New drugs trial for stewardess

The new trial under state law is being held in Dubai

An air stewardess from south Wales has appeared in court in the United Arab Emirates at the start of a second trial on drug possession charges.

Katherine Jenkins, 30, from Neath, south Wales, is accused of possessing 50g cocaine, hidden in the roof space of her flat.

Katherine Jenkins still in custody

An earlier trial was held under sharia religious law in the north of the country at Ras Al Khaimah.

At the hearing, the judges found the case against Ms Jenkins could not be proved.

She then appeared before three judges in the Dubai Court of First Instance on Sunday 9 December, but proceedings were adjourned.

She was held in custody over the Christmas period at the Public Prosecution department.

On Sunday, a Foreign Office spokesman said the case judges had decided they wanted to hear further witness statements before proceeding.

Ms Jenkins is to appear in court again on 6 January.

After the hearing earlier this month, a Foreign Office spokesman revealed a consular official had attended the court hearing and would continue to provide assistance throughout the case.

Ms Jenkins is being held with two other Britons, an Australian woman and another woman of unknown nationality.

MP's plea

Europe Minister and Neath MP Peter Hain has already written to Dubai's leader, Sheik Mohammad bin Rashid, urging him to free Ms Jenkins.

Meanwhile, Stephen Jakobi, director of Fair Trials Abroad, said: "Ms Jenkins has been behind bars for 15 months and has always maintained her innocence."

Peter Hain: Diplomatic efforts

During the first trial, Ms Jenkins told the court she had found thousands of pounds worth of cocaine in her apartment and that she hid it.

She said she believed it had belonged to the Australian defendant in the case, 25-year-old Heidi de Boer.

Mr Hain stepped up efforts to release Ms Jenkins after it emerged her father Vivian, 56, had died of a heart attack in November.

The UAE authorities turned down a request for Ms Jenkins to return home after his death.

Ms Jenkins worked for the Dubai-based Emirates Airline at the time of her arrest.

The cases of four other Britons charged with drug offences have been heard, but Ms Jenkins remains in a Dubai jail.

She was originally tried along with four other Britons and an Australian and a Lebanese.

Two of the British women tried alongside Miss Jenkins in the United Arab Emirates received life sentences at the original trial.

One of the Britons, Anna Hamilton, has appealed against her sentence for drug-trafficking.

The Lebanese defendant was jailed for four years, while the case of the others was transferred to Dubai.