Police give update on Ian Huntley after prison attack with metal bar
Soham killer Ian Huntley remains in a serious condition in hospital two days after he was attacked with a metal bar by another inmate at a maximum security prison.
Durham Constabulary confirmed on Saturday morning that his condition did not change overnight. A spokesman said: “The 52-year-old man remains in hospital in a serious condition with no changes overnight.” The attack took place in the prison’s workshop.
Triple killer Anthony Russell is alleged to have shouted “I did it, I did it” after Huntley, 52, was repeatedly struck in the head at HMP Frankland in Durham on Thursday morning, according to reports.
Police declined to identify the suspect but said Thursday that a man in his mid-40s was detained at the jail but had not yet been arrested.
Former gamekeeper Huntley murdered 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman as they left their family barbecue to buy sweets in Soham, Cambridgeshire, on August 4, 2002, and then dumped their bodies in a ditch.
Russell was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2021 for the murders of Julie Williams, 58, and her son David Williams, 32, at separate flats in Coventry and the murder of pregnant Nicole McGregor, 31, who was found in woodland near Leamington Spa three days later.
Russell also raped Ms McGregor.
Thursday’s attack was the last attempt against Huntley and it was thought he was being kept under close observation to prevent similar attacks.
In 2010 robber Damien Fowkes slashed her with a homemade gun, creating a “serious, deep cut on the left side of her neck”, a 7-inch (18 cm) wound that required 21 stitches.
Fowkes asked a prison officer: “Is he dead? I hope so.”
He described Huntley as “a notorious child murderer both in prison and in society at large”.
Huntley is serving a life sentence for the Soham murders, with a recommendation that he serve at least 40 years in prison.
