Former teacher Sion Jenkins has appeared in court to deny murdering his foster-daughter Billie-Jo.

Looking tanned and wearing a navy blue blazer, blue shirt and fawn trousers, Jenkins appeared at the Old Bailey to formally enter his plea.

Asked whether he was guilty or not guilty of murdering 13-year-old Billie-Jo, Jenkins replied firmly: "Not guilty".

In a packed Court 13, Jenkins, 46, listened intently yesterday as a date for his retrial was provisionally set for April 5.

However, fresh scientific evidence could push the date back to late next summer. The trial is expected to last six weeks.

Yesterday's court appearance was Jenkins' first since being freed on £300,000 bail last month after three appeal judges ruled his original conviction was unsafe.

Jenkins, headteacher-designate at all-boys William Parker School in Parkstone Road, Hastings, was found guilty of murder by a jury at Lewes Crown Court in 1998.

Billie-Jo, a pupil at Helenswood School, St Leonards, was bludgeoned to death with an 18in metal tent spike in February 1997 at the family home in Lower Park Road, Hastings.

In court for the arraignment were Billie-Jo's natural father, Bill Jenkins, and Jenkins' parents, David and Megan, with whom he is living on bail in Aberystwyth, Wales.

A variation of his bail conditions was also made at the hearing. Jenkins had been restricted to a ten-mile zone around his parents' large home but that has been extended to 30 miles to allow him to attend church services.

A ban on all Jenkins' associates from speaking to the media was relaxed to allow his legal representatives to speak to journalists.