Coroner pauses Huntley inquest as inmate faces murder

A coroner has suspended the inquest into the death of Ian Huntley, the convicted Soham murderer, pending the outcome of a criminal investigation. The 52-year-old died in a Newcastle hospital on March 7 after an alleged assault by a fellow inmate at HMP Frankland, a maximum-security prison in County Durham.

Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield adjourned the inquest during a brief mention hearing at the County Durham and Darlington Coroners Court in Crook on Wednesday. He stated that the law requires the suspension of an inquest once a person has been charged with murder related to the death. The inquest is now scheduled for a further mention hearing on September 15.

Anthony Russell, a 43-year-old fellow inmate, has been charged with Huntley's murder and made his first court appearance in March. A plea and trial preparation hearing for Russell is scheduled for June 3, after which a potential trial date may be set.

According to evidence presented at the inquest opening in March, Huntley was attacked in a prison workshop on February 26. The circumstances involved him being hit multiple times by another prisoner with an object described as a metal bar. Prison officers were called to the...