By TERRI JUDD in Peterborough
Ian Huntley seemed deaf to the furore surrounding him when he appeared in court for the first time since he was charged with the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.
After three weeks in Rampton psychiatric hospital, Huntley faced for the first time the intense revulsion
the deaths of the Cambridgeshire 10-year-olds has generated.
But as he was led into the dock, he gave every appearance of not caring, or even noticing, that all eyes in the room were fixed on him.
His features expressionless, the 28-year-old caretaker stared towards the floor at Peterborough Magistrates' Court, failing to acknowledge his brother and former wife 50cm ahead of him.
He was fast-tracked through the legal process. In a rare move, his preliminary magistrates' hearing and his first Crown Court appearance were dealt with in the same room only minutes apart.
Once Marie Davenport, the magistrate chairing the session, heard he was to face a further charge, of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, the case was transferred to the Crown Court and she was replaced in her seat by Judge Nicholas Coleman.
The judge said it was usual for cases to wait eight days before a Crown Court appearance, but the prosecution and defence had agreed on an immediate hearing.
He allowed psychiatrists at Rampton a further 28 days to assess Huntley's mental state.
Huntley was flanked by a policeman, a security guard and a psychiatric nurse in the dock where his fiancee, Maxine Carr, had sat 20 days ago charged with trying to pervert the course of justice.
He fidgeted incessantly, pulling at his collar, rubbing his arms and face, his head constantly moving as he repeatedly moistened his lips. He showed no emotion as Karim Khalil outlined the prosecution case.
The judge said Huntley would stand trial if deemed fit and there was no successful application to dismiss the charges. Legal aid was requested and reporting restrictions were not lifted.
Outside, a crowd of more than 300 had gathered beyond the barricades and the 140 police officers drafted in to maintain a cordon around the court. Huntley left the building in a van with blacked-out windows escorted by three police cars.
Screams erupted and eggs, tomatoes and plastic water bottles were thrown at the van.
Neither set of parents was in court. The girls were found dead near Lakenheath air base last month.
- INDEPENDENT
By TERRI JUDD in Peterborough
Ian Huntley seemed deaf to the furore surrounding him when he appeared in court for the first time since he was charged with the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.
After three weeks in Rampton psychiatric hospital, Huntley faced for the first time the intense revulsion
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