Huntley fit to stand trial for murder

Ian Huntley, 28, was remanded in custody until 15 November when his case is listed to be heard by a High Court judge at Norwich Crown Court.

On that date he is listed to appear alongside his girlfriend, Maxine Carr, who is accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Ten-year-olds Holly and Jessica disappeared from the Cambridgeshire village of Soham on 4 August, sparking a major police hunt.

Their bodies were discovered 13 days later near Lakenheath, Suffolk, just eight miles from their homes.

Mr Huntley faces two counts of murder and a charge of conspiring to pervert the course of justice, but has yet to enter any pleas.

He arrived at Peterborough Crown Court on Tuesday morning in a van flanked by three police escort cars.

He was driven there from Rampton high security hospital in Nottinghamshire where he was being held for assessment under the Mental Health Act.

'No disorder'

At Tuesday's 20-minute hearing, prosecutor Karim Khalil read to the court the conclusions of a report from Dr Christopher Clark, a consultant forensic psychiatrist based at the hospital.

The report concluded Mr Huntley was fit to enter a plea and to stand trial.

Mr Huntley was "not suffering from any form of major mental illness" and there was "no evidence that he has been suffering from a significant mood disorder", Mr Khalil added.

As Judge Nicholas Coleman told Mr Huntley his decision, the former caretaker, wearing a white shirt and grey tie, seemed to shake and mumble to himself in the dock.

Mr Huntley was sent to Woodhill prison in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

There was no repeat of the mob scenes at his previous court appearances and the street outside the court was closed off.

Ms Carr, 25, a former teaching assistant at the girls' school, St Andrew's Primary in Soham, is charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

She is on remand at Holloway Prison, London, awaiting her next court appearance.

The hearing in November is likely to take the form of a legal discussion about the way forward and may not require their attendance.