26/11/2003

Huntley was charged with rape in 1998, court hears

Ian Huntley, the man accused of murdering Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, had been charged with the rape a girl five years ago, the Old Bailey has been told today.

In a statement made to police on August 17, and read out to the court today, Maxine Carr, the former girlfriend of Mr Huntley, told officers that she had lied over her whereabouts on August 4 – the day that Holly and Jessica went missing.

Ms Carr, 26, originally claimed to have been at Mr Huntley's home in Soham on the day in question, but changed her statement to show that she had been in Grimsby. Ms Carr said that she had lied to protect Mr Huntley who had suffered a mental breakdown over the allegation that he raped a young girl in 1998.

Ms Carr told police that Mr Huntley, 29, had been charged with rape in 1998 but was acquitted when CCTV footage revealed that he was in a club at the time the alleged rape occurred.

Ms Carr denies a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and two counts of aiding an offender.

Mr Huntley denies murdering Holly and Jessica, claiming that both girls died accidentally at his home. He has admitted a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The trial continues.

(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.
04 December 2003
Maxine Carr distances herself from Ian Huntley
During evidence to the Old Bailey today, Maxine Carr lashed out at her former boyfriend saying she would not take the blame for "what that thing in the box has done to me", referring to Ian Huntley. Ms Carr, 26, told the court that she had been forced to lie to police by her "very controlling" boyfriend.
10 December 2003
Huntley a 'capable and convincing liar', jury told
The prosecution in the Soham murder trial began closing arguments at the Old Bailey today after two days of adjournments following an illness of one of the 12-member jury. The court was told today that Ian Huntley was a "capable and convincing liar" and that the motivation for murder was linked to "something sexual".
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.
29 September 2005
Huntley to serve 40 years
Double child murderer Ian Huntley is set to serve at least 40 years in jail. Sentencing Huntley today at the High Court, Mr Justice Moses said that Huntley's offences did not meet the criteria for a "whole-life" tariff, but he said that the 40-year tariff offered little or no hope of release.