Girlfriend of the accused in schoolgirls' murder seeks bail

A JUDGE is today expected to hear a bail application for a former teaching assistant charged in connection with the murders of schoolgirls Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells.

Maxine Carr, 25, from Soham, Cambs, has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice. Her case is listed at Norwich Crown Court in front of Judge David Mellor.

It is not clear if Carr, who is being held in Holloway women’s prison in north London, will attend the hearing or if it will be heard by the judge in chambers. Her boyfriend Ian Huntley, 28, also of Soham, is accused of murdering the 10-year-olds.

Earlier this week he was moved from Rampton high security hospital in Nottinghamshire, to a prison after a judge was told that he was fit to stand trial. The former school caretaker is being held on remand in Woodhill prison near Milton Keynes, Bucks, pending trial after reports by psychiatrists that he was not suffering from a mental illness. His case is to be heard next on November 15 by a High Court judge at Norwich Crown Court. The case of Carr is expected to be considered at this hearing.