An inmate at the high-security HMP Frankland prison has been charged with the murder of notorious child killer Ian Huntley, appearing at crown court to face the allegation. Anthony Russell, 43, is accused of fatally attacking Huntley with a makeshift weapon inside the prison's workshop on Thursday, February 26.
Fatal Assault in High-Security Prison
Former school caretaker Ian Huntley was rushed to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle following the brutal assault, where medical teams fought desperately to save his life. The double killer had sustained severe head injuries during the incident. Tragically, after ten days of intensive care, Huntley passed away on Saturday, March 7, when his life support machine was switched off.
Court Appearance and Legal Proceedings
At Teesside Crown Court, Anthony Russell appeared dressed in a standard grey prison-issue sweatshirt, speaking only to confirm his date of birth during the brief hearing. No application for bail was made by the defence. Prosecutor Matthew Bean KC indicated that a potential trial could span approximately five days, though no specific date has been scheduled yet.
Defence barrister Tyrone Smith KC informed the court that they would be requesting a psychiatric report for Russell. The accused has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear at Newcastle Crown Court for a plea and directions hearing on April 24.
Background of the Soham Murders
Ian Huntley was convicted for the horrific murders of ten-year-old best friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, on August 4, 2002. The young girls had left a family barbecue to purchase sweets when they were abducted and killed. Huntley callously dumped their bodies in a ditch approximately ten miles away, where they remained undiscovered for thirteen days despite an extensive police search involving hundreds of officers.
At the time of the murders, Huntley resided with Maxine Carr, who worked as a teaching assistant at the primary school attended by Holly and Jessica. Carr provided Huntley with a false alibi and was subsequently jailed for twenty-one months for perverting the course of justice. She now lives under a new identity following her release.
Previous Prison Attacks and Family Reaction
Prior to his death, Ian Huntley had survived at least two other violent attacks while incarcerated. In 2005, an inmate threw boiling water over him while he was on the healthcare wing of Wakefield Prison. Then in 2010, Huntley required emergency surgery after his throat was slashed with a homemade weapon.
Huntley's daughter, Samantha Bryan, expressed complex emotions following news of the attack. She stated there was a 'special place in hell' for her father and admitted feeling 'glad' upon hearing about the assault. Bryan described crying with an 'overwhelming sense of relief' when she initially believed he had died, adding: 'It felt like I could breathe again. I felt if he died, that burden died with him. I have always been judged for being his daughter – it has been a very difficult thing to deal with over the years.'
Official Statements and Investigation
Christopher Atkinson from the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed: 'The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Anthony Russell with murder following a police investigation into a fatal attack on Ian Huntley at HMP Frankland. Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings. We have worked closely with Durham Constabulary as they carried out their investigation.'
A Ministry of Justice spokesman added: 'The murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman remains one of the most shocking and devastating cases in our nation's history, and our thoughts are with their families.'
