Murderer Michael Stone wants cops to quiz Milly Dowler killer Levi Bellfied in attempt to clear his name
Supporters claim hammer killing case bears similarities to other Bellfield murders
CONVICTED murderer Michael Stone has asked his lawyers to investigate the possibility that Levi Bellfield killed the mum and daughter whose lives he's accused of taking in a last ditch effort to clear his name.
Stone, who is currently serving life for the murder of Lin Russell and daughter Megan in 1996, believes the Milly Dowler killer could also be responsible for the murders he was convicted of.
His claim was given a boost after police revealed Bellfield had finally admitted taking the teenager's life earlier this year.
Stone has always protested his innocence.
Lin, 45, and daughter Megan, six, were killed after they were beaten with a hammer. Lin's other daughter Josie, nine, was left with serious head injuries.
The family was attacked as they walked home from a swimming gala in July 1996.
They were tied up, blindfolded and beaten to death. Their dog was also killed in the horrific murder.
Parallels have been drawn between their deaths and how Marsha McDonnell, 19, and Amelie Delagrange, 22, were killed by Bellfield in 2003 and 2004.
According to the , Stone’s supporters claim Bellfield, 48, matches an e-fit of the Russells’ killer. And there were reports of a car like the one he was driving at the time being seen near the murder spot, in Chillenden, Kent.
Survivor Josie told cops at the time her attacker was tall "like my father". While Bellfield is 6ft 1in, Stone is only 5ft 7in.
Sources say the convicted killer is even asking to meet Bellfield, 48, at HMP Frankland - where the pair are both being held, Bellfield in the protected wing and Stone in general population.
Stone has reportedly had meetings with two lawyers via a video link from prison who are now demanding cops perform new DNA testing on a shoelace found at the scene of the Kent murders.
Stone was originally convicted on the basis that he had confessed his crimes to a fellow lag Damien Daley. He had two trials and lost an appeal.
Daley, a former drug addict, admitted in court to being an accomplished liar and has since been jailed for murder.
Stone's lawyers claim to have new evidence which undermines Daley's claims of a confession, the publication reports.
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He told one of his lawyers, Paul Bacon: "Lots of people have been pointing fingers at Levi Bellfield and I would really like an investigation which would identify if he has, or has not, done these murders.
"Because otherwise it’s not right to keep mentioning his name in connection with the case."
The convicted killer's claim of innocence was given a boost earlier this year, when Surrey Police revealed Bellfield had, for the first time, confessed to the rape and murder of 13-year-old Milly Dowler in Walton-on-Thames in 2002.
Mr Bacon told the Sunday People: "We had a quite a good chat with him and he was in good spirits and we are making progress with the case for him.
"What was interesting was that Levi Bellfield is in the same prison.
"Michael was saying there has to be some kind of independent investigation to see if Levi Bellfield was involved in his case or not."
His other lawyer, Mark McDonald, added: "There is a huge amount ongoing on this case at the moment. Michael remains absolutely convinced by his innocence.
"He has nearly every document connected to this case and he has spent the past 20 years reading them.
"He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of everything in this case. We are covering a number of different parts, not just alternative suspects but evidence that undermines the integrity of the sole witness, Damien Daley.
"The most interesting thing is the shoelace. Michael Stone’s view is there is a lot of evidence that points to Levi Bellfield and he wants it properly investigated so if it isn’t him, he can be ruled out.
"But at the moment no one is doing anything. The police are not assisting, the prosecution is not assisting.
"We have written to them twice but they keep putting us off.
"We need to re-examine this evidence with the more sophisticated equipment which exists now."
Bellfield carried out his killings around South West London but sources say he regularly travelled to Kent to work and sell drugs.
Kent Police however say they have no plans to re-examine the Russells’ murders, or speak to Bellfield.
A spokesman told the paper: "A Criminal Case Review Commission had access to all forensic evidence, documentation and exhibits from the original investigation, the review by another force, details of two crown court trials and appeals to the High Court.
"Furthermore, Michael Stone made an application to apply for a judicial review in respect of his conviction in September 2012. The Honourable Mr Justice Blake ordered that permission for the application should be refused.
"All evidence from the investigation has been recorded and disclosed.
"Kent Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the case in which Stone was convicted."
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