Ian Huntley died from prison attack head injury

Ian Huntley, the Soham Killer, Died from Prison Head Injury

An inquest revealed that Ian Huntley, the convicted murderer of two schoolgirls in Soham, Cambridgeshire, died as a result of a head injury sustained during a prison attack. The incident occurred at HMP Frankland in Durham on 26 February, where Huntley, then 52, was struck repeatedly with a metal bar by another inmate. He succumbed to his injuries nine days later at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Details of the Attack

The coroner’s hearing in Crook, County Durham, was informed that Huntley was “struck over the head multiple times by another prisoner with an object described as a metal bar,” according to documents presented. The injuries were severe enough to lead to his death on 7 March. Forensic pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton confirmed the cause as “blunt head injury” following a post-mortem examination conducted two days after the incident.

Background of the Conviction

Huntley, a former school caretaker, had been serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the 2002 murders of 10-year-old Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. The pair vanished after leaving a family barbecue in August 2002, and their bodies were discovered in a ditch two weeks later. The case sparked widespread media coverage and prompted urgent police searches.

Criminal Proceedings

The coroner, Jeremy Chipperfield, noted that the further investigation into Huntley’s death would be paused until criminal charges against the attacker are resolved. Anthony Russell, 43, has been formally accused of killing Huntley and is scheduled to face court in Newcastle on 24 April.

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