Couple charged in UK girls' murders

The bodies of Holly and Jessica were found in a remote wooded spot 10 miles from their homes.

SOHAM, England (CNN) -- British police Tuesday charged Ian Huntley, a 28-year-old college caretaker, with the murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells, two 10-year-old friends who vanished August 4.

Huntley's girlfriend, Maxine Carr, 25, was charged with the intent to prevent the cause of justice, police said. Both were arrested Saturday.

The bodies of Holly and Jessica were found Saturday about 10 miles from their Cambridgeshire homes. They had been missing about two weeks.

Huntley works for Soham Village College, near St. Andrew's Primary School, which the girls attended. Carr has taught at St. Andrew's and knew both children.

Huntley had reported talking to Jessica and Holly on the night they vanished.

Chief Inspector Andy Hebb of the Cambridgeshire Police said Huntley was charged with two counts of murder after he underwent a series of medical and psychiatric examinations.

Carr was expected to remain in custody overnight before an appearance at in magistrates court Wednesday morning.

Huntley's initial court appearance, also scheduled Wednesday morning, was canceled because he was deemed mentally unfit. He was being held at a secure unit at Rampton High Security Hospital in Nottingham.

Huntley and Carr were arrested early Saturday morning.

Huntley will now be assessed by medical staff to determine whether he needs to be detained for treatment under the Medical Health Act, a spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said.

It is possible that a patient could be deemed to need mental health care but still be tried for murder, the spokesman said.

More than 400 police officers from 21 police forces were involved in the hunt for Jessica and Holly. Several national newspapers offered rewards totaling more than 1 million pounds ($1.5 million) for information leading to their safe return.