The Soham murderer Ian Huntley could have his funeral or cremation paid for by taxpayers unless his family makes alternative arrangements. Under a long-standing prison service policy, governors must offer to contribute up to £3,000 to cover basic funeral expenses for any death in custody.
Justice secretary David Lammy has come under pressure to prevent any costs being covered by the taxpayer or prison service time being spent marking the child killer’s death. Ian Acheson, a former prison governor, told The Times: “Lammy needs to be all over this. He will have the ability to override any prison service instruction, order or framework that might provide this to happen.”
Huntley, who murdered 10-year-old schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002, died in hospital on Saturday after being attacked in the workshop of a maximum security prison on 26 February. He was serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years at HMP Frankland, Durham.
Huntley’s daughter, Samantha Bryan, said she was “over the moon” to learn of his death and that his ashes should be flushed down the toilet. She told the Sun on Sunday: “He shouldn’t have the dignity of a funeral and grave. I will not be going.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “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.”
