Inquest Opens into Death of Ian Huntley from Prison Attack in Durham

# Inquest Opens into Ian Huntley's Prison Death An inquest opened into the death of Ian Huntley in Crook, County Durham. Ian Huntley was fatally attacked in prison. He died from a blunt head injury inflicted in a prison attack.

Ian Huntley was 52 years old. He was struck multiple times with a metal bar at HMP Frankland in Durham on 26 February. The attack left him with significant head injuries. Ian Huntley died on 7 March at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

County Durham and Darlington senior coroner Jeremy Chipperfield opened the inquest into Ian Huntley's death. The inquest into Ian Huntley's death was suspended pending criminal proceedings, Chipperfield stated.

Huntley was a former school caretaker.

He was serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years. Ian Huntley murdered 10-year-old Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002. Ian Huntley was aged 28 in 2002. The murders occurred in Cambridgeshire.

Huntley was struck over the head multiple times by another prisoner with an object described as a metal bar.

Forensic pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton carried out a post-mortem examination on Ian Huntley on 9 March. Dr Jennifer Bolton concluded the cause of Ian Huntley's death was blunt head injury. The inquest documents detailed the metal bar used in the attack.

BBC News reported the events surrounding the inquest and Huntley's death.

Russell, aged 43, has been charged with murdering Ian Huntley.

Anthony Russell is next due to appear before Newcastle Crown Court on 24 April. The suspension of the inquest relates to these criminal proceedings.