Ian Huntley Died From Prison Attack Head Injury

Soham murderer Ian Huntley, 52, died from a blunt head injury following an assault within HMP Frankland in County Durham, an inquest has heard. Huntley was attacked on 26 February and succumbed to his injuries nine days later at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Details of the Attack and Inquest

During a brief hearing in Crook, County Durham, senior coroner Jeremy Chipperfield was informed that Huntley was "struck over the head multiple times by another prisoner with an object described as a metal bar." Forensic pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton concluded the cause of death as "blunt head injury" after a post-mortem examination.

Huntley was serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the murders of 10-year-old Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002. His death is now subject to a suspended inquest, pending ongoing criminal proceedings. Anthony Russell, 43, has been charged with Huntley's murder and is scheduled to appear before Newcastle Crown Court on 24 April.