A man accused of murdering child killer Ian Huntley in prison may not be fit to stand trial, an inquest has heard. Huntley, 52, died at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle nine days after being attacked at HMP Frankland in February 2026. He had been serving a life sentence for the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002.
Attack and Charges
Huntley was struck over the head multiple times with a metal bar. Inmate Anthony Russell, 43, has been charged with murder and is due to appear in court for a pre-trial preparation hearing on June 3. However, concerns have been raised about whether Russell is fit to stand trial, leading to the adjournment of the inquest.
Inquest Adjourned
Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield adjourned the hearing until September 15 due to the ongoing criminal case against Russell. The delay will allow further assessments of Russell's mental state.
Background of the Case
Huntley, a former school caretaker, was incarcerated at the maximum-security prison known as "Monster Mansion" for the murders of Holly and Jessica. The two girls, both 10 years old, disappeared after leaving a family barbecue to buy sweets in Soham, Cambridgeshire. Their bodies were found 13 days later in a ditch 10 miles away, despite a massive police search involving hundreds of officers.
Huntley lived with his girlfriend Maxine Carr, a teaching assistant at the girls' school, at the time of the murders. He denied killing the girls but was convicted in 2003 at the Old Bailey and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years.
Maxine Carr's Role
Carr provided Huntley with a false alibi and was jailed for 21 months for perverting the course of justice. She has since been released and is living under a new identity.
Previous Attacks on Huntley
While in prison, Huntley was targeted multiple times. In 2005, boiling water was thrown over him at HMP Wakefield in North Yorkshire. In 2010, at HMP Frankland, his throat was slashed, requiring 21 stitches.
Legal Proceedings
The case against Russell continues, with the next court date set for June 3. The inquest into Huntley's death remains adjourned pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
