Jurors in the Sarah Payne murder trial were due to be sworn in today (November 14) as the trial got under way following a day of legal arguments.

The court began its session at 10.30am with Judge Richard Curtis giving his response to yesterday's submissions by prosecuting counsel Timothy Langdale QC and defence barrister Sally O'Neill QC.

Defendant Roy Whiting, wearing a yellow T-shirt and stone-washed jeans, was led into the dock by three security guards.

Sarah's father Michael arrived in the courtroom ten minutes into the hearing with his father Terence and step-mother Lesley.

They took their seats in the section of the public gallery reserved for relatives, a few feet from where Whiting was sitting.

Sarah's mother Sara was not in court. She was expected to be the first witness for the prosecution, which was due to get under way later today.

Whiting, formerly of St Augustine Road, Littlehampton, denies abducting and murdering Sarah, from Hersham, Surrey, on July 1 last year.

Sarah went missing while playing near her grandparents' home in Kingston Gorse, East Preston.

Her body was found in a field near Pulborough 16 days later.

November 14, 2001