Jenkins given right to a retrial

Sion Jenkins was convicted of Billie-Jo's murder in 1998

A foster father jailed in 1998 for murdering his teenage foster daughter has been given the right to a retrial.

Sion Jenkins, 45, was jailed for life for the murder of 13-year-old Billie-Jo at their home in Hastings, East Sussex.

Three Court of Appeal judges quashed Mr Jenkins' murder conviction on Friday after hearing new scientific evidence.

The judges ruled that the conviction was unsafe and said it was in the public interest that Mr Jenkins' case should go to a retrial.

The ruling effectively means he is again "innocent until proved guilty".

The public interest requires that a jury should decide the matter Lord Justice Rose

Afterwards, his solicitor Neil O'May said: "Sion Jenkins is delighted that the court has quashed his conviction.

"He knows this is the first step to clear his name and he knows that a jury will deliver the right verdict - that he did not kill Billie-Jo."

'Gravest' offence

The case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) which examines cases of alleged miscarriage of justice.

The three judges upheld the appeal on the basis of scientific evidence presented.

Lord Justice Rose said: "The offence of murder here alleged is of the gravest and in our judgement the public interest requires that a jury should decide the matter on the basis of all the evidence now available."

The prosecution's case against Jenkins was based on the evidence of more than 150 microscopic spots of blood found on his clothing.

Billie-Jo was beaten to death with a metal tent spike

It was claimed they were "impact splatter" caused as Jenkins beat his foster daughter.

However, the defence at his appeal claimed the blood was forced from Billie-Jo's lungs as Jenkins moved her body in an attempt to help her.

Overturning the conviction, Lord Justice Rose said the court had heard fresh scientific evidence relating to the blood droplets.

"In our judgement the source of the spatter of Billie-Jo's blood on the appellant's clothing is the fundamental issue in this case," he said.

The judges also dismissed a claim that Jenkins was deprived of the chance to call his natural daughters Charlotte and Annie as alibi witnesses because they had been turned against him by their mother Lois and the police.

The court heard testimony from both daughters in support of their father during the appeal.

'Children's interests'

Lois Jenkins, 43, who divorced her husband after his conviction, also gave evidence but on behalf of the prosecution.

Clearing her of the allegation the girls had been "got at" by her, Lord Justice Rose said: "The mother, understandably, put the interests of her children first and was anxious to ensure... they were not subjected to avoidable pressures.

"There was no misleading of the defence by the prosecution."

Speaking at the court after news of the retrial, Ch Supt Jeremy Paine of Sussex Police said: "Absolutely no criticism has been made of the police investigation at all.

"We will look very hard at the judgement in preparation for the retrial."

The judges said a decision on whether Mr Jenkins should be granted bail would be made at a later date.

A retrial date for the former deputy headmaster is to be decided.