A potential key piece of evidence that could aid in proving the innocence of the man convicted of the murders of Lin Russell and her daughter Megan is a dog leash. Michael Stone, the convicted individual, is scheduled to have a fresh DNA sample taken during a prison visit by a miscarriage of justice investigator. This initiative is part of a new forensic review of the case, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the tragic events involving the murders of Lin, aged 45, and Megan, aged six, as well as the attempted murder of their surviving daughter, Josie, then nine.
As part of the ongoing forensic assessment by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the leash that the family’s white terrier Lucy was attached to during the deadly hammer attack may undergo testing. Renowned forensic scientist Angela Gallop, in a report commissioned by Stone’s barrister Mark McDonald, recommended re-examining this particular exhibit. Gallop highlighted the potential for DNA analysis on the leash and the wooden stick it was attached to, suggesting that they could offer significant “DNA opportunities” if linked to the killer during the tragic events in Chillenden, Kent.
The new forensic examination will utilize advanced DNA-17 testing to isolate both male and female genetic material. Additionally, Stone’s saliva will be collected for Y-STR analysis, a technique capable of separating male DNA from mixed samples. These results, while not searchable in police databases, can be compared against genetic profiles of specific alternative suspects.
Despite years of forensic assessment by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, no tests have been conducted yet. Stone’s lawyer, Mark McDonald, emphasized Stone’s unwavering claim of innocence over the years and the importance of DNA evidence in potentially exonerating him. Gallop’s report from last year also suggests examining other items, including the dog’s teeth, nail scrapings, and a fingerprint from a lunchbox.
Stone, currently 66 years old, was convicted based on a disputed cell confession in 1998 and at a subsequent re-trial. Notably, no physical trace of Stone has ever been found at the crime scene despite extensive forensic investigations conducted at the time of the murders in July 1996. Gallop also recommends examining a balaclava found near the murder scene, which contained hairs and fibers not belonging to the victims.
Recent developments include a new forensic strategy proposed by an expert at the laboratory Eurofins, shared with Stone’s legal team. The tragic incident involved Lin walking her daughters home from school when they were ambushed, tied up, and brutally attacked. Stone’s identification as a suspect was based on witness accounts of a suspicious man in the area driving a beige Ford Escort, even though Stone drove a different vehicle and had no access to other cars.
The case was initially rejected by the Criminal Cases Review Commission in 2010 but has been under reexamination since 2017. Despite claims by serial killer Levi Bellfield implicating himself in the Russell murders, the CCRC deemed his statements not credible.