Ian Huntley died from prison attack head injury

Inquest Details

An inquest revealed that Ian Huntley, the Soham killer, succumbed to a head injury caused during a prison assault. The 52-year-old was struck repeatedly with a metal bar at HMP Frankland in Durham on 26 February. His death occurred nine days later at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.

County Durham and Darlington senior coroner Jeremy Chipperfield announced that further inquiry into Huntley’s death would be paused until criminal proceedings commence. Anthony Russell, 43, faces charges of murdering Huntley and is set to appear in Newcastle Crown Court on 24 April.

“Struck over the head multiple times by another prisoner with an object described as a metal bar,” the coroner was informed during the brief hearing in Crook, County Durham.

Forensic pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton concluded that the cause of death was “blunt head injury” following a post-mortem examination two days after the incident. Huntley had been serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the 2002 murders of 10-year-old friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire.

The Girls’ Disappearance

Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman vanished after leaving a family barbecue in Soham in August 2002. It is believed they were heading to purchase sweets when Huntley, then 28, lured them back to his residence and killed them. Their disappearance sparked widespread media coverage and prompted police to issue appeals for information.

Their bodies were discovered in a ditch approximately two weeks after they went missing, marking a tragic conclusion to the case that gripped the nation. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram for updates.