Maxine Carr gets lifetime anonymity

Indefinite order to protect Soham girlfriend

Maxine Carr, the former girlfriend of Soham murderer Ian Huntley, was today granted an indefinite order protecting her new identity.

In making the order, Mr Justice Eady said that it was necessary in order to protect Carr’s “life and limb and psychological health”.  The court was told that Carr had received threatening letters and a number of women who had been mistaken for her had been threatened or assaulted.  The application under the Human Rights Act was not opposed by the media.


Carr was convicted in December 2003 of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.  She had provided a false alibi for Huntley, lying to police about her whereabouts on the weekend in August 2002 when he murdered schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.


In May of last year Mr Justice Eady had granted Carr an initial temporary injunction following her release on probation after serving half of her 42-month sentence, which todays order extends indefinitely.


The order bans publication of any details that could reveal her new identity, including any description of where she lives or the nature of her work.  Mr Justice Eady said that any interested party could ask for the order to be lifted if circumstances changed.


The case follows the making of similar orders in the cases of Venables and Thompson and Mary Bell.


The full judgment and 5RB case comment will appear on www.5rb.com shortly.


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