<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A former school caretaker who </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/murder" rel="" target="_blank" title="killed"><span>killed</span></a><span> two young girls in the</span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/uk" rel="" target="_blank" title=" UK"><span>UK</span></a><span> has died after being attacked in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/prison" rel="" target="" title="prison"><span>prison</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ian Huntley, who was serving a life sentence for killing Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002, had his life support switched off after being hit over the head repeatedly with a metal bar at Frankland Prison in north-east </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/england" rel="" target="_blank" title="England"><span>England</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His death was announced in a short statement by the Durham Constabulary.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>JUST IN:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-trump-insists-us-not-behind-deadly-school-strike/6ce3b9b7-1668-45e7-b04f-b4f0f9eeb3ce" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Trump receives bodies of six dead US soldiers</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>WEATHER: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-weather-forecast-update-flash-flooding-sunshine-coast-rain/d085e525-168b-4db1-957a-7985688e40aa" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Stay inside': Large parts of Queensland brace for severe rain, flash floods</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Ian Huntley, 52, was taken to hospital with serious injuries following an incident in the workshop on the morning of Thursday, February 26," the statement said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A police investigation into the circumstances into the incident is ongoing."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/ian-huntley-dead-soham-murders-holly-wells-jessica-chapman-uk/9607f21a-5544-4370-a554-45e1a18bd8b9" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Huntley was convicted of the murders in 2003, which attracted worldwide attention.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wells and Chapman had been missing for nearly two weeks after they left a barbecue to buy sweets in Soham, Cambridgeshire on August 4, 2002.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The case captivated the country, with a photo of the two girls wearing matching Manchester United soccer shirts being widely circulated in newspapers and in television news bulletins.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Their bodies were found when a group of hikers discovered the girls' remains beside a dirt path in a wooded area a few miles from the village.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EXCLUSIVE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/im-trapped-family-violence-victim-forced-to-wait-22-years-for-her-australian-visa/e49cdb82-3624-42b2-9164-432362dcca01" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'I'm trapped': Family violence victim forced to wait 22 years for her Australian visa</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Huntley denied murdering the two girls, and even spoke often to reporters during the search.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His partner, Maxine Carr was a teaching assistant at the girls' school, and was convicted of giving Huntley a false alibi.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for perverting the course of justice. She now lives under a new identity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Multiple attempts were made on Huntley's life while he was imprisoned, and he was kept under close protection along with other notorious killers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In one incident in 2010, his throat was slashed by another inmate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>British media have reported that murderer and rapist Anthony Russell, 43, was responsible for the attack that ultimately led to Huntley's death.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>No charges have been laid.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>Reported with Associated Press</span></em><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></li><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>