The jury in the Sion Jenkins retrial was told it will visit the house where he allegedly battered his foster daughter to death.

Mr Justice David Clarke told the six men and six women the trip to Lower Park Road, Hastings, would take place tomorrow.

Billie-Jo Jenkins, 13, was found with extensive head injuries, having been struck at least five times with a metal tent peg in February 1997.

She had been painting patio doors at the home she shared with her foster parents, Sion and wife Lois, and their four daughters.

Jenkins denies murder and is facing his second trial this year at the Old Bailey after the first jury failed to reach a verdict in the summer.

The 48-year-old, now living in Lymington, Hampshire, will not be on the site visit at his own request, the court was told.

Nicholas Hilliard, prosecuting, said Billie-Jo was murdered by Jenkins at a time when he was under pressure at all-boys William Parker School in Parkstone Road, Hastings.

He had lied on his CVs to get his job and repeated the lies about his education and employment to apply to be head of the school - a post which was taking a long time to be confirmed.

Mr Hilliard said Sion and Lois had argued the night before about Billie-Jo, a girl he later described to police as "difficult".

Billie-Jo had wanted to paint the patio doors but got paint on the windows.

Mr Hilliard said it was during a brief return to the house by Jenkins that Billie-Jo was killed.

He told police that he went into the dining room to turn down the volume of the girl's music centre.

Mr Hilliard asked: "Did she turn it up again? Something must have happened to cause him to lose his temper?"

The trial continues.