BBC News | UK | Blood bubble 'burst on foster father'

BBC News Online: UK

Wednesday, 1 December, 1999, 19:00 GMT

Blood bubble 'burst on foster father'

Blood found on Sion Jenkins' clothes after the murder of his foster daughter could have been left as he tried to help the dying girl, an expert has told the Court of Appeal.

The microscopic spots of Billie-Jo Jenkins' blood could have come from a brief expiration of air from her lungs as he crouched to examine her, consultant clinical physiologist Professor David Dennison said.

"This is within the bounds of reasonableness," he told the three appeal judges.

Prof Dennison was giving evidence on the second day of Jenkins' appeal against his conviction for murdering Billie-Jo in the garden of the family home in Hastings, East Sussex in February 1997 .

The 41-year-old former deputy headmaster was jailed for life at Lewes Crown Court last year.

Death spray

He was found guilty of bludgeoning the 13-year-old to death with a metal tent spike.

Jurors at the trial were told by prosecution scientific experts that the 150 blood spots could only have resulted from his being close to the girl as she was being struck.

They said Billie-Jo must have died during the attack and would not have been alive when Jenkins claimed he found her on the patio on his return from a shopping trip 15 minutes later.

Prof Dennison was giving evidence to Lord Justice Kennedy, Mr Justice Dyson and Mr Justice Penry-Davey after examining the trial evidence at the request of defence lawyers.

He said he had become concerned by suggestions that a large outward breath would be required to expel blood from the nose.

He said a post mortem report showed Billie-Jo's lungs were "hyper-inflated", indicating a blockage in the airways such as a blood clot in the nasal valve.

Prof Dennison said if the blockage was suddenly removed, air would be expelled through the nose, carrying blood with it.

He said he had carried out 120 experiments over a period of three months, using laboratory apparatus simulating the nasal cavity.

Contradiction

They had showed that a fine spray of blood could be produced by a volume of air as little as one-sixteenth of a litre.

That contradicted a prosecution witness at the trial who had mentioned one-and-a-half litres.

Prof Dennison demonstrated to the court how quietly air could be expelled.

He breathed in, pinching both his nostrils shut, relaxing his lungs and then releasing air through one nostril.

The court also heard evidence from consultant neuro-surgeon and head injury expert Donald Campbell, who said he did not believe Billie-Jo would have died instantly.

He said she would have lived on for 10 to 15 minutes.

The hearing continues.

Related to this story:
Billie-Jo murder: Evidence 'inaccurate' (30 Nov 99 | UK)
Murdered girl's father petitions Blair (27 Nov 99 | UK)
Doubt over Billie-Jo killer's conviction (16 Sep 99 | UK)
Murdered girl's father refused compensation (17 Jun 99 | UK)
Billie-Jo mother considers suing (03 Jul 98 | UK)
Sion Jenkins convicted of Billie-Jo murder (02 Jul 98 | UK)
Relief at Billie-Jo guilty verdict (02 Jul 98 | UK)
Billie-Jo: a shocking crime (02 Jul 98 | UK)

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