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17/12/2003
Child killer Huntley handed down two life sentences
Ian Huntley has been handed down two life sentences for the murder of Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.
Maxine Carr, Huntley's former girlfriend, was sentenced to three and a half years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. She was found not guilty on two charges of assisting an offender.
Huntley found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey this morning after Mr Justice Alan Moses informed the jury a majority verdict would be acceptable.
The 12-member jury returned an 11-1 verdict of guilty to both charges of murder against Huntley who had denied murdering the 10-year-old girls at his home in Soham on August 4 last year. Huntley had previously admitted one charge of conspiracy to pervert the court of justice.
The jury returned an 11-1 majority verdict of guilty on the charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice against Carr.
Carr, 26, had admitted making misleading statements to police but only to protect her "very controlling" boyfriend. However, she denied helping her former boyfriend in the full knowledge that the deaths had occurred in the house they shared together.
Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, pupils at Soham Village College where Ian Huntley was employed as a janitor and Maxine Carr worked a teacher's assistant, went missing on August 4 year. Their bodies were found two weeks later in a ditch at Lakenheath, Suffolk, 13 miles away from the village.
Both the girls' bodies had been burned and were at an advanced state of decomposition when they were discovered.
The Wells family were reported to have hugged each other after the verdicts were delivered.
Twenty-nine-year-old Huntley had claimed that he was responsible for the manslaughter of Jessica Chapman, but that Holly Wells had accidentally drowned in the bathroom of the house he shared with Maxine Carr.
However, the court found that Huntley had murdered the girls and callously misled police as he went about destroying evidence that the girls had been inside his house. The motive for murders was most probably sexual, the court found.
(gmcg)
Maxine Carr, Huntley's former girlfriend, was sentenced to three and a half years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. She was found not guilty on two charges of assisting an offender.
Huntley found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey this morning after Mr Justice Alan Moses informed the jury a majority verdict would be acceptable.
The 12-member jury returned an 11-1 verdict of guilty to both charges of murder against Huntley who had denied murdering the 10-year-old girls at his home in Soham on August 4 last year. Huntley had previously admitted one charge of conspiracy to pervert the court of justice.
The jury returned an 11-1 majority verdict of guilty on the charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice against Carr.
Carr, 26, had admitted making misleading statements to police but only to protect her "very controlling" boyfriend. However, she denied helping her former boyfriend in the full knowledge that the deaths had occurred in the house they shared together.
Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, pupils at Soham Village College where Ian Huntley was employed as a janitor and Maxine Carr worked a teacher's assistant, went missing on August 4 year. Their bodies were found two weeks later in a ditch at Lakenheath, Suffolk, 13 miles away from the village.
Both the girls' bodies had been burned and were at an advanced state of decomposition when they were discovered.
The Wells family were reported to have hugged each other after the verdicts were delivered.
Twenty-nine-year-old Huntley had claimed that he was responsible for the manslaughter of Jessica Chapman, but that Holly Wells had accidentally drowned in the bathroom of the house he shared with Maxine Carr.
However, the court found that Huntley had murdered the girls and callously misled police as he went about destroying evidence that the girls had been inside his house. The motive for murders was most probably sexual, the court found.
(gmcg)
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04 December 2003
Maxine Carr distances herself from Ian Huntley
During evidence to the Old Bailey today, Maxine Carr lashed out at her former boyfriend saying she would not take the blame for "what that thing in the box has done to me", referring to Ian Huntley. Ms Carr, 26, told the court that she had been forced to lie to police by her "very controlling" boyfriend.
Maxine Carr distances herself from Ian Huntley
During evidence to the Old Bailey today, Maxine Carr lashed out at her former boyfriend saying she would not take the blame for "what that thing in the box has done to me", referring to Ian Huntley. Ms Carr, 26, told the court that she had been forced to lie to police by her "very controlling" boyfriend.
24 February 2005
Carr granted indefinite anonymity
The High Court has granted Soham murderer Ian Huntley's former girlfriend Maxine Carr an indefinite order to protect her new identity. The 27-year-old was convicted of conspiring to pervert the course of justice. She had provided a false alibi for Huntley for the weekend that schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman disappeared in August 2002.
Carr granted indefinite anonymity
The High Court has granted Soham murderer Ian Huntley's former girlfriend Maxine Carr an indefinite order to protect her new identity. The 27-year-old was convicted of conspiring to pervert the course of justice. She had provided a false alibi for Huntley for the weekend that schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman disappeared in August 2002.
12 February 2004
Maxine Carr's bid for early release is denied
Maxine Carr's bid for early release under an electronic tagging scheme has failed. The Prison Service confirmed today that the head of the National Offender Management Scheme, Martin Narey, had turned down Carr's application on the basis that her release would undermine public confidence.
Maxine Carr's bid for early release is denied
Maxine Carr's bid for early release under an electronic tagging scheme has failed. The Prison Service confirmed today that the head of the National Offender Management Scheme, Martin Narey, had turned down Carr's application on the basis that her release would undermine public confidence.
06 February 2004
Tagging scheme could see Maxine Carr freed 'immediately'
Maxine Carr could be released from prison and placed on a tagging scheme immediately, the BBC has reported today. Maxine Carr was sentenced to three and a half years at the Old Bailey in December for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. She has now served 18 months in total, 16 of which were served on remand.
Tagging scheme could see Maxine Carr freed 'immediately'
Maxine Carr could be released from prison and placed on a tagging scheme immediately, the BBC has reported today. Maxine Carr was sentenced to three and a half years at the Old Bailey in December for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. She has now served 18 months in total, 16 of which were served on remand.
10 December 2003
Huntley a 'capable and convincing liar', jury told
The prosecution in the Soham murder trial began closing arguments at the Old Bailey today after two days of adjournments following an illness of one of the 12-member jury. The court was told today that Ian Huntley was a "capable and convincing liar" and that the motivation for murder was linked to "something sexual".
Huntley a 'capable and convincing liar', jury told
The prosecution in the Soham murder trial began closing arguments at the Old Bailey today after two days of adjournments following an illness of one of the 12-member jury. The court was told today that Ian Huntley was a "capable and convincing liar" and that the motivation for murder was linked to "something sexual".
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