Soham Murderer Ian Huntley to be Cremated in Secret with No Funeral Service
The family of double murderer Ian Huntley has reportedly decided that he will be cremated in secret, with no funeral service held, out of respect for the families of his victims. This decision follows Huntley's death in early March after an alleged attack in prison.
Details of the Secret Cremation Arrangements
According to a report by The Sun, Huntley, 52, will be cremated and his ashes scattered in secret by his family. The newspaper also stated that the family has declined to hold a government-funded funeral service, a move understood to be made to avoid causing further distress to the victims' relatives.
Justice Minister Sarah Sackman previously confirmed that the state would not be contributing £3,000 towards Huntley's funeral costs, as per policy maximums. She emphasised that Huntley deserved only the bare minimum, reflecting public sentiment against state support for notorious criminals.
Background on Huntley's Death and Legal Proceedings
Ian Huntley died on 7 March at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where he was taken after allegedly being attacked with a metal bar at HMP Frankland, a maximum security prison. Anthony Russell, 43, has been charged with his murder and is scheduled for a pre-trial preparation hearing at Newcastle Crown Court on 24 April.
Huntley was serving a life sentence for the 2002 murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire. He killed the two best friends after they left a family barbecue to buy sweets, dumping their bodies in a ditch 10 miles away. Their bodies were not found for 13 days despite an extensive police search.
Reactions and Aftermath of the Case
Huntley's daughter, Samantha Bryan, expressed relief at his death, stating she was "over the moon" and suggesting his ashes should be flushed down the toilet. Huntley had denied the murders but was convicted in 2003 at the Old Bailey and jailed for life with a minimum term of 40 years.
His former partner, Maxine Carr, who provided a false alibi, was jailed for 21 months for perverting the course of justice and now lives under a new identity. The case remains one of the most high-profile child murder cases in British history, with ongoing public interest in its developments.
The secret cremation plan underscores the family's attempt to handle Huntley's remains discreetly, avoiding any public ceremony that could reignite trauma for the victims' families. This approach aligns with broader societal debates on how to manage the deaths of infamous criminals while respecting victims' sensitivities.
