1997 Billie Jo Jenkins Murder
Billie Jo Margaret Jenkins | |
|---|---|
| File:Billie Jo Jenkins.jpg | |
| Born | 29 March 1983 |
| Died | 15 February 1997 (13) |
| Cause of death | Murder |
The murder of Billie-Jo Jenkins is an unsolved criminal case involving the death of 13-year-old Billie-Jo Jenkins in Hastings, East Sussex, England, in 1997. The case initially led to the conviction of her foster father, Sion Jenkins, who was later acquitted after two retrials ended in hung juries. The case remains open, with no other suspects formally charged.
The Murder Scene[edit]
On the 15th of February, 1997, the body of 13 year old Billie Jo Jenkins was found by her adoptive father Sion Jenkins in the back garden of their house in Lower Park Road. She had been bludgeoned to death with a tent peg. Whilst Sion took his other daughters, Annie and Charlotte, out to purchase some decorating supplies, Billie Jo was painting the patio doors.
Early Childhood[edit]
Billie's childhood in East London was rather turbulent; her mother couldn't cope with her and her birth father had been imprisoned. This led to her becoming part of the Jenkins family as a foster child, aged nine - Sion being the deputy head-master at Hastings Grammar School, a position which later transpired he had secured with false credentials, and the family sharing the same surname as Billie Jo.
Police Investigation[edit]
The police launched an extensive investigation into the murder, arresting two other suspects prior to Sion's arrest; a mentally-ill man known as "Mr. B" (although later witness statements revealed he was too far away at the time of the murder). The Jenkins family reported snoopers around their house, with Sion claiming to have caught a glimpse of someone in their garden one night. A second man was arrested and released soon after. Meanwhile, forensic analysis revealed microscopic blood spatter on Sion Jenkins' clothing and he was arrested and charged. The prosecution argued that this was a result of the attack, while Jenkins' defense claimed it could have been caused by airborne droplets from Billie-Jo's injured airway. The investigation, trials, and appeals were estimated to have cost £10 million, with the police taking 700 witness statements.
Arrest of Sion and Trial[edit]
As the third subject investigated for the murder, Sion was charged with the murder of Billie Jo and subsequently found guilty on the 2nd of July 1998 of the murder of Jenkins and sentenced to life imprisonment[1]. Appealing against this, forensic scientists working for Sion stated that the microscopic blood spray could possibly have been released from Billie Jo's injured airway as Jenkins moved her. The jury was unable to come to a majority verdict after 39 hours of deliberating. A second retrial was likewise unable to reach a majority verdict - Sion at this point having spent eleven days in the witness box, and at the Old Bailey in London, on 9 February 2006, Siôn Jenkins was declared in consequence not guilty[2].
No further suspects have been identified and the case remains unsolved.
Memorial[edit]
On 19 January 2008, in Alexandra Park, Hastings, a memorial seat made from a locally felled oak tree by local artist Joc Hare, was dedicated to the memory of Billie-Jo. The first few words on the seat read, "Side by side or miles apart, friends are close to the heart"[3].
References & Notes
- ↑ "Sion Jenkins: A father betrayed?". The Independent. 24 August 2008.
- ↑ "Allegations cost foster father his family and career" by Sandra Laville and Laura Smith, The Guardian, 10 February 2006
- ↑ Friends unveil Billie-Jo memorial
