Soham accused in the dock as jurors selected

SOHAM accused Ian Huntley yesterday came face-to-face with the people who will try him on double child murder charges.

The alleged killer of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman was in the dock as 25 people were randomly selected from 100 potential jurors. The final 12 who will decide if Huntley killed the two 10-year-olds will be sworn in at courtroom number one in the Old Bailey today.

It was the formal start of the trial of the 29-year-old former caretaker and his ex-girlfriend Maxine Carr. Huntley has always denied the murders.

Carr, 26, a former classroom assistant at the girls' primary school, denies one charge of conspiring to pervert the course of justice and two charges of assisting an offender.

The former couple were in the dock together separated by a prison officer for the jury selection process.

Trial judge Mr Justice Moses told the 100 potential jurors: "Serving on a jury in any case is probably the most important obligation any citizen has to undertake."

If they had friends or family who lived in Soham or who were involved in the investigation they would be disqualified from serving on the jury, he said. And he urged them to ask themselves if there was any reason why they could not serve as jurors in the case, which is due to last until January.

Seventeen women and eight men were sent home to consider whether they could serve as jurors.

Mr Justice Moses said: "There is something very important I have to say to you. Twelve of you will be trying a case, as you know, that concerns the death of two girls at Soham.

"Twelve of you that serve on the jury will, as I will direct you again, decide this case and the issues the prosecution will seek to prove on the basis of the evidence you hear from witnesses in this court and only on the basis of that evidence."

He warned them not to be swayed by the publicity which surrounded the investigation.

The disappearance of the two best friends on August 4 last year triggered one of the biggest manhunts ever seen in Britain.

Their bodies were found in an overgrown ditch in Lakenheath, Suffolk, 13 days later.

The girls' parents Kevin Wells, 40, and his wife Nicola, 36, and Sharon Chapman, 43, and her husband Leslie, 52, made public pleas for their safe return.

Yesterday they walked to court together and paused briefly to be photographed before entering the historic courthouse.

Mr and Mrs Wells arrived hand-in-hand and all four wore Remembrance Day poppies.

They looked tense as they approached the Old Bailey, flanked by their police liaison officers.

Outside the courthouse flowers and other tributes were left by well-wishers.

A granite cross leant against the wall of the building and two dolls one fair-haired like Holly and the other dark like Jessica were tied to it with a gold angel.

A message attached read: "To Jessica and Holly, the Lord said suffer not little children come to me."

Five bouquets of flowers bore messages from people from across Britain and a teddy bear wrapped in a Manchester United scarf carried the message: "Holly and Jessica rest in peace."

One of the bouquets, an arrangement of lilies, pink daisies and other flowers, bore a card saying: "From Manchester United Supporters and Players".

Both youngsters were devoted fans of the football club and were wearing their matching Manchester United shirts when they vanished.

Richard Latham QC, prosecuting, is expected to set out the Crown's case of how they died tomorrow, when the trial begins in earnest.

Stephen Coward QC will defend Huntley, and Carr will be represented by Michael Hubbard QC.