The Old Bailey jury trying Sion Jenkins for the murder of his teenage foster daughter Billie-Jo was today given a majority instruction.

Jenkins, 48, a former deputy head teacher, denies murdering 13-year-old Billie-Jo in February 1997.

She was battered over the head at least 10 times with an iron tent peg while painting patio doors at the family home in Hastings, East Sussex.

Jenkins, of Kings Saltern Road, Lymington, Hants, was jailed for life following a trial in 1998.

He was freed on bail and a retrial was ordered after his lawyers won a second appeal in July 2004.

A jury at the Old Bailey failed to reach a verdict last July at his first retrial and a second retrial began three months ago.

The jury of six men and six women retired on Monday.

Just after noon today the judge, Mr Justice David Clarke, called them back into the courtroom and told them he would accept a 10-2 majority verdict.

The case has been adjourned until Monday, February 6.