10/06/2003

Huntley improves after suicide bid

The man charged with the murders of Soham schoolgirls Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells has improved after yesterday's suicide bid.

Ian Huntley was taken off life-support today after taking a drugs overdose at HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire yesterday morning. He was taken to Milton Keynes General Hospital at around 4am. The incident was described by authorities as a "serious incident of self harm".

Conservative Home Affairs spokesman James Paice has written to the Home Secretary today demanding an inquiry into the suicide attempt.

Mr Paice, in whose constituency the murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells took place last year, said: “I find it quite astonishing that a man who was apparently on suicide watch was able to obtain the means with which to try and kill himself.

“This is simply not acceptable. I want to know what happened, how it happened and who is responsible. Mr Blunkett must hold a full inquiry.

“My heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the two girls. The trial planned for this autumn might at least have helped them draw a line under the tragedy. Now that trial may well be delayed.”

Ian Huntley, 29, from Soham in Cambridgeshire, was charged on August 20 2002 with the murder the two 10-year-old schoolgirls. He pleaded not guilty to their murder at the Old Bailey in London in April. However, Ian Huntley has admitted to one charge of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

His former girlfriend Maxine Carr has also pleaded not guilty to charges of helping an offender and perverting the course of justice.

A date of October 6 has been set for the trial.

Holly and Jessica went missing whilst out walking in Soham on August 4. Their bodies were later found near Lakenheath, Surrey, on August 17. Both Huntley and Carr had worked at St Andrew's school in Soham where both the victims were pupils.

(GMcG)

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02 December 2003
Soham murder accused admits killing Jessica Chapman
Ian Huntley, the man accused of murdering two 10-year-old schoolgirls in Soham last August, has today admitted that he was responsible for the death of Jessica Chapman. Mr Huntley, who denies murdering the girls, was in the witness box at the Old Bailey today to give evidence during the second day of the defence case.
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Huntley 'unlikely to dispute' girls died at his home
The jury at the trial of Soham murder accused Ian Huntley has been told that the defendant is "unlikely to dispute" that Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells died in his home.
09 June 2003
Soham murder accused in hospital
It has been reported today that Ian Huntley, the man charged in connection with the murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells, has been taken to hospital following a "serious incident of self harm". It is understood that Mr Huntley was taken to Milton Keynes General Hospital at around 4am this morning suffering the effects of a drugs overdose.
19 June 2003
Huntley report finds 'serious systems failures'
The report into Ian Huntley's "incident of self-harm" which left him in a coma has uncovered a number of "serious systems failures" within the Prison Service.
17 December 2003
Child killer Huntley handed down two life sentences
Ian Huntley has been handed down two life sentences for the murder of Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. Maxine Carr, Huntley's former girlfriend, was sentenced to three and a half years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. She was found not guilty on two charges of assisting an offender.