Michael Stone convictions: New suspect named in brutal hammer murders of Lin Russell and young daughter

Two witnesses have come forward to identify a new suspect in the murders of a mother and her six-year-old daughter in Kent.

Michael Stone has been in prison for 29 years for the horrific attack on July 9, 1996.

He was found guilty of beating Dr Lin Russell and her daughter Megan to death with a hammer as they walked home from the school swimming gala.

He was also found guilty of attempting to murder Dr Russell’s nine-year-old daughter Josie.

Stone has consistently maintained his innocence.

Family members gave witness statements to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) identifying the killer as their relative, Raymond Buck. Sunday Times reported.

Read more: Michael Stone’s convictions for the murders of Lin and Megan Russell will be reviewed

One of the new witnesses, 39-year-old Ross Shields, was a juvenile at the time of the murders.

he said Sunday Times On the day of the attacks, Buck was heard confessing to a family member: “I did something unforgivable. I killed three people.”

Buck was a carpenter, had a history of violence, and died by suicide in 2000 at the age of 46, according to the report.

Stone’s lawyer said miscarriages of justice watchdogs were now examining new evidence and collecting new DNA evidence.

“I’m much more positive than that [Stone] It’s been that way for the last 29 years,” said Karen Todner.

“We hope things are finally moving in the right direction.

“The CCRC is carrying out further DNA analysis because the science behind DNA has improved dramatically since her case and since the last DNA analysis.”

“They’re doing that. And when they do that, we hope they’ll test it against a variety of people, Raymond Buck being one of them.”

Ms Todner explained that oral witness statements were important, but the “conclusive evidence” would be the DNA result.

Stone and a member of Buck’s family are among those taking part in the new round of DNA analysis.

Ms Todner said: “If anyone other than Michael tests positive for DNA then of course we will ask the CCRC to refer this back to the Court of Appeal.

“Hopefully we will know where we are by the end of this year.”

Mr Shields said he did not want to comment further.