Levi Bellfield to give DNA sample after claiming he murdered mum and daughter

Michael Stone, who was convicted of killing them, is currently serving three life sentences. He has always protested his innocence

A DNA sample will be taken from serial killer Levi Bellfield after he claimed to be responsible for the murder of a mum and her daughter three decades ago.

The 58-year-old, who is serving life imprisonment, reportedly admitted the murders of Lin Russell, 45, and her daughter Megan, six. They were found dead in Kent on July 9, 1996, months after they had moved to the area from Wales.

Michael Stone, who was convicted of killing them, is currently serving three life sentences. He has always protested his innocence. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission is now re-examining evidence following Bellfield’s confession, with a sample to be taken from him.

We previously reported how a fresh DNA sample was due to be taken from Stone.

A CCRC spokesperson said: “We intend to obtain a sample from Mr Bellfield. No date has been set for this.”

The murders took place on July 9, 1996, after six-year-old Megan and her sister Josie, nine, had attended a swimming gala.

Their mother Lin, 45, and the family’s white terrier Lucy picked them up from their school in the Kent village of Goodnestone. They had recently moved to the area from Gwynedd.

They took a shortcut through cornfields and a small wood towards Nonington where they lived in a cottage with the girls’ father Shaun.

At about 4.25pm a man passed them in a car, got out, and approached carrying a hammer.

He forced them into a small clearing, tied them up, and subjected them to a “sustained, severe, repeated and vicious assault”. Lucy, the terrier, was also beaten to death.

Lin and Megan were left lying on their backs a few feet apart. Josie had been blindfolded and tied to a tree. No money or belongings were stolen. Nor did forensic experts find any evidence of a sexual motive.

Father Shaun raised the alarm when he got home from work and found the house empty before police officers found the shocking scene later that night.

At first they thought Josie was dead too but an hour later she was seen to move and was rushed to hospital. Miraculously she survived nine hours after the attack took place.

Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.