Ian Huntley, the former school caretaker convicted of murdering 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002, has died in hospital following an assault at HMP Frankland. He was 52.
Huntley was attacked in a workshop at the maximum-security prison in County Durham on 26 February, suffering severe brain trauma. Reports suggest he was struck with a spiked metal pole. He was taken off life support on Friday after his condition deteriorated.
The murders of Holly and Jessica on 4 August 2002 sparked one of the largest police investigations in British history. The girls disappeared after leaving a family barbecue to buy sweets. Their bodies were found 13 days later in a ditch near an RAF base. Huntley became a suspect after his behaviour raised suspicions, and evidence including charred pieces of the girls' Manchester United shirts was found at his workplace.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'The murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman remain one of the most shocking and devastating cases in our nation's history, and our thoughts are with their families.' Durham Constabulary confirmed that a police investigation into the attack is ongoing, with a file being prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service.
Huntley was serving two life sentences for the murders. His former partner, Maxine Carr, served 21 months for perverting the course of justice. HMP Frankland houses several high-profile inmates, including Michael Adebolajo, Levi Bellfield, and Wayne Couzens.
