Jury discharged in Angelika trial

Angelika Kluk's body was discovered in a Glasgow church

The trial of a man accused of murdering Polish student Angelika Kluk in Glasgow has been temporarily abandoned after the jury was discharged.

Peter Tobin, 60, has denied killing Ms Kluk, 23, in St Patrick's Church, Anderston, or elsewhere, last year.

The 15 jurors at the High Court in Edinburgh, who were picked on Friday, were discharged due to technical reasons after a legal debate.

A new jury will be selected on Wednesday, court officials said.

Judge Lord Menzies apologised to the nine men and six women before sending them home.

He told jurors: "Legal discussions have been going on and for technical reasons which I don't want to explain to you in further detail I have been persuaded it is not appropriate this trial should continue and it has been decided there will be a fresh trial which it is anticipated will start later this week."

Special defence

Mr Tobin has denied rape, murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

On Friday, jurors heard that Mr Tobin has been accused of attacking Angelika last September in St Patrick's Church in William Street, Anderston.

He allegedly gagged her with cloth and tape, tied her hands, raped her, battered her with a piece of wood or similar item and repeatedly struck her with a knife.

It has been further alleged that he then hid her body under the floor of the church.

Mr Tobin has denied giving Glasgow police a false name, age and address, travelling to London and pretending to staff at the National Neurology and Neurosurgery Hospital in Queen's Square, London, that his name was James Kelly.

He has also denied a breach of the peace between July and September last year by threatening Rebecca Dordi at St Patrick's Church.

In a special defence read to the jury, he admitted having sex with Angelika, with her consent.