders, but the CCRC deemed his claims as not credible. The ongoing forensic review and DNA analysis could potentially shed new light on this long-standing case.