Serial killer Levi Bellfield is set to provide a DNA sample as part of a renewed investigation into the brutal 1996 murders of Lin Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan in Chillenden, Kent. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has confirmed its intention to obtain the sample, though no specific date has yet been set for this to occur.
This development follows reports that Bellfield, who is serving multiple life sentences for other murders, has confessed to the killings. Michael Stone was twice convicted of the murders of Lin and Megan Russell and the attempted murder of Josie Russell, then nine, who survived the horrific attack despite severe head injuries. Stone has consistently protested his innocence throughout his incarceration.
The CCRC's decision to take Bellfield's DNA sample comes after Stone's solicitor, Paul Bacon, stated in 2022 that he had received a four-page statement from Bellfield detailing and admitting to the killings. Last week, Mr Bacon expressed optimism that the CCRC's review, which also includes a fresh DNA sample from Stone, could finally lead to the identification of the true perpetrator and potentially secure Stone's release from prison.
The murders, which occurred on 9 July 1996, saw Lin Russell, 45, and her young daughters accosted while walking along a country lane. They were then bound, blindfolded, and bludgeoned with a claw hammer. The horrific nature of the crime sparked a massive manhunt and garnered significant media attention globally. Josie Russell and her father subsequently returned to live in Dyffryn Nantlle, Gwynedd, where she now works as an artist.
Levi Bellfield is a notorious serial killer, born on 17 May 1968, responsible for the murders of 13-year-old Milly Dowler in 2002, Marsha McDonnell, 19, in 2003, and Amelie Delagrange, 22, in 2004. He also attempted to murder Kate Sheedy, 18. His past convictions and the nature of his crimes have led to a renewed focus on his potential involvement in the Russell case, raising questions about a miscarriage of justice.