A suicide bombing ripped through a Shiite Muslim procession today in north-western Pakistan, killing at least 22 people and injuring about 50 – sparking riots during the Muslim sect’s most important holiday. Army troops took control of the area and a curfew was imposed as the Shiites vented their anger by burning shops and cars in Hangu, about 125 miles south-west of the capital, Islamabad, said district police chief Ayub Khan.
Akram Durrani, the top elected official in the province, said that according to a preliminary investigation, it was a suicide bombing and 12 people were killed. He immediately announced a judicial inquiry into the attack.. Nepal’s first elections in seven years were overshadowed by violence as the army opened fire on protesters, killing at least one. The shambolic vote, on which the isolated King Gyanendra had staked his credibility, failed to quell the doubts over whether he can cling to power in the face of growing public opposition. Turnout was low across the country yesterday – just over 20 per cent – amid calls by the seven main political parties for a boycott, and threats from Maoist rebels to target anyone taking part.
Voting had to be postponed or cancelled in more than half of the seats on offer because no one dared to stand as a candidate in the face of the threats.Lone candidates stood in hundreds of other seats, finding themselves elected unopposed. As soon as the first retrial was ordered, Sussex Police set up a new inquiry, codenamed Operation Cathedral, to reinvestigate the case.

For those who believe Mr Jenkins’ innocence, there remains one question: if he did not kill Billie-Jo, then who did? There is only one other suspect, a mentally ill man who for legal reasons is named Mr B. We appeal again for anyone with information at this late stage to come forward,” he said. The Assistant Chief Constable of Sussex, Geoff Williams, said outside court that it was “particularly unfortunate” that two juries had failed to reach a verdict “The crime remains unresolved. “Having given very careful consideration to the case, now is the time to offer no further evidence.” Mr Justice Clarke recorded a formal not guilty verdict. He said: “In the course of two lengthy trials, neither jury has been able to reach a verdict and we can’t say they would be more likely than not to do so in a future trial.

Mr Jenkins stood up and tried to shield himself with his arms as the women screamed abuse at him. Afterwards, Mr Jenkins looked shaken as he was consoled by his wife and supporters who asked: “How can this happen?” Back in court Billie-Jo’s natural father, Bill Jenkins, who has been in court for the duration of the retrial, glared down at the defendant from the public gallery. A female member of his family shouted: “It’s not over yet you slag.” Following the hung jury – the judge had said he would accept a 10-2 majority – Nicholas Hilliard, acting for the prosecution, said no further retrial would be sought. Yesterday’s acquittal provoked outrage and violence from the dead girl’s family. Two women, who later identified themselves as Billie-Jo’s aunts Maggie Coster and Bev Williams, ran up to the defendant and kicked and punched him as he sat with his wife and his legal team outside the court. Only a handful of cases have ever been tried three times and only one is believed to have gone to a fourth trial, when Frank Henworth was charged in 1995 with murdering his flatmate Patrick “Nobby” Clarke and was convicted in July 1996. As well as the bad-character evidence, the prosecution also relied in the second retrial upon new forensic evidence.

But neither tactic was enough to convince two juries of his guilt or innocence. The CPS decided to acquit Mr Jenkins because they did not believe that there was either enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against him or that a prosecution was not in the public interest. Part of the reason not to have a fourth trial is that the majority of two juries were not convinced by the forensic evidence, and that Crown prosecutors would have trouble in getting Lois Jenkins to give evidence for a fifth time. She said: “She got punched in the nose by her dad.” At the first retrial last year, the jury also heard evidence about Mr Jenkins kicking Billie-Jo on a holiday to France six months before her death.

She said Sion just lost his temper.” Ms Conway claimed that on one day Billie-Jo came into school with blood on her shirt and her mouth. “Sion suddenly thinking, what am I doing, why am I allowing this to happen. A gesture from Billie to Annie to rub it in further, as she was prone to do. It was enough to make Sion snap.” The third trial also heard evidence from two of Billie-Jo’s friends, Holly Prior and Laura Conway, about Mr Jenkins’ alleged violence. Ms Prior said she saw her friend with scratches and a bruise on her neck at school. “She said Sion Jenkins was stroking Buster, her dog, and Billie-Jo told Sion to stop it He pinned her up against the door and scratched her face.