Josie tells court how she pleaded for her life

A HUSHED court watched videotaped evidence yesterday of Josie Russell's painstaking efforts to recall the vicious attack which left her brain-damaged and her mother and sister dead.

In some of the most extraordinary footage played to a British court, the jury of eight women and four men saw Josie's progress back to life from near death.

In halting phrases, Josie, who is now 11, told how she pleaded with her attacker as he bound her tightly to a tree and struck her mother, Dr Lin Russell, with a hammer.

Re-enacting the moment for Detective Constable Pauline Smith, one of two police officers who coaxed details of the murders from her over 14 months of interviews, Josie mimicked her own cries as she struggled against the man. She said: "Don't, don't," then "Oh no, oh no," as her protests resulted in the man binding her tighter.

Josie told how her mother had begged her to "Run, run, run", after she was challenged by a man brandishing a hammer as she walked her two daughters home from a school swimming gala in July 1996.

Josie went on to describe hearing her mother exclaim "Ow" as she was struck with the hammer.

Maidstone Crown Court was shown four hours of abridged tapes, in which Josie was encouraged to try to remember details of the attack, the man who carried it out and his car.

Initially, Josie was seen barely able to speak, communicating only with brief nods and shakes of the head and the occasional spoken "no" and noises of affirmation. But by May last year, 10 months after the attack, she was able to reveal that the man had demanded money.

Josie said: "The man said, `give your money'." Dr Russell replied: "I've got no money, shall I go back to my house and get some?" and the man said "No".

The videos also showed Josie concentrating with her eyes tightly shut as she was encouraged to provide details for a drawn description of the attacker. She was seen smiling when police artist David Clare produced an image she claimed closely resembled the man.

DC Ed Tingley asked her: "Is that like the man that murdered mummy? Would you know him if you saw the man that hurt you?" Josie indicated yes.

Josie was yesterday at her new home in North Wales, where she lives with her father Dr Shaun Russell. DC Smith is staying with them for the duration of the trial.

Michael Stone, 38, of Gillingham, Kent, is accused of murdering Dr Russell, 45, and her daughter, Megan, 6, at Chillenden, near Canterbury, Kent. He is also accused of the attempted murder of Josie, who was then nine. He denies the charges.