Man charged with murder of child killer Ian Huntley

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Tuesday, 10 March 2026 10:21

A man has been charged with murder after the death of Ian Huntley.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: "A man has been charged with murder following an incident at HMP Frankland in Durham.

"Emergency services were called to reports of an assault in the workshop on the morning of Thursday, February 26.

"Ian Huntley, 52, was taken to hospital with serious injuries but died on the morning of Saturday, March 7.

"Anthony Russell, 43, of HMP Frankland, has been charged with murder and will appear via video link at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, March 11."

Huntley was convicted of the murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002.

He killed them after they left a family barbecue to buy sweets, then dumped their bodies in a ditch.

Huntley was convicted of the murder of both girls in December 2003 and sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment.

Christopher Atkinson of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Anthony Russell with murder following a police investigation into a fatal attack on Ian Huntley at HMP Frankland.

"Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

"We have worked closely with Durham Constabulary as they carried out their investigation."

Sky News