Deputy headteacher Sion Jenkins took to the witness stand in his bid for freedom yesterday, recalling the final hours of his foster daughter Billie-Jo.

Jenkins began his defence case at his retrial for the 13-year-old schoolgirl's murder by denying having a fight with her as she painted patio doors at the family home in Hastings.

The prosecution alleges Jenkins battered Billie-Jo to death with an 18in iron bar as she painted the doors.

Jenkins yesterday gave his account of her final hours for the first time during the retrial.

Jenkins, 47, was originally convicted of her murder and jailed for life. His case is being retried following an appeal last year.

He has denied murdering Billie-Jo on February 15, 1997.

Jenkins described Billie-Jo as very compassionate and someone "who wore her heart on her sleeve".

He said: "She was very sensitive. She was very loving. She was very practical - a tomboy sometimes.

"She liked climbing trees and drainpipes - and football."

He said Billie-Jo was in a "very happy mood" painting the doors.

He said: "She knew she was going to be given money for trainers."

While he was showing her how to paint, she had put one of her legs over his shoulder and he had lost his balance. At some point he had got paint on his sleeve.

Jenkins' counsel, Christopher Sallon QC, told him it was suggested by the prosecution that the paint got there during a struggle with Billie-Jo.

"Did you ever have any physical fight with Billie-Jo to get paint on your sleeve?" Mr Sallon asked.

Jenkins replied: "No I did not."

As he gave evidence, Jenkins, dressed in a beige corduroy jacket, beige trousers and open-necked pale shirt, spoke in a soft voice.

The judge, Mrs Justice Rafferty, asked if he preferred to sit and Jenkins thanked her, pulling up a chair.

Jenkins' new wife, wealthy art dealer Christina Ferneyhough, sat at the back of the court to listen to him.

The defendant sipped from a glass of water as Mr Sallon first took him through his early life and academic record. Jenkins told the court he regretted exaggerating his qualifications when he applied for the post of deputy headmaster at William Parker School in Hastings.

"I honestly regret it and am sorry that through my own weakness I did that," he said.

"At the time we were struggling financially and I needed promotion and at the time exaggerated so I could have a chance of getting an interview."

He was given the job and moved house from Newham, east London, to Hastings in 1992. When he applied for the headship in 1997 he continued the deception about his qualifications.

Mr Sallon turned to a holiday in France shared with the Gaimster family. Peter Gaimster told the court earlier he had seen Jenkins kick Billie-Jo on an ankle she had twisted.

Jenkins was asked by police after the teenager's death whether he had hit Billie-Jo. "You said no - was that true?" asked Mr Sallon. "That was true," Jenkins told the court.

Mr Sallon asked: "Did you ever kick or attempt to kick Billie in the way Peter Gaimster described?"

Jenkins replied: "I have absolutely not ever done that."

Before he started his evidence, Jenkins' counsel told the jury grave doubts still existed over his guilt. Mr Sallon said the Crown had failed to prove he murdered Billie-Jo.

Mr Sallon said: "We believe the prosecution case is deeply flawed.

"But we recognise that Sion Jenkins has to do much more than most defendants to demonstrate his innocence."

Mr Sallon said the defence would call expert scientific evidence on blood spattering.

The prosecution claims that 154 small dots on his trousers and fleece demonstrated that he was the murderer.

Mr Sallon said the jury should also look closely at the evidence about Mr B, a man who suffered from mental illness who was near the house just before and after the killing.

The trial was adjourned until today.