Jenkins to face April retrial

The former William Parker teacher appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday to deny

murdering his foster daughter, Billie-Jo.

Jenkins, 46, wearing a blue blazer, shirt and beige trousers, spoke only to confirm his name and plead not guilty to the charge during the

hearing.

He is currently on conditional bail after a surety of of 300,000 was raised by his family.

Jenkins is living with his parents in Aberystwyth, south Wales. A condition of bail that he must stay within a 10-mile radius of the port was changed to 30 miles so he could attend church.

He also has to report daily to the local police station there.

Jenkins was jailed for life six years ago for battering his 13-year-old foster daughter Billie-Jo to death with an 18in metal tent spike as she painted a patio door at their home in Hastings, East Sussex, on 15 February, 1997.

But in July the Court of Appeal ruled that new forensic evidence made his original conviction unsafe.

Mr Justice Astill fixed a provisional retrial date for April 5.

The case is expected to last up to six weeks at the Old Bailey.