MICHAEL Stone has been “greatly encouraged” by Levi Bellfield’s confession as he tries to clear his name, his lawyer said last night.
The 61-year-old’s barrister Mark McDonald said: “He is hopeful this matter will be followed up by the authorities as soon as possible.”
4
Lin and Megan Russell were murdered in 1996 Credit: PA:Press Association 4
Michael Stone was jailed over the hammer murders
Stone is serving three life sentences at Durham’s Frankland jail and insists on being on a main wing with other cons who believe he was framed for the murders of Lin and Megan Russell.
Bellfield is in the vulnerable prisoner’s unit at the same jail. Stone’s sister Barbara said yesterday: “I hope they take this statement from Bellfield seriously. My brother is hoping this will help prove his innocence.”
Stone has refused to engage with probation workers as he believes it would be like admitting to killing the mother and daughter.
Barbara said: “Because he is protesting his innocence, he cannot move forward in the prison system.”
Stone had a long history of violence, but had no convictions for crimes against women or children.
He previously told The Sun that whoever had murdered the Russells “should be strung up”.
Most read in The Sun
OUCH! Dancing on Ice horror as Connor Ball suffers bloody accident live on the show
not so funny Jimmy Carr breaks silence over 'career-ending' holocaust joke as he's slammed
BY HER SIDE Prince Charles pays tribute to ‘darling wife’ after Camilla Queen announcement
GOODBYE NEIGHBOURS Neighbours is being axed after nearly four decades on our TV screens
4
Bellfield has made a formal confession Credit: PA:Press Association 4
Dad Shaun Russell and mum Lin with daughters Megan, six, and Josie, nine