Two men were due to stand trial in China today for the murder of a Sussex backpacker.

Shirine Harburn, 30, from Langley Green, Crawley, was stabbed 17 times in the chest as she walked alone in May 2000.

Two Chinese nationals arrested in March face the death penalty if convicted by the court in Kangding, western Sichuan province, near where Shirine was killed.

Shirine's parents Clive and Sheila Harburn and her boyfriend Colin Horsfield are at the hearing with Detective Superintendent Chris Gillings, who is acting as family liaison officer.

Last April, Mr Gillings, Detective Inspector Steve Johns and senior scene of crime officer Tracy Stocker flew to China to meet the 26 detectives investigating the case. DNA samples were sent back to the UK for analysis last year.

Sussex Police will not be involved in the court proceedings and have handed over all forensic evidence to the Chinese police.

Mr Horsfield was travelling with Shirine but became separated from her when she stopped to take photographs.