BRITAIN: Former school caretaker Mr Ian Huntley, charged with murdering the two Cambridgeshire schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, suffers "no form of mental disorder" and is fit to stand trial, a court heard yesterday.
After 50 days assessing Mr Huntley, psychiatrists declared there was no reason why he should be in a mental hospital.
On the orders of a judge, the 28-year-old will now swap the relative comfort of Rampton high security hospital in Nottinghamshire for a normal prison cell while he awaits a joint trial with his girlfriend, Ms Maxine Carr, accused of attempting to pervert justice.
Making his third court appearance since being arrested on August 17th, Mr Huntley - his greying hair close-cropped - looked distraught and confused as he sat in the dock at Peterborough Crown Court.
Wearing a new white shirt creased from the box and a smart grey tie, he sat shaking and wringing his hands as the court heard the conclusion of Dr Christopher Clark, a consultant forensic psychiatrist.
Reading from Dr Clark's report, the crown prosecutor, Mr Karim Khalil, said: "Mr Huntley is fit to enter a plea and to stand trial."
He "is not suffering from any form of major mental illness" and there is "no evidence that he has been suffering from a significant mood disorder such as depression", said Mr Khalil.
He concluded: "Mr Huntley is not currently subject to any mental disorder, which makes it appropriate for him to receive treatment in hospital."
Mr Huntley's barrister, Ms Maureen Baker, told the court the defence accepted Dr Clark's report.
Judge Nicholas Coleman remanded Mr Huntley in custody until November 15th next, when his case will be listed alongside Ms Carr's at Norwich Crown Court. - (PA)