Sick juror holds up murder trial

The jury in the Soham murder trial was sent home after the case was adjourned because a juror was taken ill.

Trial judge Mr Justice Moses said it would be impossible for the jury to go ahead with hearing closing speeches in the trial, which was due to enter its final phase.

He said a further decision on the progress of the trial and whether it would be necessary to sit with an 11-person jury would be taken once a doctor's report was received.

Ian Huntley, 29, a former caretaker at Soham Village College, denies the double child murder of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman on Sunday August 4 last year but has admitted a single charge of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

His ex-girlfriend Maxine Carr, 26, a former classroom assistant in Holly and Jessica's class, denies conspiring to pervert the course of justice and two counts of assisting an offender.

Mr Justice Moses told the jury: "The position is, as you will appreciate, one of your number is not well today.

"She has seen the court nurse and she has been sent home and is going to see her doctor."

The judge said it would not be right at this stage to continue with just the 11 of them and therefore the case would not be going on today.

He added: "I am very sorry, but we cannot go on today."

The judge made it clear they now await a prognosis on the 12th jury member.

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