Man Charged With The Murder Of Soham Killer Ian Huntley

Man charged with the murder of Soham killer Ian Huntley

A man has been charged with the murder of convicted child killer Ian Huntley, who died earlier this month after being attacked in a maximum‑security prison, police have announced. The incident has reignited memories of one of the UK’s most shocking criminal cases and prompted a formal prosecution following an investigation into Huntley’s death. Huntley, 52, had been serving a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years for the 2002 murders of 10‑year‑olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire crimes that horrified the nation and led to widespread reforms in vetting criminal records.

On 26 February 2026, Huntley was assaulted inside a workshop at HMP Frankland, a maximum‑security prison in County Durham, and suffered serious head injuries during the attack. He was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where he remained on life support before dying on 7 March.

Anthony Russell, 43, an inmate at HMP Frankland, has now been charged with murder in connection with the assault. Durham Constabulary said Russell is due to appear via video link at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 11 March, in relation to the murder charge. A statement from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed prosecutors believe there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue the charge. CPS officials also urged the public not to publish or comment on material that could prejudice legal proceedings Huntley became one of Britain’s most notorious criminals when he was convicted in December 2003 of the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, who disappeared on 4 August 2002 after attending a barbecue and were later found dead. The case drew huge public attention and is regarded as one of the most devastating child‑murder trials in recent British history. Huntley was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment and had repeatedly been targeted by fellow inmates during his incarceration. The attack on Huntley sparked debate over prisoner safety, particularly for high‑profile inmates convicted of crimes against children, and how prisons manage violent offenders. Many commentators have highlighted tensions within the prison system over notorious criminals being housed among other violent inmates. (Context based on general reporting trends) Officials have said that they will continue to investigate the prison incident thoroughly and ensure that any further criminal actions connected with the attack are properly dealt with through the courts.