Ian Huntley died from prison attack head injury

Prison Attack Claims Life of Soham Killer

An inquest revealed that Ian Huntley, the convicted murderer of two schoolgirls in Soham, died as a result of severe head injuries sustained during a violent assault in prison. The incident occurred at HMP Frankland in Durham on 26 February, and the 52-year-old passed away nine days later at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Background of the Convicted Criminal

Before his death, Huntley served a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the 2002 murders of 10-year-old best friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. He had been imprisoned for over two decades, his crime still fresh in public memory.

Details of the Fatal Attack

During the assault, Huntley was struck multiple times with a metal bar by another prisoner. The attack caused “significant head injuries,” which ultimately led to his death on 7 March. Forensic pathologist Dr. Jennifer Bolton confirmed the cause of death as “blunt head injury” during a post-mortem examination conducted two days after the incident.

“The victim was struck over the head multiple times by another prisoner with an object described as a metal bar,” stated the documents presented to the coroner.

County Durham and Darlington senior coroner Jeremy Chipperfield noted that the inquest would be paused to allow for ongoing criminal investigations. Anthony Russell, 43, has been charged with Huntley’s murder and is set to appear in court on 24 April.

Original Crime and Its Impact

Huntley’s crime in 2002 sparked national attention. The two girls vanished after leaving a family barbecue in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in August of that year. It is believed they were heading to purchase sweets when he lured them back to his home. Their bodies were discovered in a ditch two weeks later, triggering widespread police appeals and media coverage.

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