Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Notorious hammer killer in fresh bid to clear his name
Murderer maintains innocence 23 years on
Lawyers for hammer murderer Michael Stone have 18 days to convince a case review panel the killer may be innocent. An attempt has been made to overturn the convictions of the 59-year-old, who is serving a double life-sentence for the murders of Lin and Megan Russell in Chillenden 23 years ago. His legal team say they made the bid to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) on the back of “fresh evidence” emerging, but a panel said last week it will not refer the case to the Court of Appeal. Stone’s lawyers now have until December 2 to convince the commission to change its provisional decision. Their hopes rest largely on claims serial killer Levi Bellfield murdered the Russells. Bellfield, who is serving a whole life sentence, is alleged to have confessed to the Chillenden murders to a fellow inmate, but in 2017 dismissed claims of any such admission. Stone has always denied killing six-year-old Megan and her mum Lin, 45, maintaining his innocence since being convicted in 2001 at a retrial.
The hammer attack in a country lane also left Lin n’s other daughter Josie - who was nine years old at the tim me - with severe head injuries. Stones has previously said he wou uld starve himself to death befor re confessing to the murders.
His s ol i c i t or , Pa aul Bacon, told the Gazette e last week he and his colleagues remain confident of quashing the convictions. “We’re planning to see Michael next week and he needs to go through [the CCRC decision],” he said. “I’ve sent him a copy in the post.
“They’ve invited us to submit further evidence and further representations and that’s where we’re at. I think this will run into the New Year. “They have raised a number of points we’re very interested in and don’t wholly agree with. “I’m still confident and I believe Michael Stone is an innocent man who’s been in custody since 1997.”
The commission says it welcomes responses to “persuade” it the decision not to refer the case is “wrong and should be changed”.
Mr r Bacon would not reveal deta ails about the submissions the team will be making to the CCRC,C but says he will be mee eting with Stone and his barr risters to “formulate a set of resp ponses”.
“I’vve not spoken to Michael and not got any instructions,” he saaid. It will take a little bit more m time.”
A final decision on the CCRC ruling is due on December 2.
‘I’m still confident and I believe Michael Stone is an innocent man who’s been in custody since 1997’