Levi Bellfield 'CONFESSES to brutal hammer murders of mother and daughter Lin and Megan Russell' in letter sent to solicitor of the man currently serving life for the killings

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Levi Bellfield has admitted to murdering mother and daughter Lin and Megan Russell in 1996, it was reported last night.

In a harrowing four-page statement, the serial killer has formally confessed to the murders, providing chilling details of the attack.

Lin, 45, her two daughters, six-year-old Megan and nine-year-old Josie, as well as their dog Lucy, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack. Only Josie survived, sustaining horrific injuries.

The deaths in the picturesque village of Chillenden, Kent 26 years ago shocked the nation.

In a harrowing four-page statement, convicted serial killer Levi Bellfield has formally confessed to the murders of Lin and Megan Russell, providing chilling details of the attack

Amelie Delagrange, 22 whose body was found Thursday August 19 2004, with a serious head injury lying on Twickenham Green, south west London

Levi Bellfield is currently serving life in prison for the murder of schoolgirl Millie Dowler

Bellfield is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of schoolgirl Millie Dowler.

He has also been convicted of murdering Marsha McDonnell and Amélie Delagrange and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, and will never be considered for parole.

However, Michael Stone is currently imprisoned after twice being convicted of the Russell murders.

He has consistently insisted his innocence, and Bellfield's statement could mean he has suffered a miscarriage of justice.

The document, seen by The Sun, goes into appalling detailing about how Bellfield brutally attacked the family and even killed the family dog after it bit him.

Lin, 45, her two daughters, six-year-old Megan and nine-year-old Josie, as well as their dog Lucy, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack. Only Josie survived. The deaths in the picturesque village of Chillenden, Kent in 1996 shocked the nation

Marsha McDonnell, 19, with a friend before her murder in February 2003 in Hampton

Lin Russell, 45, her two daughters, six-year-old Megan (above with her mother) and nine-year-old Josie, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack in 1996

Bellfield's statement says that he was wearing a 'pair of marigold washing up gloves' and had the hammer in his right hand as he stopped the Russell family walking along a lane.

He claims that his intention was 'to just attack Lin', but quickly changed his mind on hearing the screams, presumably of Megan and Josie Russell.

The 14-paragraph statement then goes into detail about how he led the Russell off of a track before killing them, and then driving back to his Twickenham home before heading off to work.

He claims that the following day he threw the hammer he used to carry out the attacks into the Thames near Walton, Surrey. 

The publication reports that Bellfield made the statement to solicitor Paul Bacon, who represents Michael Stone.

He ends the statement by saying it was the first time he had 'committed a crime and another person has been arrested for it', before apologising to Stone and the Russell family 'for my heinous acts'.

Michael Stone (pictured) is currently imprisoned after twice being convicted of the Russell murders. He has consistently insisted his innocence, and Bellfield's statement could mean he has suffered a miscarriage of justice

Stone has twice been found guilty of their murders and is serving three life sentences, but no scientific or identification evidence links him to the scene. Pictured: Police revisiting the scene in 2001

It is believed the document has been sent to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) which has the power to investigate alleged miscarriages of justice.

Last year it was reported that police had found a piece of evidence which had been lost for 14 years, that lawyers for Stone believe could be used to clear his name.

The item, a long bootlace, was used to tie up one of the victims and was dropped by the killer and later found at the scene by detectives.

A small part of the lace was tested for DNA at the time. But, with the processes still in their infancy, the tests came back inconclusive. 

Lawyers for Stone have argued since 2007 for the whole lace to be tested.

However, police have insisted that a large section of the lace no longer exists, having never been returned to police after forensic testing.

Police then reportedly said the lace had been tested to the point of destruction 1998.

According to the Sun, the larger lace section was recently found again - supposedly at a police station. The lace is reportedly being tested by the CCRC.

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