Jessica, Holly 'killed elsewhere and dumped'

The bodies of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells were found in a ‘‘severely decomposed and partially skeletonised’’ state and were almost certainly not killed at the spot where they were found, an inquest was told today.

The inquest into the deaths of the 10-year-olds was today formally opened and adjourned at Shire Hall in Cambridge.

Opening the inquest, coroner’s officer Tracy Smith said Detective Chief Inspector Andy Hebb contacted Cambridgeshire Coroner David Morris on August 18.

She said it was to advise him that the bodies of two young girls had been discovered the previous day in a ditch in an isolated location in the Mildenhall area of Suffolk.

The inquest was told that it is believed the deaths of the two girls happened in Cambridgeshire rather than Suffolk.

Addressing Mr Hebb, Mr Morris said: ‘‘You are as certain as you can be that the deaths of these two did not take place at the place where they were found?’’

Mr Hebb replied: ‘‘That’s correct sir.’’

Mr Morris said: ‘‘The question of location and timing of the deaths and removal of the bodies to their final destination is still a matter of your investigation?’’

Mr Hebb replied: ‘‘That’s correct.’’

Mr Morris also criticised the offering of rewards for information made by newspapers during the search for the girls.

He said: ‘‘Personally I have to question the value of offering enormous financial rewards for information, however well intentioned.’’

Mr Morris said police investigations into the murders were continuing and that further charges against Maxine Carr - the former teacher assistant who has appeared in court accused of perverting the course of justice in connection with the case - could not be ruled out.

Mr Morris said people from far afield had gone to the Soham area explicitly with the hope of finding the bodies.

He said: ‘‘I would hope that when this case is finally concluded the Home Secretary will review the activities to see if any lessons can be learned, not only for the families involved and communities in which they live but also for the police.’’

The inquest was told that Jessica’s parents wanted their daughter to be cremated and it was Holly’s parents’ wish for their daughter to be buried.

Mr Morris commented on the preliminary report by Home Office pathologist, Dr Nat Cary, who attended the location where the girls were found at Common Drove.

Mr Morris said: ‘‘He deals with first of all his attendance at the scene.

‘‘And my records suggest that the bodies of Jessica and Holly were discovered round about 12.15pm on that day (17 August) and Dr Cary reports that he arrived at the scene and confirmed the deaths formally at 2.09pm.

‘‘Dr Cary found on his arrival at the scene, in his words, the two severely decomposed and partially skeletonised bodies lying in the bottom of a ditch.’’