The miscarriage of justice watchdog, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), has launched a fresh investigation into one of Britain's most shocking murder cases, where a mother and her young daughter were brutally battered to death with a hammer. This case, which has haunted the nation for decades, involves the tragic killings of Lin Russell, aged 45, and her six-year-old daughter Megan, near their home in Chillenden, Kent, back in 1996.
Survivor and Conviction Details
In a harrowing twist, Megan's older sister Josie, who was just nine years old at the time, miraculously survived the vicious attack. The prime suspect, Michael Stone, a known drug addict with a prior conviction for a separate hammer assault, was arrested and subsequently convicted. He received a life sentence for the murders of Lin and Megan, as well as the attempted murder of Josie.
Evidence and Doubts in the Case
Despite Stone's conviction, significant questions have persisted over the years, primarily because there was no DNA evidence directly linking him to the crime scene. This absence of forensic proof has fueled ongoing debates and appeals, casting a shadow over the reliability of the original verdict. Now, the CCRC's probe aims to meticulously re-examine all the evidence that led to Stone's conviction, potentially uncovering new insights or flaws in the judicial process.
The reinvestigation comes amid heightened public and media scrutiny, with outlets like the Daily Mail covering the story extensively through their new true crime channel, The Crime Desk. As this case re-enters the spotlight, it underscores broader concerns about justice and the integrity of criminal convictions in the UK.
