Ian Huntley's Death from Prison Attack
Soham murderer Ian Huntley died as a result of a blunt head injury sustained during an assault in prison, an inquest has revealed.
The 52-year-old was attacked multiple times with a metal bar at HMP Frankland in Durham on 26 February and succumbed to his injuries nine days later at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Huntley, a former school caretaker, was serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the murders of 10-year-old best friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002.
Inquest Proceedings and Charges
At the opening of the inquest into Huntley's death, County Durham and Darlington senior coroner Jeremy Chipperfield announced that the inquiry would be suspended pending ongoing criminal proceedings.
Anthony Russell, aged 43, has been charged with Huntley's murder and is scheduled to appear before Newcastle Crown Court on 24 April.
Details of the Attack
Documents presented to the coroner during the brief hearing in Crook, County Durham, stated that Huntley was
"struck over the head multiple times by another prisoner with an object described as a metal bar".
The assault caused
"significant head injuries"from which Huntley died on 7 March at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, the inquest was told.
Forensic pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton conducted a post-mortem examination two days after Huntley's death and determined the cause of death to be
"blunt head injury", according to the coroner.
Background on the Soham Murders
Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman disappeared after leaving a family barbecue in Soham in August 2002.
It is believed the girls were on their way to purchase sweets when Huntley, who was 28 at the time, lured them back to his home and murdered them.
Their disappearance attracted national media attention and prompted police appeals.
The bodies of the two schoolgirls were discovered in a ditch approximately two weeks after they went missing.
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