The violent assault on notorious Soham murderer Ian Huntley inside prison has taken a darker turn after reports revealed the identity of the inmate allegedly behind it.

BOMBSHELL COURT APPEARANCE: Triple Killer Anthony Russell Faces Judge Via Video Link Charged with Murdering Soham Monster Ian Huntley – ‘I’ve Done It, I’ve Killed Him!’ Inmates Cheered as Child Killer Died from Brutal Metal Bar Attack! Grieving Families Demand Justice After 24 Years of Pain

In a dramatic five-minute hearing that has gripped the nation, Anthony Russell, the 43-year-old triple murderer already serving a whole-life sentence, appeared via video link at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, charged with the brutal prison murder of notorious child killer Ian Huntley!

Russell – dressed in a plain grey sweatshirt, seated at a table in custody – spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood proceedings. No plea was entered. District Judge Steven Hood swiftly remanded him in custody and sent the case to Newcastle Crown Court for Thursday, where the full horror of the fatal assault will unfold.

Huntley, 52, the man who shocked Britain by murdering 10-year-old best friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002, died on March 7 after succumbing to catastrophic head injuries from the savage attack at HMP Frankland on February 26. He was smashed repeatedly in the skull with a metal bar snatched from a recycling crate in the prison workshop – injuries so severe that part of the weapon reportedly lodged in his head.

A prison source described the scene as “absolute chaos”: Huntley collapsed in a pool of blood, officers fearing he was already dead. Despite frantic life-saving efforts, he was placed in a medically induced coma, rushed to hospital, and never recovered.

Multiple inmates cheered as Russell was led away in handcuffs, reportedly shouting: “I’ve done it, I’ve done it! I’ve killed him, I’ve killed him!” One visitor who glimpsed Huntley post-attack told reporters he looked like he’d been “ripped apart like a rat” – a grim end for the man whose crimes scarred a generation.

Who is Anthony Russell? The Triple Killer Now Accused of Delivering ‘Prison Justice’

Russell, from Coventry, is no ordinary inmate. In 2022, he was handed a whole-life order – meaning he would die behind bars – for a seven-day heroin-fueled killing spree in October 2020 that left three dead in horrific circumstances.

He strangled David Williams after wrongly believing he was involved with his girlfriend, then butchered David’s 58-year-old mother Julie Williams with 113 separate injuries. Hours later, he raped and murdered pregnant Nicole McGregor, 31 and five months along, after luring her with drugs and viewing her baby scan photo.

His crimes were branded “sustained and brutal” – a level of savagery that even hardened prisoners recognize. Now, at HMP Frankland’s segregated Wing A (home to vulnerable inmates like sex offenders), Russell allegedly targeted Huntley during a workshop shift. A fight erupted, and Russell grabbed the metal pole, swinging with lethal force.

Durham Constabulary confirmed: “Anthony Russell, 43, of HMP Frankland, has been charged with murder.” The Crown Prosecution Service authorized the charge after a thorough investigation, with forensic teams combing the workshop for evidence.

The Soham Horror: Why Huntley’s Death Has Divided a Nation

Huntley’s name still evokes raw pain 24 years later. On August 4, 2002, Holly and Jessica left a family barbecue to buy sweets. Huntley, the school caretaker, lured them into his home, murdered them, dumped their bodies in a ditch 12 miles away, and tried to burn them. Their remains weren’t found for over a week amid a massive search.

He claimed accidents – Holly drowned in his bath, Jessica suffocated accidentally – but was convicted in 2003 of double murder and jailed for life with a 40-year minimum. His fiancée Maxine Carr got 3.5 years for a false alibi.

The case exposed catastrophic vetting failures – Huntley had prior sex allegations ignored. A public inquiry led to 31 reforms in policing and child protection.

Behind bars, Huntley faced repeated attacks: boiling water in 2005, throat slashed in 2010 (requiring 21 stitches), another shanking attempt in 2018. He reportedly taunted inmates by wearing a Manchester United No. 10 shirt – a sick reference to the girls’ matching football shirts in their last photos.

Now, his death has sparked furious debate: vigilante justice or deserved retribution? Many online rage: “What goes around comes around.” Others warn against glorifying prison violence.

What Happens Next? Trial Looms as Families Grapple with Mixed Emotions

Russell’s Newcastle Crown Court appearance on Thursday will set the stage for a high-profile trial. As a whole-life prisoner already, conviction means no change in sentence – but it could bring closure for Holly and Jessica’s families, who have endured endless media revivals of their nightmare.

Holly’s parents, Kevin and Nicola Wells, and Jessica’s, Leslie and Sharon Chapman, have remained dignified through decades of pain. They may now see Huntley’s killer face justice – albeit from another monster.

For Britain, this chapter closes one dark door while opening questions about prison safety, segregation, and whether true justice can ever heal such wounds.

The Soham scars endure. And as Russell faces court, the nation watches: will this be the final act in a tragic saga, or just another twist in a story of unrelenting evil?