Soham Murderer Ian Huntley Left Blind and Unlikely to Survive Prison Attack
Ian Huntley, the notorious Soham killer, has been left blind and is not anticipated to regain consciousness following a vicious assault at HMP Frankland in Durham. The attack, which occurred on February 26, has resulted in severe brain trauma, leaving the 52-year-old on life support in a hospital.
Details of the Brutal Assault
According to reports from The Sun newspaper, Huntley was struck repeatedly over the head by an inmate wielding a metal bar in the prison's recycling area. The assault has caused irreversible damage, with sources indicating that Huntley never recovered from the battering and had little chance of survival. The attacker, identified as murderer and rapist Anthony Russell, 43, allegedly shouted "I've done it, I've done it" after the incident.
Durham Constabulary has not officially named the suspect but confirmed that a man in his mid-40s was detained on the day of the attack. Huntley's only daughter, Samantha Bryan, 27, expressed no sympathy, telling The Sun on Sunday, "There's a special place in hell waiting for him."
Huntley's Infamous Crimes and Prison History
Ian Huntley murdered 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, on August 4, 2002, after they left a family barbecue to buy sweets. He dumped their bodies in a ditch and was later sentenced to a minimum of 40 years in prison. This recent assault is not the first attempt on his life; in 2010, thief Damien Fowkes attacked him with an improvised weapon, inflicting a severe neck wound that required 21 stitches.
Fowkes, who referred to Huntley as a "notorious child killer," questioned a prison officer after the attack, asking, "Is he dead? I hope so." The latest incident has sparked speculation about Huntley's security measures, as he was reportedly under close surveillance to prevent such attacks.
Background on the Alleged Attacker
Anthony Russell, the inmate suspected in the assault, was handed a whole-life sentence in 2021 for the murders of Julie Williams, 58, and her son David Williams, 32, in Coventry, as well as the murder and sexual assault of pregnant Nicole McGregor, 31, whose body was found in woodland near Leamington Spa. Russell's violent history adds context to the severity of the attack on Huntley.
The assault at HMP Frankland highlights the ongoing dangers within maximum-security prisons, particularly for high-profile inmates like Huntley. As he remains on life support with little hope of recovery, the case continues to draw public attention to issues of prison safety and justice.
