Inmate charged with murder of Ian Huntley

Ian Huntley died after being attacked with a metal bar in prison. File picture: PA

An inmate has been charged with the prison murder of Soham killer Ian Huntley.

Anthony Russell, aged 43, will appear before magistrates charged with murdering the 52-year-old at HMP Frankland, near Durham.

Huntley was reportedly attacked with a metal bar in a workshop at the maximum security jail on February 26.

The ex-school caretaker was serving a life sentence for the 2002 murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

Ian Huntley was convicted of murdering Holly Wells (left) and her best friend Jessica Chapman (Handout/PA)

He was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, where he died on Saturday morning.

Russell will appear before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon via a videolink.

Christopher Atkinson of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

“We have worked closely with Durham Constabulary as they carried out their investigation.”

The CPS said it was “vital” there was no “reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings”.