Stone's 'death threats' before Russell murders

Michael Stone, the man who bludgeoned Lin Russell and her daughter Megan to death, threatened to kill someone five days before the murders took place, a report said.

Stone, who is serving a life sentence for the murders of Lin and Megan Russell, as well as the attempted murder of Dr Russell's other daughter Josie, had a history of mental health problems and drug abuse. He was convicted of the murders in 2001.

The threats against his previous probation officer and his family were made in an "aggressive outburst" on July 4, 1996, the report said.

On July 10, Dr Russell, Josie, 9, and six-year-old Megan were attacked as they returned from a swimming gala in Chillenden, Kent.

The report criticised the different agencies involved in Stone's care, saying that they failed to share important information.

However, although the inquiry found significant failings in Stone's care, it was unable to say if the murders could have been avoided.

Robert Francis QC, who chaired the inquiry, said that Stone had suffered from an antisocial personality disorder, as well as drug and alcohol problems, which had made his case complex and difficult to treat.

He said: "He could appear aggressive to one person and cooperative to another almost simultaneously."

The agencies involved in Stone's care admitted that mistakes had been made, but said that some of the report's recommendations had already been acted upon.

The report was commissioned by West Kent Health Authority - which is now the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority - Kent Social Services and Kent Probation Service.

(KMcA/EF)