Michael Stone, convicted for the 1996 hammer murders of Lin Russell and her daughter Megan, is set to provide a fresh DNA sample this week as part of an ongoing effort to review his conviction. The sample will be collected on Thursday at Frankland prison in Durham, where Stone is currently held. This date coincides with the 30th anniversary of the attack, which killed Lin, 45, and Megan, six, and left their other daughter, Josie, then nine, with serious injuries.

The attack occurred on July 9, 1996, as Lin Russell was walking her children home from school along a bridle path near Chillenden, Kent. Stone was arrested a year later following a televised Crimewatch appeal that led to his psychiatrist coming forward. He was convicted in 1998 based largely on a contentious confession made while in police custody and was subsequently convicted again after a retrial in 2001.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), an independent body responsible for investigating potential miscarriages of justice, is currently conducting a forensic reassessment of the evidence using modern DNA testing methods. This initiative aims to determine whether the original conviction stands or if new evidence might support Stone’s claims of innocence.

Stone, now 66 years old, has maintained his innocence throughout the years. His sister Barbara Stone expressed confidence that the upcoming DNA analysis will reinforce his claims, stating, “I’m certain he did not carry out the attack. This should help prove it.”

The fresh DNA sampling and forensic review represent a significant development in a case that has long drawn public attention and debate. The CCRC’s findings could potentially pave the way for further legal proceedings or a reconsideration of Stone’s conviction. For now, authorities await the results of the testing to clarify any unresolved doubts surrounding the case.