A man charged with murdering child killer Ian Huntley in prison has appeared in court.

Anthony Russell, 43, appeared at Teesside Crown Court via videolink from HMP Frankland, near Durham, for a 10-minute preliminary hearing on Thursday.

Russell is charged with the murder of the 52-year-old, who was allegedly attacked at the maximum-security jail on 26 February.

During the hearing before Judge Francis Laird KC on Thursday, Russell confirmed his name and date of birth.

Russell was not asked to enter a plea, and was told there would be a pre-trial preparation hearing on 24 April.

He followed the court proceedings, while seated at a table in a conference room.

The judge confirmed with Russell’s defence lawyer, Tyrone Smith KC, that his client was on the link and cooperating fully with the proceedings.

Huntley, who was serving a life sentence for murdering two ten-year-old girls in Soham in 2002, died in hospital on Saturday.

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