Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘If he says he didn’t do it, take the test’
Michael Stone has been challenged by serial killer Levi Bellfield to take a lie detector test over the murders of Lin and Megan Russell, it has been revealed.
Stone, 56, is serving three life sentences for killing the mother and daughter, who were found bludgeoned to death 20 years ago on a country lane in Chillenden.
He has always maintained his innocence.
It was suggested last year that Bellfield – who was convicted in 2011 for the murder of 13-year-old Millie Dowler – was the real killer. He resembled the original photo-fit issued following the killings and reportedly drove a car similar to one seen in the area at the time.
But the Met Police ruled out any possible links following an inquiry across 10 forces, which began in January 2015.
In a six- page statement obtained by the Sun on Sunday, Bellfield denies the murders and reveals he has asked Stone to take a polygraph test with him over the Russell murders.
Bellfield claims that Stone has refused to take the test. The statement is signed in his new Islamic identity, Yusef Rahim, and refers to himself in the third person as LB.
He wrote: “LB even invited Mr Stone to choose an expert and also the questions that should be asked. Given that Mr Stone and LB are both located at HMP Frankland, it was a relatively easy task to undertake.
“He keeps saying, ‘It was not me, it was LB’. While Mr Stone seeks to hide behind this mask, unfortunately for him it will not overturn his convictions.”
Bellfield says his family would pay for an expert to conduct the tests and, although they will not be legally admissible, he said: “It would be a public platform for him to back up his innocence campaign.
“The results could also be used to stop blaming LB should he also pass the polygraph test. LB thus invited Mr Stone’s legal team on several occasions to participate in the polygraph test, but to no avail.
“Various excuses were put forward such as a lack of financial resources amongst other things. Indeed, there were other times when the requests for the test were simply ignored by Mr Stone.
“If, as Mr Stone says, he is innocent, then why refuse to take the polygraph test?”
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