Sion Jenkins: I have always loved my kids

His assertion comes after his new wife said that she has never asked him if he was innocent of the murder.

Mr Jenkins, 48, was finally cleared this year of battering to death Billie-Jo, 13, on the patio of his home in Hastings in February 1997.

In a televised interview broadcast tonight, the former deputy headteacher lashes out at Sussex Police.

He accuses them of "using" and manipulating his former wife, Lois, and turning her against him in the original trial eight years ago .

He says: "My character has been vilified and that was laid before the jury as a reason why they should convict me of murder. It is despicable."

Mr Jenkins was convicted at Lewes Crown Court of murdering Billie-Jo in 1998 and jailed for life. Six years later the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial which went ahead last July but the jury could not reach a verdict.

Another jury was also undecided at a fresh trial this year and the judge ordered Jenkins be formally acquitted.

Of the moment he found Billie-Jo's blood-spattered body, he says: "I could not take it in. My world just fell apart. I had my two other daughters with me, Annie and Lottie, and they were crying and were hysterical."

Mr Jenkins also says he has been writing to his daughters, Annie, Lottie, Maya and Esther, who live with Lois in Tasmania and they have written back.

Jenkins said: "I have always adored and loved my daughters and one of my main hopes is that we will be able to re-establish our relationship again."

At his trials, emphasis was placed upon the significance of minute specks of blood on his clothing.

Mr Jenkins said: "The forensic scientist who gave a provisional report - that's all it was, a few lines of a provisional report - said that it was consistent with Sion Jenkins being the attacker but that there might well be another explanation.

"This is where this whole case has gone wrong.

Mr Jenkins met his new wife, Christina, 55, after she wrote to him while he was in prison, and she was living in Belgravia. Mrs Jenkins said: "I have never asked Sion whether or not he is innocent. I don't need to and it would be insulting of me to do so. Sion is a good and kind man who has been terribly wronged."

Jenkins is understood to have been paid a five-figure sum for the interview.

l Billie-Jo and Me: A Tonight Special, ITV1, tonight at 8pm Sion Jenkins: I have always loved my kids Sion Jenkins has insisted in his first interview since beingacquitted of murdering his foster daughter Billie-Jo that he always adored his daughters.

His assertion comes after his new wife said that she has never asked him if he was innocent of the murder.

Mr Jenkins, 48, was finally cleared this year of battering to death Billie-Jo, 13, on the patio of his home in Hastings in February 1997.

In a televised interview broadcast tonight, the former deputy headteacher lashes out at Sussex Police.

He accuses them of "using" and manipulating his former wife, Lois, and turning her against him in the original trial eight years ago .

He says: "My character has been vilified and that was laid before the jury as a reason why they should convict me of murder. It is despicable."

Mr Jenkins was convicted at Lewes Crown Court of murdering Billie-Jo in 1998 and jailed for life. Six years later the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial which went ahead last July but the jury could not reach a verdict.

Another jury was also undecided at a fresh trial this year and the judge ordered Jenkins be formally acquitted.

Of the moment he found Billie-Jo's blood-spattered body, he says: "I could not take it in. My world just fell apart. I had my two other daughters with me, Annie and Lottie, and they were crying and were hysterical."

Mr Jenkins also says he has been writing to his daughters, Annie, Lottie, Maya and Esther, who live with Lois in Tasmania and they have written back.

Jenkins said: "I have always adored and loved my daughters and one of my main hopes is that we will be able to re-establish our relationship again."

At his trials, emphasis was placed upon the significance of minute specks of blood on his clothing.

Mr Jenkins said: "The forensic scientist who gave a provisional report - that's all it was, a few lines of a provisional report - said that it was consistent with Sion Jenkins being the attacker but that there might well be another explanation.

"This is where this whole case has gone wrong.

Mr Jenkins met his new wife, Christina, 55, after she wrote to him while he was in prison, and she was living in Belgravia. Mrs Jenkins said: "I have never asked Sion whether or not he is innocent. I don't need to and it would be insulting of me to do so. Sion is a good and kind man who has been terribly wronged."

Jenkins is understood to have been paid a five-figure sum for the interview.

l Billie-Jo and Me: A Tonight Special, ITV1, tonight at 8pm Sion Jenkins: I have always loved my kids Sion Jenkins has insisted in his first interview since beingacquitted of murdering his foster daughter Billie-Jo that he always adored his daughters.

