Huntley not suffering from 'mental illness'

Ian Huntley was today declared fit to stand trial for the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

The former caretaker heard the pronouncement from the dock of Peterborough Crown Court 50 days after being sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Judge Nicholas Coleman told the 28-year-old, who is also accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, that he was being remanded in custody to November 15.

Huntley, wearing a white shirt and grey tie, sat shaking as the decision was announced.

Prosecutor Karim Khalil read to the court the conclusions of a report from Dr Christopher Clark, a consultant forensic psychiatrist who has been assessing Huntley at Rampton high security hospital in Nottinghamshire.

Mr Khalil said the report concluded that: “Mr Huntley is fit to enter a plea and to stand trial.”

He added that Huntley was “not suffering from any form of major mental illness” and there was “no evidence that he has been suffering from a significant mood disorder”.