A journalist who covered the disappearance of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman has described his chilling encounter with Ian Huntley before the former school caretaker was arrested for the murders
A journalist who reported on the disappearance of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman has recalled his eerie encounters with Ian Huntley. Their account comes in the wake of child murderer Huntley’s death in hospital, around a week after he was at the high-security prison where he was incarcerated.
Huntley, a former school caretaker, was imprisoned for the murder s of 10-year-old girls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, on 4 August 2002, a crime that sent shockwaves across the country.
A reporter who covered the case of the vanished girls has shared his experiences of encountering Huntley prior to his arrest.
Nick Hopkins, writing in The Guardian, recalled passing by and querying Huntley about why radiators at Soham Village College were so warm despite it being summer, reports the Express.
Nick reflected: “What was the caretaker thinking when he opened the doors to Soham village college to let us in? Or when we asked, idly, why in the warmth of summer, the radiators in the classrooms were running so hot?”
Following his arrest and trial, Huntley was given two life sentences with a minimum term of 40 years for the murders of Holly and Jessica, whose bodies were discovered after a 13 day search in a ditch around 10 miles from Soham. He avoided a whole-life tariff as the Criminal Justice Act 2003 was enacted a day after his conviction.
During the investigation into the killings, Huntley was initially given an alibi from his then-partner, teaching assistant Maxine Carr. But this came apart following police questioning. Later on, Huntley was arrested after police found pieces of their Manchester United shirts at his workplace. These had been worn by the two girls when they went missing.
It was reported emerged that Huntley had been assaulted at HMP Frankland, a category A facility in County Durham. Category A designation means the prison has a high level of the security.
According to reports, Huntley was delivered to hospital having suffered severe trauma to the brain; it was alleged he had been attacked with spiked metal pole, the Sun reported, and life support was withdrawn on Friday.
In a statement, a Durham Constabulary spokesperson confirmed: “A man who was attacked at HMP Frankland in Durham last week has died in hospital this morning.
“Ian Huntley, 52, was taken to hospital with serious injuries following an incident in the workshop on the morning of Thursday 26 February.
“A police investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing. A file is being prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration for charges.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson added: “The murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman remain one of the most shocking and devastating cases in our nation’s history, and our thoughts are with their families.”