His assertion comes after his new wife said that she has never asked him if he was innocent of the murder.

Mr Jenkins, 48, was finally cleared this year of battering to death Billie-Jo, 13, on the patio of his home in Hastings in February 1997.

In a televised interview broadcast tonight, the former deputy headteacher lashes out at Sussex Police.

He accuses them of "using" and manipulating his former wife, Lois, and turning her against him in the original trial eight years ago .

He says: "My character has been vilified and that was laid before the jury as a reason why they should convict me of murder. It is despicable."

Mr Jenkins was convicted at Lewes Crown Court of murdering Billie-Jo in 1998 and jailed for life. Six years later the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial which went ahead last July but the jury could not reach a verdict.

Another jury was also undecided at a fresh trial this year and the judge ordered Jenkins be formally acquitted.

Of the moment he found Billie-Jo's blood-spattered body, he says: "I could not take it in. My world just fell apart. I had my two other daughters with me, Annie and Lottie, and they were crying and were hysterical."

Mr Jenkins also says he has been writing to his daughters, Annie, Lottie, Maya and Esther, who live with Lois in Tasmania and they have written back.

Jenkins said: "I have always adored and loved my daughters and one of my main hopes is that we will be able to re-establish our relationship again."

At his trials, emphasis was placed upon the significance of minute specks of blood on his clothing.

Mr Jenkins said: "The forensic scientist who gave a provisional report - that's all it was, a few lines of a provisional report - said that it was consistent with Sion Jenkins being the attacker but that there might well be another explanation.

"This is where this whole case has gone wrong.

Mr Jenkins met his new wife, Christina, 55, after she wrote to him while he was in prison, and she was living in Belgravia. Mrs Jenkins said: "I have never asked Sion whether or not he is innocent. I don't need to and it would be insulting of me to do so. Sion is a good and kind man who has been terribly wronged."

Jenkins is understood to have been paid a five-figure sum for the interview.

l Billie-Jo and Me: A Tonight Special, ITV1, tonight at 8pm Sion Jenkins: I have always loved my kids Sion Jenkins has insisted in his first interview since beingacquitted of murdering his foster daughter Billie-Jo that he always adored his daughters.

His assertion comes after his new wife said that she has never asked him if he was innocent of the murder.

Mr Jenkins, 48, was finally cleared this year of battering to death Billie-Jo, 13, on the patio of his home in Hastings in February 1997.

In a televised interview broadcast tonight, the former deputy headteacher lashes out at Sussex Police.

He accuses them of "using" and manipulating his former wife, Lois, and turning her against him in the original trial eight years ago .

He says: "My character has been vilified and that was laid before the jury as a reason why they should convict me of murder. It is despicable."

Mr Jenkins was convicted at Lewes Crown Court of murdering Billie-Jo in 1998 and jailed for life. Six years later the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial which went ahead last July but the jury could not reach a verdict.

Another jury was also undecided at a fresh trial this year and the judge ordered Jenkins be formally acquitted.

Of the moment he found Billie-Jo's blood-spattered body, he says: "I could not take it in. My world just fell apart. I had my two other daughters with me, Annie and Lottie, and they were crying and were hysterical."

Mr Jenkins also says he has been writing to his daughters, Annie, Lottie, Maya and Esther, who live with Lois in Tasmania and they have written back.

Jenkins said: "I have always adored and loved my daughters and one of my main hopes is that we will be able to re-establish our relationship again."

At his trials, emphasis was placed upon the significance of minute specks of blood on his clothing.

Mr Jenkins said: "The forensic scientist who gave a provisional report - that's all it was, a few lines of a provisional report - said that it was consistent with Sion Jenkins being the attacker but that there might well be another explanation.

"This is where this whole case has gone wrong.

Mr Jenkins met his new wife, Christina, 55, after she wrote to him while he was in prison, and she was living in Belgravia. Mrs Jenkins said: "I have never asked Sion whether or not he is innocent. I don't need to and it would be insulting of me to do so. Sion is a good and kind man who has been terribly wronged."

Jenkins is understood to have been paid a five-figure sum for the interview.

l Billie-Jo and Me: A Tonight Special, ITV1, tonight at 8pm Sion Jenkins: I have always loved my kids Sion Jenkins has insisted in his first interview since beingacquitted of murdering his foster daughter Billie-Jo that he always adored his daughters.

