16/07/2004

Jenkins wins right to face a retrial

Sion Jenkins, the man jailed six years ago for the murder of his teenage foster daughter, has won the right to a retrial.

Mr Jenkins, 45, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1998 after being found guilty of the murder of 13-year-old Billie Jo Jenkins at the family home in Hastings, East Sussex.

However, three Court of Appeal judges ruled on July 16 that it was in the public interest for the case to go forward for a retrial.

During the appeal, the Judges heard from Mr Jenkins' ex-wife and his natural daughters, as well as from scientists who put forward claims that the scientific evidence used to convict Mr Jenkins in the original trial was flawed.

Speaking on Friday morning, Lord Justice Rose said: "The offence of murder here alleged is of the gravest and in our judgement the public interest requires that a jury should decide the matter on the basis of all the evidence now available."

A date for the retrial is due to be decided.

(CL)

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