…By Jack Sylva for TDPel Media.
Levi Bellfield, the Milly Dowler killer, has confessed to the murder of a mother and her two daughters, raising the possibility that a man serving a life sentence for the crime could be released from prison.
Michael Stone was convicted of the 1996 murders of Lin Russell, her daughters, Josie, 9, and Megan, 6, and their dog Lucy in Chillenden, Kent.
Stone has been in prison for 26 years but Bellfield’s written confession to the killings, which he reportedly handed to his solicitor earlier this year, could result in Stone’s release.
Details of the Confession:
Stone has claimed that the statement contains information about the murders that only the killer would know.
He told The Mirror that Bellfield’s statement provides him with hope, stating that he is convinced of Bellfield’s guilt and believes he is responsible for the murders.
Stone also suggested that Bellfield’s crimes have hurt a lot of people, and that other people have been blamed for his crimes.
Stone’s lawyers have been submitting evidence since 2017, including a four-page confession from Bellfield in February 2020, which was not signed by him.
However, his recent statement has been signed by him and includes more details about the murders.
Current Status of the Case:
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is yet to decide whether to refer Stone’s case to the Court of Appeal.
Last year, it was reported that the CCRC was set to find there was no forensic evidence to connect Bellfield to the crimes and that evidence had emerged that cast doubt on the credibility of his confession.
The CCRC spokesman said Stone’s case “is currently under review.”
Conclusion:
The possibility of an innocent man serving a life sentence is a concerning issue.
The emergence of new evidence in the form of Bellfield’s confession could provide hope for Stone’s release.
However, the CCRC will need to determine whether the evidence is reliable before deciding to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.