Trial hears accounts of Huntley's movements

The murder trial of Soham accused Ian Huntley today heard of a number of occasions where he was seen or spoke with members of the public and police on the night of the hunt for schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

Huntley denies their murder at the Old Bailey trial but admitted conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Here is a timeline listing the points at which a witness claimed to have seen or spoke to Huntley.

Sunday August 4, 2002

11pm – Scott Day, business partner of Holly’s father Kevin, said he and Mr Wells saw Huntley walking his dog close to the entrance to Soham Village College.

Monday August 5, 2002

12.45am-2.10am – Police dog handler PC Anna Burton said she spent around an hour with Huntley at some point during this time period as he helped her search the exterior grounds of Soham Village College.

She told the court how Huntley was “very helpful” and had offered to help her in the search which saw them check around various buildings including the hangar where the girls’ clothes would later be found.

2am – Retained firefighter David Hobbs said he bumped into Huntley at the caretaker’s house where he was standing in his doorway. Mr Hobbs claimed Huntley told him that he had seen the girls pass his house around half past six and that he told Huntley that he should inform those in charge.

Mr Hobbs said he spent around an hour with Huntley as they and a number of other people searched the surrounding area looking in bushes and shining torches. Mr Hobbs said Huntley behaved “as if he was out walking his dog” adding “he seemed calm”.

2am – Retained firefighter Stephen Jarvis, who was with the Hobbs group, said he had first seen Huntley outside the college with a cup in his hand and that by 3am he claimed Huntley had told him “I’d better let them know what I know or what I’ve seen”, referring to the police.

Post 2am – By this time police sergeant Pauline Nelson had already set up a control point at the entrance to Soham Village College. At some point after 2am the officer said she had become aware of a man who she later learned to be Ian Huntley in the crowd. She said he smelled as if he was “freshly bathed” and that you could smell soap or after shave. Later, although no specific time was given, he came to her attention again when he told her he had seen the girls after another women had drawn her attention to him. The court heard this was the first time Huntley told a police officer of his sighting of the girls.

2-2.30am – Soham resident Susan Hurrell said she met Huntley at the control point where she introduced herself and Huntley told her he had seen the girls.

She told the court he said it had been around 5.50pm. Her daughters Michelle, 19, and Louise, 18, both overheard parts of the conversation, the court heard.

3-3.15am – Volunteer searcher Stuart Smith said he thought he had seen Huntley at the control point.

3.30am – Pc Christopher Bradley said he saw Huntley talking to Sgt Nelson at the control point. He described the caretaker as looking “unkempt and slightly harassed” adding that he was also “slightly sweaty”.

Around 4am – Pc Bradley was reviewing CCTV footage at the Ross Peers Sports Centre when he said he saw Huntley come into the foyer and press himself against the glass of the counter. The officer told the court that Huntley asked what they were doing and continued to “loiter” in the foyer.

4.30am – Scott Day, still with Mr Wells and now with his friend Robert Wright, again saw Huntley at Soham Village College when they went there to search. They noticed a light on and the sports centre door open and a few moments later were met by Huntley who told them he was writing a note to say he will be in late that morning.