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| Levi Bellfield confessed to Russell murders, say convicted man's lawyers | Levi Bellfield confessed to Russell murders, say convicted man's lawyers |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The serial killer Levi Bellfield has confessed to the murder of Lin and Megan Russell more than 20 years after their deaths, according to the solicitor of the man who was convicted of the killings. | The serial killer Levi Bellfield has confessed to the murder of Lin and Megan Russell more than 20 years after their deaths, according to the solicitor of the man who was convicted of the killings. |
| Michael Stone is serving three life sentences and has been in prison for 19 years for the murders of Russell, 45, and her six-year-old daughter, as well as the attempted murder of her nine-year-old daughter, Josie, in 1996. | Michael Stone is serving three life sentences and has been in prison for 19 years for the murders of Russell, 45, and her six-year-old daughter, as well as the attempted murder of her nine-year-old daughter, Josie, in 1996. |
| Bellfield is alleged to have given a “very detailed confession” to another prisoner but had subsequently denied both the murder and the confession, the BBC reported. | Bellfield is alleged to have given a “very detailed confession” to another prisoner but had subsequently denied both the murder and the confession, the BBC reported. |
| Stone’s solicitor, Paul Bacon, told a press conference in London: “We have now received evidence of a full confession by Levi Bellfield to the Russell murders. | |
| “In the confession, Bellfield describes how he came across Lin Russell and her two children, how he attacked them with a hammer, and his motivation for the killing. | |
| “The confession is detailed and has a number of facts which are not in the public domain.” | “The confession is detailed and has a number of facts which are not in the public domain.” |
| Bacon stressed that in contrast, the “only evidence” against his client was a “confession said to have been heard by a notorious criminal”, who had since admitted to lying to the jury during his evidence. | Bacon stressed that in contrast, the “only evidence” against his client was a “confession said to have been heard by a notorious criminal”, who had since admitted to lying to the jury during his evidence. |
| He said an independent witness had contacted him to say she saw Bellfield near the scene of the crimes around the time they were committed. | |
| “And, importantly, we have identified forensic material from the scene of the murders which corroborates the confession made by Bellfield.” | “And, importantly, we have identified forensic material from the scene of the murders which corroborates the confession made by Bellfield.” |
| Stone’s legal team said Bellfield was a manipulative man who they expected to deny having made such a confession to his cellmate. They stressed, however, that the alleged inclusion of information not in the public domain added weight to the confession even if Bellfield now denied making it. | |
| Mark McDonald, Stone’s barrister, said the evidence had been handed to the Criminal Cases Review Commission and said it should be tested by the court of appeal. | |
| The Russells were bludgeoned to death in rural Kent in 1996 by a man wielding a hammer. Josie suffered severe head injuries but survived, and the family’s dog, Lucy, was killed. | The Russells were bludgeoned to death in rural Kent in 1996 by a man wielding a hammer. Josie suffered severe head injuries but survived, and the family’s dog, Lucy, was killed. |
| Stone was convicted over the attack in 1998 but has always maintained his innocence and has fought a protracted legal battle to clear his name.. | Stone was convicted over the attack in 1998 but has always maintained his innocence and has fought a protracted legal battle to clear his name.. |
| It is not the first time Stone’s legal representatives have pointed the finger at Bellfield. In 2011, his solicitor, Paul Bacon, claimed Milly’s killer was a better match for an e-fit of the suspect issued during the police manhunt. | It is not the first time Stone’s legal representatives have pointed the finger at Bellfield. In 2011, his solicitor, Paul Bacon, claimed Milly’s killer was a better match for an e-fit of the suspect issued during the police manhunt. |
| In a two-part BBC documentary aired in May, a panel of independent experts re-examined the evidence and suggested another suspect. | In a two-part BBC documentary aired in May, a panel of independent experts re-examined the evidence and suggested another suspect. |
| Stone was told in 2006 that he must spend a minimum of 25 years in prison for the attack on Russell and her daughters as they walked home from a swimming gala in July 1996. | Stone was told in 2006 that he must spend a minimum of 25 years in prison for the attack on Russell and her daughters as they walked home from a swimming gala in July 1996. |
| Josie, now an artist, grew up with her father, Shaun Russell, in Wales. | Josie, now an artist, grew up with her father, Shaun Russell, in Wales. |
| In November last year, the Metropolitan police closed an investigation into serious crimes allegedly involving Bellfield, saying all lines of inquiry had been exhausted and officers had found no evidence linking him to cases for which he had not already been convicted. | In November last year, the Metropolitan police closed an investigation into serious crimes allegedly involving Bellfield, saying all lines of inquiry had been exhausted and officers had found no evidence linking him to cases for which he had not already been convicted. |
| Appeal court judges quashed Stone’s original convictions in 2001 after doubts were raised about a key witness, but he was convicted again at a second trial and, in October 2001, was given three life sentences. | Appeal court judges quashed Stone’s original convictions in 2001 after doubts were raised about a key witness, but he was convicted again at a second trial and, in October 2001, was given three life sentences. |
| Stone was convicted on the evidence of Damien Daley, who admitted in the witness box that he had lied during the first trial, but not in relation to the detail of what Stone had told him. Daley said Stone confessed to the hammer murders through a heating pipe into the next cell at Canterbury prison. | Stone was convicted on the evidence of Damien Daley, who admitted in the witness box that he had lied during the first trial, but not in relation to the detail of what Stone had told him. Daley said Stone confessed to the hammer murders through a heating pipe into the next cell at Canterbury prison. |
| There was no forensic evidence against Stone, who pleaded not guilty and maintained that Daley was lying about his confession. | There was no forensic evidence against Stone, who pleaded not guilty and maintained that Daley was lying about his confession. |
| Bellfield, who now calls himself Yusuf Rahim, is serving a whole-life tariff after being found guilty in 2011 of abducting and killing Milly. The 13-year-old was snatched from the street on her way home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002. | Bellfield, who now calls himself Yusuf Rahim, is serving a whole-life tariff after being found guilty in 2011 of abducting and killing Milly. The 13-year-old was snatched from the street on her way home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002. |
| At the time of the trial, Bellfield was already in jail for the murders of Amelie Delagrange and Marsha McDonnell and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy. In 2008, he was given a whole-life term for the murders of McDonnell, 19, in 2003, and Delagrange, 22, in 2004, and the attempted murder of Sheedy, 18, in 2004. | At the time of the trial, Bellfield was already in jail for the murders of Amelie Delagrange and Marsha McDonnell and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy. In 2008, he was given a whole-life term for the murders of McDonnell, 19, in 2003, and Delagrange, 22, in 2004, and the attempted murder of Sheedy, 18, in 2004. |