The Soham murder trial was a significant legal proceeding following the tragic disappearances and subsequent murders of two ten-year-old girls, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, in Soham, Cambridgeshire, England. Ian Huntley, who was a local school caretaker, was charged with their murders after the girls went missing on August 4, 2002. The community's search for the girls attracted national media attention and intensified when their bodies were discovered in early August hidden near an abandoned RAF site.

During the trial at the Old Bailey, prosecution evidence pointed to Huntley as the last person seen with the children. The jury was presented with a variety of forensic evidence, including traces of the victims' DNA found in Huntley’s home, alongside witness statements that placed him with the girls shortly before they vanished. Huntley maintained that the children's deaths were accidental, but the jury took only a few hours to reach a unanimous verdict, finding him guilty on two counts of murder. This verdict followed a high-stakes trial that gripped the nation for weeks.

Maxine Carr, Huntley's girlfriend, also faced serious charges. She was found guilty of perverting the course of justice for providing Huntley with an alibi during the crucial early days of the investigation. The trial showcased the intricate legal arguments surrounding the definitions of complicity and the obligations of those involved in a crime. The profound impact of these events would resonate throughout the UK and elicit discussions about child safety, media ethics, and the legal system’s handling of such cases.