Levi Bellfield to have DNA test in connection with Lin and Megan Russell murders

Levi Bellfield has claimed he killed Lin and Megan Russell. Photograph: Metropolitan Police/PA View image in fullscreen Levi Bellfield has claimed he killed Lin and Megan Russell. Photograph: Metropolitan Police/PA Levi Bellfield to have DNA test in connection with Lin and Megan Russell murders Exclusive: CCRC will test serial killer as part of inquiry into whether Michael Stone was wrongly convicted of 1996 murders The serial killer Levi Bellfield will have his DNA taken in an attempt to establish if he murdered Lin and Megan Russell in 1996. Michael Stone has protested his innocence since his conviction in 1998 for the killing of Lin, 45, and her daughter, six-year-old Megan, as well as a vicious attack on Megan’s sister Josie, nine, who survived. The DNA samples will be taken by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which is investigating if Stone was wrongly convicted after Bellfield claimed he was the real killer. The tests follow advances in DNA science which may allow previously unidentified male genetic material left at the scene where the Russell murders took place to be linked to an individual. The CCRC said in a statement: “We intend to obtain a sample from Mr Bellfield. No date has been set for this.” View image in fullscreen Michael Stone was convicted of the murders of Lin Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan, pictured. Photograph: PA Bellfield is serving whole-life tariffs in HMP Frankland for the murders of 13-year-old Milly Dowler in March 2002; 19-year-old Marsha McDonnell in February 2003; and 22-year-old Amélie Delagrange in August 2004. He was also convicted of the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy in May 2004. Bellfield’s solicitor, Theresa Clark, said: “I’m sure he’d agree to the DNA test. He’s going to cooperate.” As part of Stone’s application to the CCRC, his DNA was taken by investigators on Thursday. Karen Todner, a solicitor for Stone, said: “There’s a whole range of things that can be done now.” Exhibits from the original crime scene that are still available include part of what is believed to be a shoe lace the attacker used to bind his victims, as well as sticks. Todner said a lunchbox in which a bloody finger print was found at the scene has now been lost. Todner said DNA testing previously available had shown two categories of male DNA at the murder scene. Some could be identified as belonging to Lin’s husband, Shaun , but other male DNA remained unidentified. View image in fullscreen Michael Stone, pictured on the right, has protested his innocence since his conviction. Photograph: Jonathan Evans/REUTERS “There is male DNA on some of the items,” she said. “New techniques possibly allows this to be matched to a person.” Stone’s application to the CCRC names another suspect for the murder other than Bellfield. A key witness against Stone, and his supporters say the only evidence, came from Damien Daly, who claimed Stone had confessed to him in prison. Daly was later convicted of a separate murder. Todn