THE JURY in the Billie-Jo Jenkins murder trial was still considering its verdict this afternoon.

Earlier today Mr Justice Gage told the eight-man, four-women Lewes Crown Court jury that he would accept a majority verdict on which ten were agreed.

The direction came after the jury had spent more than six hours deliberating.

The jury is sifting through hundreds of pages of evidence from the trial which started on June 3.

Earlier today jurors saw again videos taken at the scene of the murder after Billie-Jo, 13, was found bludgeoned to death at the home of her foster parents in Lower Park Road, Hastings in February last year.

Another video also showed the layout of the large Victorian house in which she was living.

Sion Jenkins, deputy headmaster of the William Parker Boys School, Hastings, denies murdering Billie-Jo on February 15 last year.

The prosecution alleged she was attacked with an 18in tent spike while she painted patio doors.

Jenkins, 40, told the court he had no idea how she met her death.

The jury was told that she was fostered by Sion Jenkins and his wife, Lois, 36, four years ago.

She had previously lived with her real parents, who are now separated, in East London.

Her real father, Bill Jenkins, 45, an unemployed painter and decorator, has been at the trial since its start.

People queued for a seat at the court from 7.30am today.

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