Huntley and Carr set to be in court together

The couple at the centre of the investigation into the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman could appear in court together after prosecutors insisted yesterday it was only "common sense'' to link their cases.

But Maxine Carr and Ian Huntley will only meet again in the dock if he is deemed fit to stand trial. Carr, 25, appeared in court for the third time to answer a charge of perverting the course of justice, Huntley – who is accused of the double murder – continued to be assessed by psychiatrists at Rampton high security hospital.

Watching over proceedings via a video link from Holloway prison in north London, the girls' former teaching assistant cut a far more composed figure than her last appearance before Judge Nicholas Coleman. Clad in a simple black jumper, a silver pendant around her neck and her pale features set off by red lipstick, she answered confidently to her name before giving a weak smile when told to sit down.

As yesterday's preliminary hearing was adjourned until mid-November Judge Coleman insisted that his main aim was to bring the couple together before a senior presiding judge as soon as reasonably practicable.

Prosecutors were given two months to decide whether or not to charge Carr with any further offences after arguing the extraordinary nature of the massive investigation warranted an extension to the timetable.

Almost 200 officers from Cambridgeshire police and other forces continued to work on Operation Fincham which has collated 1,800 statements, logged 3,500 exhibits, amassed 8,000 documents and investigated 5,500 lines of inquiry, 1,500 of which are still active.

Forensic science laboratories across the country, prosecutor Karim Khalil explained, continued to "work as hard as they conceivably can on this case.''

However, Mark Norman, defending, appealed for the Crown to crystallise its case as soon as possible.

''It is simply unfair to this young woman that she should be left for so long,'' he said. As she appeared before Peterborough Crown court, sitting at the town's magistrates building, so that the video link could be used to avoid the ugly scenes which marred her first appearance, Carr was considerably calmer than the sobbing figure seen last month. Only briefly did she seem to lose control, placing her hand to her face before regaining composure.

Following the half-hour hearing yesterday her case was transferred to Norwich Crown Court where it is expected to be heard by the senior presiding judge Mr Justice Moses on the 12th or 15th of November. No application was made for bail.

Huntley – who is charged with the double murder as well as conspiracy to pervert the course of justice – is due back in court on the 8th October when it remains to be seen whether doctors apply for more time to assess his state of mind.

''I am very concerned to get them together, before Mr Justice Moses and as soon as reasonably practicable,'' Judge Coleman said yesterday.

The disappearance of the two 10-year-olds from their hometown of Soham, Cambridgeshire, on the 4th August led to one of the biggest hunts in recent history. The discovery of their bodies 13 days later in an isolated copse next to Lakenheath airbase generated a national outpouring of grief and anger.

Huntley, caretaker at Soham Village College, and his fiancee Carr were arrested the same day.