Police 'ruled out Soham killer' days into inquiry

SOHAM killer Ian Huntley was officially "eliminated" as a suspect in the murder hunt just six days into the police investigation, a secret report revealed yesterday.

Cambridgeshire Police officers leading the search for missing schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman accepted a false alibi given by Huntley's then girlfriend, Maxine Carr.

When Huntley, who was convicted of murdering the 10-year-olds, re-emerged as a suspect, detectives asked for a surveillance operation.