The former wife of Sion Jenkins broke down as she gave evidence at his re-trial for the alleged murder of their foster daughter.

Lois Jenkins explained how she passed police details of conversations she had with her two natural daughters about Jenkins' actions on the day of Billie-Jo's murder. She said she had done so in case any of it would prove relevant to the case.

She struggled to control her emotions when she was questioned, saying she felt she was breaching their confidences by talking openly about what they had told her.

Prosecuting counsel Nicholas Hilliard took Mrs Jenkins through a series of conversations between her and Annie and Lottie in the weeks and months after the tragedy.

Both girls were with Jenkins, 47, on the afternoon he allegedly battered 13-year-old Billie-Jo to death with an iron tent peg as she painted patio doors at the family home in Lower Park Road, Hastings, on February 15, 1997.

In one statement Annie was said by Mrs Jenkins to have stated her father was in a hurry to leave the house on the afternoon of the death and had a "peculiar look in his eyes" as he descended steps in a disorientated state.

He told Annie and Lottie, who were both at the bottom of the steps at the front of the house that they needed to buy some white spirit and told them to get into his car quickly.

Annie said she would first put a chamois leather she had been cleaning their other car with back inside the house. However, the statement said, "Sion said no' took it off her and put it on the gear stick."

They then drove round the park twice and Annie and Lottie did not know why. They then drove to Do It All but Jenkins placed his hand to his pocket and said he had no money.

All three of them returned to the house. A further conversation Mrs Jenkins was said to have had with Annie stated the door was still open when they returned home. The statement read: "Annie said it was because Sion was in such a hurry he didn't have time to shut the door."

Annie went into the dining room, discovered Billie-Jo's body as it laid on the patio and screamed. The statement went on: "Annie stated Sion pulled both of the girls out of the way and then said Billie had had an accident. But he said without going over to her first. Annie said Sion did nothing but pace up and down."

Mrs Jenkins, who has re-married and now lives in Tasmania with her family, gave evidence yesterday by video link from a secret overseas location.

Asked whether she had honestly relayed to police what her daughters had told her about the case she said firmly: "Yes."

Jenkins denies murder. The case at the Old Bailey continues.