Finger nail samples collected from Lin Russell’s body have the potential to exonerate a man who was convicted of the murders of Lin and her daughter Megan, as disclosed by his legal representative. The forensic material, which includes untested evidence, is currently under scrutiny using advanced forensic methods. Attorneys representing Michael Stone, the individual found guilty of the violent hammer assault in Chillenden, Kent, have initiated a review of the case.
An in-depth 18-page examination of the situation by forensic scientist Angela Gallop has identified overlooked aspects in the initial investigation, proposing new tests that could definitively establish the true perpetrator. Stone, aged 63, is currently serving a prison sentence for the killings of the 45-year-old mother and her six-year-old daughter in 1996.
Despite sustaining severe head injuries, Lin’s other daughter, Josie, aged nine at the time, remarkably survived the attack. The victims, along with their dog Lucy, were bound and assaulted with a hammer. Notably, there is no concrete scientific or identification evidence linking Stone to the crime scene.
Stone was initially convicted at Maidstone crown court in 1998, with a majority jury verdict of 10 to two based on testimony from three witnesses alleging his confession in prison. However, his conviction was overturned after two witnesses were discredited, leading to a subsequent guilty verdict in 2001.
Another inmate, Damien Daley, who admitted to being a deceitful drug user, testified in court that Stone had confessed to the crime during conversations between adjacent cells. The Criminal Cases Review Commission has enlisted its own forensic expert to conduct fresh examinations. Stone has consistently maintained his innocence.
Angela Gallop, renowned for her involvement in securing convictions in notable cases like that of Stephen Lawrence’s killers, was engaged by Stone’s lawyer, Mark McDonald. McDonald expressed his belief in Stone’s innocence, citing Stone’s persistent requests for additional testing as a sign of someone confident in their innocence.
Among the potentially revealing items, Gallop has pointed to fingernail samples from Lin’s left hand that were reportedly never analyzed. Additionally, a shoelace discovered near the crime scene, stained with the victims’ blood and believed to have been used in Megan’s strangulation, is being reexamined.
Initial DNA testing of 75 areas yielded male DNA not matching Stone, though the quantity was insufficient for database comparison. Stone’s legal team seeks retesting with modern technology. Kent police had previously declared the evidence lost before its unexpected reappearance six years ago.
Forensic scientist Jim Fraser, who was involved in the original case, believes that a fingerprint found on one of the girls’ lunchboxes could offer valuable insights through contemporary testing methods. He emphasized the critical nature of resolving the case, given the limited evidence on which Stone’s conviction rests.
Additional potential leads include examining Josie’s red plastic jelly shoes for DNA matches on the untested areas, Lin’s trouser ankles for potential evidence of assailant contact, and a string bag handle with bloodstained towel fragments used in restraining the victims.
Gallop emphasized the significance of leveraging modern investigative techniques to unveil physical traces left by the perpetrator, potentially leading to a conclusive identification.