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Levi Bellfield: killer's letters raise questions over Chillenden murders conviction

A letter from convicted killer Levi Bellfield has once again raised questions over whether or not he was responsible for the deaths of a mother and her daughter nearly 20 years ago.

Lin and Megan Russell were killed with a hammer in Chillenden, near Canterbury, in 1996 in an attack that also saw their dog slain.

Levi Bellfield has written letters describing one of the Chillenden murder victims
Levi Bellfield has written letters describing one of the Chillenden murder victims

Convicted murderer Michael Stone, who came from Medway, is currently serving life in prison after being found guilty for the murders in 1998.

However, he has maintained his innocence and recently requested to have a hearing at the appeal court in an attempt to convince investigators that Bellfield is the real killer.

The request was denied in November, but now new evidence may have come to light in the form of letters from Bellfield to a pen pal.

In 2008, the former bouncer – who has converted to Islam in prison and now goes by the name Yusuf Rahim – was convicted of the murder of Marsha McDonnell, who was attacked in Hampton in 2003, and 22-year-old French student Amelie Delagrange, found at Twickenham Green in August, 2004 with serious head injuries.

He was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, 18, whom he ran over near her home in Islington in May 2004.

'I had a thing for this type of woman...' – Levi Bellfield

Then in 2011, he was convicted of the murder of Milly Dowler, who vanished while walking home from school near Walton-on-Thames in March 2002. Her body was discovered in woods six months later.

In the letters, seen by the Sunday Mirror, the 51-year-old describes the type of women he preferred, and makes reference to Lin, 45.

He wrote: “You mention the Chillenden murders. I was also attracted to the older woman.

“Dark curly hair, 40-45, slim, the horse type, outdoor dog walker, house-wife type. I had a thing for this type of woman, again who don’t [sic]."

Bellfield also wrote he had links to many places, including Kent and Surrey.

Michael Stone is serving life in prison for the murders
Michael Stone is serving life in prison for the murders

He continued: "Kent has many lanes and isolated tracks. Horse fields everywhere, lovely countryside.

"As you are aware, I did enjoy some outdoor fun. So such areas certainly accommodated my addictive hobby."

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