Ian Huntley’s mother reportedly played a role in the decision to terminate life support for the notorious Soham killer. Huntley was airlifted to the hospital last week following an assault by another inmate at HMP Frankland, a maximum-security prison in County Durham. The 52-year-old was found injured in a workshop after being attacked with a makeshift weapon.
Huntley, serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002, had his ventilator removed after consultations with his mother, Lynda Richards. The decision was made as brain tests indicated Huntley was in a vegetative state. Sources revealed that the life support was discontinued around midday.
A source commented, stating that Huntley’s condition was irreversible, and his end was near. Even his mother acknowledged the situation after seeing him and understanding his critical state. The Ministry of Justice declined to provide any comments on the matter.
Huntley, previously a school caretaker in Soham, Cambridgeshire, received two life sentences in 2003 for the murders of Wells and Chapman, along with other related offenses. The tragic incident occurred in August 2002, leading to a widespread search that ended with the discovery of the girls’ bodies near an air base in Suffolk.
During Huntley’s trial, it was revealed that he had enticed the girls to his residence where the dreadful act took place. The case highlighted significant lapses in police vetting and child protection procedures, as Huntley had a history of complaints of rape and other offenses prior to his employment.
The Soham murders prompted significant changes in intelligence sharing among law enforcement agencies. This recent incident is not the first time Huntley has been attacked at HMP Frankland, as he was previously assaulted in 2010 by another inmate, resulting in serious injuries.
The attacker at that time expressed a desire for Huntley’s demise, referring to him as a notorious child killer within the prison and society at large.
