Carr ‘had no idea’ Huntley was murderer

MAXINE CARR yesterday said she had no idea that Ian Huntley had killed Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman when she lied to police to protect her former boyfriend.

As she broke her silence for the first time since her release from prison, the former classroom assistant said she hoped to convince the public that she had been unaware he was a murderer.

She also hit out at media claims that she now has a life of luxury.

“I was stupid and lied but I never had any idea what he had done,” Carr said.

“All this stuff is being written about me. But what about him? He’s being left alone.”

Carr was given a new identity following her release after serving 21 months of a 42 month jail sentence for perverting the course of justice.

She had provided a false alibi for Huntley by lying to police about her whereabouts on the weekend in August 2002 when he murdered the 10-year-old girls in Soham, Cambridgeshire.

The 27-year-old told the newspaper that she has now certain letters written to her by Huntley prove she was unaware of the truth.

She claims that he pleaded with her not to believe that he had carried out the killings in the weeks before his trial.

Carr also described as “ridiculous” comparisons between her and Moors Murderer Myra Hindley and denied suggestions that she had been targeted by groups bent on revenge.

But the ex-convict admitted she is fearful of attack and said: “You never stop looking over your shoulder.”

However, Carr claimed to be “grateful” that many people who recognise her are polite and said others have told her they believe she has been poorly treated.

She also denied suggestions that she is living in the lap of luxury and said she works 10 hours a day for £50 a week.

“The next thing they’ll be saying is that I have my own gold-plated helicopter and a yacht as well,” Carr said.

She gave the brief interview after calling sister Hayley Hodgson’s mobile and asking to speak to a reporter who was in her company.

Earlier this month, Carr’s legal team succeeded in tightening a court injunction which regulates what the public can be told about her.

The Mail on Sunday confirmed that neither Carr or her family have received any payment for the interview.