One of Britain's most notorious child killers, Ian Huntley, died Saturday days after being attacked by a fellow inmate at Frankland prison.
Huntley, 52, was convicted in 2003 for the murder of two 10-year-old girls, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. He had been on life support after being assaulted in the prison workshop.
The 2002 murders of the best friends, who vanished from the village of Soham, captivated Britain. Their disappearance led to an extensive search, with a photo of the girls in matching Manchester United shirts becoming a focal point of news coverage.
The search concluded when hikers discovered the girls' remains near a wooded area. The U.K. Ministry of Justice stated the case remains one of the nation's most "shocking and devastating."
Huntley maintained his innocence but was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 40 years. He had previously survived multiple attacks in prison.
His former girlfriend, Maxine Carr, a teaching assistant, was jailed for perverting the course of justice after providing Huntley with a false alibi. She is now living under a new identity.
British media reports identified Anthony Russell, 43, a convicted murderer and rapist, as the inmate responsible for the attack on Huntley. Durham Constabulary is investigating the incident.