SIMON BIRCH MURDER TRIAL: Jury discharged after failing to agree verdict

By Karon Kelly
Published 15th Dec 2022, 14:47 BST
Updated 15th Dec 2022, 14:47 BST
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A jury in the trial of a businessman accused of killing his sister's boyfriend on Christmas Day last year has been discharged.

Prosecutors have claimed that construction company boss Adam Jenkins murdered Simon Birch, 39, with a kitchen knife on December 25.

Jenkins had been hosting a Christmas Day lunch for several members of his family at his home in Newbottle, Sunderland, where Mr Birch died, prompting a major police investigation to be carried out.

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Jenkins, 35, of Sunderland Road, Newbottle, denies murder and has been tried by a jury during proceedings that have been held at Newcastle Crown Court for the past fortnight.

Simon Birch.Simon Birch.
Simon Birch.

However, Mr Justice Andrew Baker has now discharged the panel on Thursday afternoon after they were unable to agree on a verdict.

It is understood that the case will be brought back in to court at a future date yet to be determined for a retrial.