Reports that a review is set to clear serial killer Levi Bellfield of the Chillenden murders has baffled the legal team representing Michael Stone – the man serving life for the crime that rocked the nation.

In a four-page "confession" made in February, Bellfield claimed he was responsible for the brutal hammer attack in which mum Lin Russell and daughter Megan, six, were bludgeoned to death.

Josie Russell, nine, was left for dead in an isolated lane in the village near Canterbury, but miraculously survived.

Stories in national newspapers over the weekend said the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is set to conclude Bellfield did not do it and Gillingham resident Stone was the perpetrator.

Stone's solicitor Paul Bacon said: "I have been in touch with the CCRC and they are saying they don't have a date for the outcome of their report and it is not imminent, so I don't know where these rumours are coming from.

"Depending on the outcome and what it is based on, we shall appeal. At the moment there is still so much uncertainty."

Mr Bacon and Stone's family had believed after the "confession", the 62-year-old would "finally" get his freedom.

His sister Barbara Stone, who has campaigned tirelessly to prove his innocence, said: "I can honestly say I don't know anything about the story or who the source might be.

"I did notice though there was a second article saying Bellfield was furious they did not believe him."

Meanwhile Stone – who has served nearly 25 years – is eligible for parole this summer.

But Mr Bacon said at the moment he has no intention of applying for it.

He said: "He said he has always perceived this would be an admission of guilt.

"There's no doubt if you change your plea it goes in your favour. But he has no intention of doing that."

Ms Stone, who speaks to her brother every day, said: "If he applied for parole it would be admitting his guilt and he absolutely refuses to do that because he did not commit the crime."

Former heroin addict Stone, who used to live in Skinner Street, Gillingham, is a Class A category prisoner at HMP Frankland in County Durham.

He was found guilty of two murders and one of attempted murder, despite a lack of forensic evidence.

He successfully appealed but was found guilty at a second trial in 2001, based primarily on a cell confession he is said to have made to a fellow addict.

Bellfield, 54, is serving life at the same prison for three murders, including that of schoolgirl Milly Dowler.