His assertion comes after his new wife said that she has never asked him if he was innocent of the murder.

Mr Jenkins, 48, was finally cleared this year of battering to death Billie-Jo, 13, on the patio of his home in Hastings in February 1997.

In a televised interview broadcast tonight, the former deputy headteacher lashes out at Sussex Police.

He accuses them of "using" and manipulating his former wife, Lois, and turning her against him in the original trial eight years ago .

He says: "My character has been vilified and that was laid before the jury as a reason why they should convict me of murder. It is despicable."

Mr Jenkins was convicted at Lewes Crown Court of murdering Billie-Jo in 1998 and jailed for life. Six years later the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial which went ahead last July but the jury could not reach a verdict.

Another jury was also undecided at a fresh trial this year and the judge ordered Jenkins be formally acquitted.

Of the moment he found Billie-Jo's blood-spattered body, he says: "I could not take it in. My world just fell apart. I had my two other daughters with me, Annie and Lottie, and they were crying and were hysterical."

Mr Jenkins also says he has been writing to his daughters, Annie, Lottie, Maya and Esther, who live with Lois in Tasmania and they have written back.

Jenkins said: "I have always adored and loved my daughters and one of my main hopes is that we will be able to re-establish our relationship again."

At his trials, emphasis was placed upon the significance of minute specks of blood on his clothing.

Mr Jenkins said: "The forensic scientist who gave a provisional report - that's all it was, a few lines of a provisional report - said that it was consistent with Sion Jenkins being the attacker but that there might well be another explanation.

"This is where this whole case has gone wrong.

Mr Jenkins met his new wife, Christina, 55, after she wrote to him while he was in prison, and she was living in Belgravia. Mrs Jenkins said: "I have never asked Sion whether or not he is innocent. I don't need to and it would be insulting of me to do so. Sion is a good and kind man who has been terribly wronged."

Jenkins is understood to have been paid a five-figure sum for the interview.

l Billie-Jo and Me: A Tonight Special, ITV1, tonight at 8pm Sion Jenkins: I have always loved my kids Sion Jenkins has insisted in his first interview since beingacquitted of murdering his foster daughter Billie-Jo that he always adored his daughters.

His assertion comes after his new wife said that she has never asked him if he was innocent of the murder.

Mr Jenkins, 48, was finally cleared this year of battering to death Billie-Jo, 13, on the patio of his home in Hastings in February 1997.

In a televised interview broadcast tonight, the former deputy headteacher lashes out at Sussex Police.

He accuses them of "using" and manipulating his former wife, Lois, and turning her against him in the original trial eight years ago .

He says: "My character has been vilified and that was laid before the jury as a reason why they should convict me of murder. It is despicable."

Mr Jenkins was convicted at Lewes Crown Court of murdering Billie-Jo in 1998 and jailed for life. Six years later the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial which went ahead last July but the jury could not reach a verdict.

Another jury was also undecided at a fresh trial this year and the judge ordered Jenkins be formally acquitted.

Of the moment he found Billie-Jo's blood-spattered body, he says: "I could not take it in. My world just fell apart. I had my two other daughters with me, Annie and Lottie, and they were crying and were hysterical."

Mr Jenkins also says he has been writing to his daughters, Annie, Lottie, Maya and Esther, who live with Lois in Tasmania and they have written back.

Jenkins said: "I have always adored and loved my daughters and one of my main hopes is that we will be able to re-establish our relationship again."

At his trials, emphasis was placed upon the significance of minute specks of blood on his clothing.

Mr Jenkins said: "The forensic scientist who gave a provisional report - that's all it was, a few lines of a provisional report - said that it was consistent with Sion Jenkins being the attacker but that there might well be another explanation.

"This is where this whole case has gone wrong.

Mr Jenkins met his new wife, Christina, 55, after she wrote to him while he was in prison, and she was living in Belgravia. Mrs Jenkins said: "I have never asked Sion whether or not he is innocent. I don't need to and it would be insulting of me to do so. Sion is a good and kind man who has been terribly wronged."

Jenkins is understood to have been paid a five-figure sum for the interview.

Billie-Jo and Me: A Tonight Special, ITV1, tonight at 8pm