Finger nail scrapings collected from the body of Lin Russell could potentially exonerate a man convicted of the murder of Lin and her daughter Megan, as disclosed by his legal representative.
The forensic evidence, including the nail scrapings, has not been previously analyzed and is currently undergoing examination utilizing advanced forensic techniques. Attorneys representing Michael Stone, the individual found guilty of the brutal hammer assault in Chillenden, Kent, have initiated a review of the evidence.
Angela Gallop, a forensic scientist, conducted an 18-page assessment of the case, identifying oversights in the initial investigation and proposing new tests to definitively ascertain the perpetrator. Stone, aged 63, is currently serving three life sentences for the killings of the 45-year-old mother and her six-year-old daughter, who were discovered bludgeoned to death on July 9, 1996.
Despite sustaining severe head injuries, Lin’s other daughter, Josie, then nine years old, survived and remarkably recovered. The victims, along with their dog Lucy, were bound and assaulted with a hammer. No scientific or identification evidence directly links Stone to the crime scene.
In 1998, Stone was convicted at Maidstone crown court with a 10 to two jury verdict following testimony from three witnesses alleging he confessed in prison. Subsequently, his conviction was overturned after the discrediting of two witnesses, leading to a second guilty verdict in 2001.
A fellow inmate, Damien Daley, a self-proclaimed dishonest drug user, testified that Stone confessed to the crime during conversations between adjacent cells. The Criminal Cases Review Commission has engaged its own forensic expert to conduct new testing, as Stone continues to assert his innocence.
Gallop, renowned for her role in securing convictions for two of Stephen Lawrence’s murderers, was enlisted by Stone’s barrister Mark McDonald. McDonald emphasized Stone’s ongoing interest in testing various items, indicating a belief in his innocence due to his proactive approach towards testing for potential DNA presence.
Among the items flagged for potential clues are fingernail scrapings from Lin’s left hand that were reportedly never examined. Additionally, a bootlace discovered near the crime scene, stained with the victims’ blood and suspected to have been used in Megan’s strangulation, is under scrutiny.
Initial testing of 75 areas revealed male DNA traces that did not match Stone, though the quantity was insufficient for database comparison. Stone’s legal team seeks reevaluation utilizing modern technology, particularly after Kent police officials initially reported the loss of the evidence, only for it to resurface six years later.
Jim Fraser, a forensic scientist involved in the original case, posits that a fingerprint discovered on one of the girls’ lunchboxes could yield insights through contemporary testing methods. He expressed hope for a resolution in a case where conviction hinges on scant evidence.
Further potential leads include a pair of Josie’s red plastic jelly shoes, with Ms. Gallop suggesting DNA examination of the untested sections for possible matches. Additional items earmarked for inspection include Lin’s trousers’ ankles, potentially grasped during the incident, and a string bag handle with remnants of a bloodstained swimming towel used in the victims’ restraint.
Gallop stated, “[Reflecting on] insights gained from successful case reinvestigations and the latest advancements in forensic techniques, we believe there is scope for scientific analysis to uncover physical traces left by the perpetrator at the crime scene, aiding in definitive identification.”