UK National News - Maxine Carr is released from prison

14 May 2004

Maxine Carr is released from prison

Maxine Carr, the former girlfriend of Soham murderer Ian Huntley, has been released from jail after serving a sentence for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Carr, 27, was convicted in December of the conspiracy charge after it was found that she had lied to police investigating the murders of Sarah Wells and Jessica Chapman. She was sentenced to three and a half years, but has been released today on parole having completed just over half her sentence. Sixteen of the 21 months she spent in prison were served on remand as co-defendant during the Soham murder trial.

The former classroom assistant has been given a new identity in order to protect her safety. And lawyers acting for Carr were yesterday granted a High Court injunction prohibiting the publication of any information which led to her identification or reveal her address.

The Home Office has said that it supported the order due to "concerns over her health and threats to her safety".

However, the media is expected to bite back at the High Court this afternoon. There is frustration within the media that reporting restrictions concerning Carr are too robust and lawyers acting for news outlets will seek to have it overturned today.

The release was jeopardised earlier this week after sensitive documents regarding Carr's new identity were stolen from the car of a Home Office official. However, the prisons chief Martin Narey ruled that the release would go ahead on schedule, and Carr was moved to secret location just prior to gaining her freedom this morning.

Carr was handed down a three-year community rehabilitation order earlier this week after she pleaded guilty to 20 charges of benefit fraud and lying on job applications.

(gmcg)