Huntley due in court tomorrow - police

A former school caretaker charged with the murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman is due in court tomorrow, police said.

A large security operation is due to be in place when Ian Huntley, 28, caretaker at Soham Village College, in Soham, Cambs, is scheduled to appear before magistrates in Peterborough.

It will be Huntley’s first court appearance since being charged with killing the two 10-year-old girls, who both lived in Soham.

Huntley was charged with the girls’ murders on August 20 and is being held at Rampton high security hospital in Rampton, Notts, under the provisions of mental health legislation.

“It is expected that magistrates will consider whether Huntley should be sent to crown court for trial,” said a police spokesman.

“This is a legal requirement and the magistrates will not be required to consider Huntley’s mental state.”

The spokesman said he did not know whether Huntley was likely to enter a plea to the charges.

Huntley’s partner, Maxine Carr, 25, a former teaching assistant in Holly and Jessica’s class at St Andrew’s primary school has already appeared in court accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Her next scheduled appearance is at Peterborough Crown Court on September 27.

She is currently being held on remand in Holloway prison, north London, although her lawyers say they are considering making an application for bail.

Carr’s first appearance before magistrates in Peterborough was marred by ugly scenes as angry crowds lined the route along which she travelled in a police van.

When her case was heard by a Peterborough Crown Court judge, she was allowed to appear via a live prison video link to avoid any disturbance.

Holly and Jessica vanished on August 4 shortly after being seen walking near their homes in Soham.

Their bodies were found close to a track near Wangford, Suffolk, on August 17.

News of Huntley’s court appearance emerged as children prepared to return to school in Soham.

Soham Village College and St Andrew’s, both of which were sealed off for more than a week as police searched for clues, both begin the Autumn term tomorrow.

Jessica’s mother, Sharon, 43, is expected to return to her job as a learning support assistant at St Andrew’s.

Holly’s brother and one of Jessica’s sisters are also due to return to Soham Village College this week.

Huntley’s former home, which is near the entrance to Soham Village College, has been screened from public view by police.