Overview
- The Criminal Cases Review Commission has instructed its own forensic expert, via Eurofins, to begin new tests on preserved exhibits from the Chillenden murders.
- An 18-page report by forensic scientist Angela Gallop, commissioned by Michael Stone’s barrister, identifies fingernail scrapings from Lin Russell that were apparently never tested.
- Earlier work detected male DNA on a blood-stained bootlace near the scene that did not match Stone, though the sample was too limited for database comparison.
- Additional items flagged for examination include Josie Russell’s jelly shoes, a lunchbox fingerprint, the ankles of Lin’s trousers, and the handle of a string bag with bloodstained towel strips.
- Stone was twice convicted largely on jailhouse informant testimony, one conviction was quashed after witnesses were discredited, and the CCRC review remains active with Kent Police supplying materials.