Billie-Jo's carers tell of prowler threat
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE FOSTER family of teenager Billie-Jo Jenkins was living in fear of a prowler at the time of her death, a court heard yesterday.
They had decided to move home because they felt they were being watched, Peter Gaimster, a family friend told Lewes Crown Court, Sussex.
Billie-Jo Jenkins, 13, was found savagely beaten around the head on the patio of her foster family's home in Hastings, East Sussex, in February last year. Sion Jenkins, 40, her foster father, is accused of her murder, based on forensic evidence such as microscopic blood spots on his clothes. He denies her murder.
Yesterday the court was read Peter Gaimster's statement, taken last year, in which he described a dinner party at the Jenkins' home a week before Billie-Jo's death. At the dinner Sion Jenkins discussed how a prowler might have got around the back of the house and showed Mr Gaimster extra security lighting that had been fitted outside.
The defendant told his friend that his car had been vandalised, the family had received "strange" telephone calls and they had "had enough". They intended to move house. "It was obvious they were worried. They felt sure they were being watched," Mr Gaimster said.
Under cross-examination by Anthony Scrivener QC, the court heard Mr Gaimster believed Billie-Jo had done well with the Jenkins family in the five years since she was fostered from her natural family in the East End of London.
Dc Tracey Christmas, a police officer who looked after the family the evening of the killing, said an "odd" incident occurred that night. As Sion Jenkins went to leave the home of a neighbour who was looking after the family, he refused to wear his blue fleece jacket.
"I just felt it was a little odd because I was extremely cold and had been most of the evening," Dc Christmas said.
The trial continues.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments