New Prime Suspect Emerges in Lin and Megan Russell Murders After Witness Alleges Confession on Day of Crimes

A NEW prime suspect is being investigated over the hammer murders of Lin and Megan Russell.

Ray Buck killed himself four years after the 1996 slayings.

Ray Buck is the new prime suspect in the killings of Meg and Lin Russell Credit: Supplied Lin Russell and daughter Megan were brutally murdered with a hammer in Kent in 1996 Credit: PA:Press Association

Now a new witness claims he heard carpenter Buck confessing on the same day that , were ambushed on a country lane in Chillenden, Kent.

, then nine, survived the attack — which also claimed the life of the family’s dog.

It is understood one of Buck’s sons has now volunteered to provide a profile.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission, which probes miscarriages of justice, is of the case.

on a disputed cell confession in 1998 and at a retrial three years later.

He provided a new DNA sample from Durham’s Frankland jail earlier this month.

— who previously confessed — has also given a sample from prison.

Buck was spoken to by detectives during the original after apparently being named as the potential killer, but did not treat him as a suspect.

Michael Stone was convicted of the murders but his confession has been disputed Credit: Getty Images – Getty Serial killer Levi Bellfield also confessed to the killings while serving an existing sentence Credit: PA

At the time of the murders, Buck was 42 and living with his former wife and their three children in Folkestone, 15 miles from the scene.

A distant relative contacted police in 2017 and Stone’s lawyers in April.

He claims that on the day of the murders he was at the home of Buck’s sister when Buck arrived and confessed to killing three people and a dog.

A source close to the witness said: “It was apparently the same day Ray received divorce papers from his ex-wife Irene and he came flying through the door.

Lin and Megan were killed in the attack while older daughter Josie survived Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd A new witness is adamant that Buck was responsible for the murders and Stone is innocent Credit: PA:Press Association

“Ray went into the kitchen and said ‘I have done something unforgivable. I have killed three people. I could not stop, I could not stop’.

“Ray also said he had killed a dog and had lost his shoelace.”

Buck is said to have driven a car matching the killer’s, had a propensity for violence and was known to police.

The source said: “Because he was a carpenter he always had a hammer in his car.

“He was a violent man and people were always wary of him when he was around because of his temper.

“One of Ray’s sons is providing a DNA sample and that is going to be tested along with Stone’s and Bellfield’s.

“The new witness is adamant Buck did it and Stone is innocent.”

Buck jumped off Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, in 2000 aged 46.

His inquest heard that he was depressed because Irene had barred him from access to his children.

However it was claimed Buck left a suicide note in his van saying he “could not live with the guilt”.

At the inquest Buck’s sister Tracey Shields head-butted Irene. She admitted assault and was fined £175.

Kent Police sources say there are inconsistencies with what the witness is now saying and his previous evidence to them in 2017.

Detective Chief Insp Neil Kimber said all information provided was “comprehensively examined in full by the investigation team”.

He said: “Following two trials at which Michael Stone was found guilty by a jury on both occasions, and an appeal to the High Court, he remains convicted of the murders of Lin and Megan Russell.”