Man accused of murdering one of Britain's most prolific paedophiles to go on trial

A 29-year-old man who is accused of murdering one of Britain’s most prolific paedophiles in prison will go on trial later this year.
HMP Full SuttonHMP Full Sutton
HMP Full Sutton

Paul Fitzgerald was due to go on trial in July, charged with murdering Richard Huckle, but the case had to be moved due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Fitzgerald is accused of murdering Huckle at HMP Full Sutton, in East Yorkshire, on October 13 last year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The bald and bearded defendant appeared at Sheffield Crown Court by video link, wearing a grey sweatshirt, a chain around his neck and lip and ear piercings.

No pleas were entered during the five-minute hearing and Fitzgerald spoke only to confirm his name.

Judge Peter Kelson QC said there was “good and sufficient cause” to extend the custody time limit in the case due to the coronavirus crisis, and he fixed the five-day trial for November 18.

Huckle, who was reportedly stabbed in his cell, was given 22 life sentences at the Old Bailey in 2016 for an unprecedented number of offences against children aged between six months and 12 years.

------------------------

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor