Sarah's brother 'did not identify accused'

Sarah disappeared near her grandparents' house

The brother of schoolgirl Sarah Payne failed to pick out her alleged killer in an identity parade, a court has heard.

Jurors at Lewes Crown Court heard that Lee Payne was asked to pick out the driver of a white van he saw while searching for his sister after she vanished near their grandparents' home on 1 July last year.

Sarah's brother Lee spotted the white van as he searched for Sarah

Roy Whiting, 42, formerly of St Augustine Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex, denies kidnapping and murdering Sarah.

The prosecution claims Mr Whiting used his van to abduct the eight-year-old girl before murdering her and dumping her body in a field.

Lee, who was 13 at the time, failed to pick out Mr Whiting in a line-up on 5 July.

The court had heard earlier in the trial how a witness who knew the accused said he had changed his appearance on 2 July.

No site visit

Builder Terence Heath said Mr Whiting had appeared "steam-cleaned" when they bumped into each other in Littlehampton, and had lost his usual scruffy appearance.

Sarah's body was found on 17 July in a shallow grave near Pulborough, West Sussex.

On Monday, lead prosecutor Timothy Langdale QC closed the case for the prosecution.

Mr Justice Richard Curtis refused an application by the jury to visit the spot in West Sussex where Sarah was abducted.

"It is impossible to recreate any useful situation 18 months after it occurred," he said.

The trial was adjourned until Tuesday.