Ian Huntley, who died following an attack in the workshop at HMP Frankland, had ordered an Xbox game with a terrifyingly apt name just days before, according to reports
Soham murderer Ian Huntley reportedly ordered an Xbox game with a chilling name shortly before he died.
The 52-year-old died in hospital last Saturday after being attacked in the workshop of HMP Frankland on February 26. Huntley, who murdered Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002, had been serving a life sentence.
According to reports, Huntley is understood to have bought Dark Souls: Prepare to Die on Xbox shortly before the attack, with the game arriving at the prison three days after his death. Inmates are said to have been cracking “sick jokes” at the prison, which has the nickname ‘Monster Mansion’.
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The game involves players breaking a curse by fulfilling an ancient prophecy. Players fight to win souls and upgrade weapons along the way.
“No one could believe it when it came into the prison on Tuesday. It was obviously the last thing he ordered and then it still arrived into the jail despite Huntley being killed,” a prison source told The Sun.
“A lot of inmates heard it was on the delivery list and could not stop talking about it. Many were cracking sick jokes about it. They were commenting on the irony of it — and whether Huntley had a premonition about it or something. A couple of them even asked if they could have the game, but there are strict rules protecting a prisoner’s property when they die.”
It comes after Huntley is said to have had his Xbox taken off him as a punishment for bad behaviour in January. It was reported he was “upset” after guards at HMP Frankland removed his privileges for breaching rules over discipline and keeping contraband.
Unauthorised items found in his cell are believed to include DVDs, USB sticks and magazines. Huntley is said to have admitted to the breaches of rules on contraband after a search – leading to his Xbox games console being removed.
A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said that Anthony Russell, 43, also of HMP Frankland, had been charged with murder.
“A man has been charged with murder following an incident at HMP Frankland in Durham,” said the force spokesman. “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.”
Russell appeared at Teesside Crown Court via a videolink from HMP Frankland for a 10-minute preliminary hearing this week. He was not asked to enter a plea and was told there will be a pre-trial preparation hearing on April 24 at Newcastle Crown Court.
