Ian Huntley, known as the Soham killer, has been released from Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary for a ‘pauper’s funeral’ following an inquest into his death. The inquest revealed that Huntley succumbed to blunt trauma injuries after being struck multiple times on the head with a metal bar during an alleged prison assault.
Huntley’s body had been held in the morgue for several weeks while his family deliberated on the arrangements. The County Durham and Darlington coroner’s office confirmed the release of Huntley’s body for disposal, as per the Ministry of Justice protocol, which includes providing support to the family after a death in custody.
Despite the offer of financial assistance for funeral expenses, Huntley’s family opted not to hold a funeral, deeming it inappropriate to use taxpayers’ money for such a purpose. The responsibility for Huntley’s funeral arrangements fell under the Ministry of Justice, which offers a ‘pauper’s final’ service when individuals pass away without living relatives.
Huntley, aged 52, was admitted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle following the incident at HMP Frankland in Durham on February 26, where life support was eventually withdrawn on March 7. The inquest revealed that Huntley was struck on the head with a metal bar by another inmate, resulting in fatal head injuries.
The inquest proceedings, which used Huntley’s full name of Ian Kevin Huntley, have been put on hold due to the pending criminal case against Anthony Russell, who has been charged with Huntley’s murder at the high-security prison. Russell appeared in court in County Durham and is scheduled to appear at Newcastle Crown Court for further proceedings.
Ian Huntley was serving a life sentence for the 2002 murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both aged 10. Following a trial in 2003, Huntley was convicted of the murders and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 40 years. His former partner, Maxine Carr, received a jail term for perverting the course of justice. The inquest will reconvene on May 24, with no comments provided by the Ministry of Justice.
