Hammer attack survivor whose mum and sister were killed in horrific 1996 murder opens up about grief – and reveals she’s engaged
JOSIE Russell, whose mother and sister were brutally murdered in a hammer attack that left her seriously injured, has revealed she is engaged and wants to start a family.
The textile artist, 30, told the how she has been affected by the 1996 tragedy, but is glad for the time she had with her mother.
She is set to wed fire alarm engineer Iwan, 31, and wants to be a hands-on parent just like her mother.
She told the paper: "I only had my Mum for nine years. She was strict but loving. She did so much stuff with us.
"I think my mother was a good role model – not too much TV, very hands-on."
21 years ago, Josie's mother, Dr Lin Russell, 45, and sister Megan, six, were killed by Michael Stone along with the family dog.
At first Josie was also feared dead, but despite sustaining serious injuries, she survived.
The trio were walking home down a quiet country lane after a school swimming competition in the village of Chillenden in Kent when they were allegedly attacked by Michael Stone who was armed with a hammer.
Stone, who is serving three life sentences in prison, tied up, blindfolded and beat Josie's mother and sister to death.
But even though he was convicted of the crime in 1996, he still maintains his innocence.
In a bid to start a new life, Josie and her father Sean moved from Chillenden, near Canterbury, Kent, to Dyfrryn Nantlle, Gwynedd.
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When she first met Iwan, her future fiance did not know anything about Josie's ordeal.
She said: "He asked about my mum once and I just told him she had died. Later his parents told him the full story but we never talk about the past. It’s better for me to just get on with the present."
In June a panel of experts, including detectives, lawyers and forensic scientists, have agreed to re-examine evidence.
Speaking in 2014, Josie said: "If I say I am thinking about the future all the time and think positive it doesn't mean I haven't forgotten about the past.
"I do think about it and I think of the happy memories and things but I don't like thinking about it too much.
"I know how life used to be, but I have to think positive and don't dwell about it."
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