Inmate charged with murder of Soham killer Ian Huntley to appear in court
Anthony Russell faces preliminary hearing at Teesside Crown Court
An inmate is set to appear at Teesside Crown Court charged with the murder of Ian Huntley, the Soham killer, at HMP Frankland.
Anthony Russell, 43, is accused of murdering 52-year-old Huntley following an attack with a metal bar in a workshop at the maximum-security prison on 26th February.
Today (Thursday 12th March), Russell will attend a preliminary hearing at Teesside Crown Court in Middlesbrough.
Huntley, who was serving a life sentence for the 2002 murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, died on Saturday morning at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle after being transferred there for treatment.
Russell was brought before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court via video link on Wednesday, where District Judge Steven Hood stated that murder charges must be heard in crown court.
The judge informed Russell: "In matters such as murder, the magistrates’ court cannot consider anything other than a remand in custody, and the law states that a person must appear within 48 hours before a crown court."
Huntley was convicted in 2003 at the Old Bailey for the murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, who were last seen on 4th August 2002 in Soham, Cambridgeshire.
Huntley lived with Maxine Carr, a teaching assistant at the girls' primary school, who provided him with a false alibi during the investigation.
Carr was subsequently convicted of perverting the course of justice and sentenced to 21 months in prison.
She is now living under a new identity.