EXCLUSIVE: Prisoners at the Category A HMP Frankland had been calling for three cheers every morning for Anthony Russell, the convicted murderer who had allegedly beaten Huntley with a metal bar
Cheering broke out amongst inmates inside Frankland prison as news quickly spread through the jail that double child killer Ian Huntley had died. Prisoners had been calling for three cheers every morning for Anthony Russell, the convicted murderer who had allegedly beaten Huntley with a metal bar.
The cheers had also been accompanied by football chants, according to one prison source. The source added that Huntley was one of the most hated inmates inside the top security jail because he thought of himself as a “celebrity”.
The source added: “Every morning prisoners would be shouting “is he dead yet” and that would be followed by “three cheers for Russell”.
“When news began to spread around the prison that Huntley had died there was a lot of celebrating. Huntley was loathed by virtually all of the prisoners inside Frankland.
“There are a lot of cons in here who have committed some horrible crimes. Mostly they get left alone but not Huntley. He was arrogant, thought he was special and almost behaved like a celebrity.
“No one inside Frankland will be mourning his loss.”
Soham child murderer Huntley was left lying unconscious in a pool of blood after being bludgeoned during a workshop.
The 52-year-old was rushed to hospital following the attack on February 26, which triggered scenes of ‘absolute chaos’ at HMP Frankland, County Durham, nicknamed Monster Mansion.
On March 6 – a week on from the attack – his life support machine was turned off. His mum Lynda, 71 — the sole relative to visit him in hospital — was with him as his pitiful life slipped away after brain tests showed he was in a vegetative state.
A source told the Sun: “No one who has dealt with him is shedding a tear. Even his mother has accepted that this is for the best, having seen him and knowing what a state he is in. He never really recovered from the beating he took, and never stood much of a chance of doing so.
“Huntley had been attacked loads of times in prison so the day he was killed was always likely to arrive.”
Huntley was serving a life sentence after being convicted of murdering two 10-year-old girls, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, who disappeared from a family barbecue in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in August 2002.
Russell is believed to have struck Huntley at least 15 times and screamed out: “I’ve done it! I’ve done it! I’ve killed him! I’ve killed him!” as officials closed in around him, according to the Sun.
A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: “A man who was attacked at HMP Frankland in Durham last week has died in hospital this morning.
“Ian Huntley, 52, was taken to hospital with serious injuries following an incident in the workshop on the morning of Thursday, February 26.
“A police investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing. A file is being prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration for charges.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “The murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman remains one of the most shocking and devastating cases in our nation’s history, and our thoughts are with their families.”
The Sun, which initially disclosed the assault, reported Huntley was rendered unconscious by a metal pole with a spike and cited a source claiming his “head was split in two.”
It’s not the first time Huntley faced violence at Frankland prison. Wielding a makeshift weapon, robber Damien Fowkes slashed him in 2010, inflicting a “severe gaping cut to the left side of his neck”. The injury measured 7in (18cm) in length and necessitated 21 stitches.
Fowkes enquired of a prison officer: “Is he dead? I hope so.” He branded Huntley as a “notorious child killer, both inside prison and in society in general”.
Prior to his transfer to HMP Frankland, he was housed at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire and was doused with boiling water by North Yorkshire serial killer Mark Hobson.