Childhood Friend Speaks Out Against Hero Worship of Ian Huntley's Killer
Daniel Williams endured unimaginable tragedy when his mother and brother were brutally murdered by Anthony Russell in October 2020. Within weeks of this devastating loss, Daniel took his own life, unable to bear the pain of his family's violent deaths. Now, his closest childhood friend is speaking out against the disturbing public celebration of Russell as a hero for killing notorious child murderer Ian Huntley in prison.
The Tragic Backstory of Daniel Williams
Daniel's friend, who grew up with him in Moorfields children's home, describes Daniel as "a good guy" who was "really humble and genuinely nice." The two met at age thirteen and remained inseparable for years, bonding through difficult circumstances. Daniel was known for his protective nature and extraordinary strength, earning him the nickname "Stiffy" among friends.
"He always told me how, when he was taken into care, the police had to be called because his mum didn't want him to go," the friend recalled. "He was always sneaking back; he loved her. His mum was the only real thing in his life. His mum and his brother. He had nothing apart from that unit."
Anthony Russell's Murderous Rampage
Anthony Russell was only in the same prison wing as Ian Huntley because of his own horrific crimes. In October 2020, Russell murdered three people and an unborn child in a brutal spree that shocked the nation. He first strangled his friend David Williams with a lanyard after mistakenly believing he was in a relationship with his girlfriend, leaving the body under his bed in Coventry.
Concerned that his mother Julie would report him, Russell then strangled the 58-year-old woman, inflicting 113 separate injuries during the horrific attack. His final victim was 31-year-old Nicole McGregor, who was five months pregnant. Russell raped and killed Ms. McGregor just hours after she showed him a picture of her baby scan. Her body was discovered in woodland at Newbold Comyn three days later with wood and twigs stuffed in her mouth.
The Prison Attack That Changed Everything
Last week, Ian Huntley—who was serving a life sentence for the 2002 murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman—was attacked inside a workshop at HMP Frankland. He was bludgeoned in the head with a metal pole, leaving him brain dead before he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, March 7. Anthony Russell was named as the suspect in the killing.
Since the attack, Russell has been celebrated online by some members of the public, with people calling for him to receive medals and setting up fundraising campaigns in his name. This public adulation has deeply disturbed those who knew Russell's victims.
A Friend's Outrage and Grief
Daniel's childhood friend expressed both grief and anger at seeing Russell celebrated. "It p***ed me off to see Anthony Russell's face everywhere like he is a hero, with people saying give him a medal, all that," he said. "People are celebrating him, setting up GoFundMes—it is mad. I know Daniel would feel the same."
The friend believes Daniel felt overwhelming guilt for not being able to protect his family from Russell, who lived on the same road. "Daniel was a protector so he must have blamed himself. He must have felt so guilty for not being there to protect them," he explained. "All he had was his mother. He would talk about just going there and being reunited with her."
Family Pleads for Perspective
Even Russell's own family members have pleaded with the public to view him as "the scumbag he is" rather than a hero. One close relative told the Daily Mail: "As far as we're concerned, they're as bad as each other. Anthony is no hero for doing this. He committed a very bad crime himself—that's why he's on the same prison wing as Huntley."
Huntley had faced multiple attacks during his time in prison despite being segregated from the main population as a "vulnerable prisoner." This status is typically given to high-profile inmates whose crimes dominated news coverage, as well as those who committed serious sexual or terror offenses.
Remembering the Real Victims
Daniel's friend emphasized that the focus should remain on the victims of these crimes, not on celebrating violence with more violence. "Daniel was a family man, a good guy," he said. "He had a hard life and it was really sad end for him. He came out of care, spent his 20s in shared houses, in and out of prison and then this happened to him. I just think the victims should be remembered in all this."
As the public discourse continues about prison violence and vigilante justice, those closest to the tragedy remind us that real people with real connections suffer when violence becomes entertainment or cause for celebration.
