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Billie-Jo family seek law change Billie-Jo family seek law change
(about 3 hours later)
The natural family of Billie-Jo Jenkins want the law changed so they can bring a civil action against her foster father Sion, they have told the BBC. The natural family of Billie-Jo Jenkins wants the law changed so it can bring a civil action against her foster father Sion Jenkins, it has told the BBC.
Mr Jenkins was cleared at a second retrial in February of killing the 13-year-old in East Sussex in 1997.Mr Jenkins was cleared at a second retrial in February of killing the 13-year-old in East Sussex in 1997.
Billie-Jo's natural family, from east London, want to bring a civil action to establish liability for what happened. The teenager's relatives want a civil case to establish liability, but a six-year limit on bringing proceedings is preventing that.
But they say they are being prevented by a law which means civil action must be brought within six years. Mr Jenkins was "appalled" at the move, his friend Bob Woffinden said.
They told the BBC they were consulting lawyers about their options. Two re-trials
Government consultation Billie-Jo's natural family, from east London, said it was consulting lawyers about its options.
Billie-Jo was beaten to death at her foster parents' home in Hastings in 1997. The schoolgirl was beaten to death at her foster parents' home in Hastings in February 1997.
Her foster father, Sion Jenkins, of Hampshire, served six years for her murder before he was freed on appeal. He was then formally acquitted when juries in two re-trials failed to agree a verdict. Mr Jenkins, now living in Hampshire, served six years for her murder before being freed on appeal.
There's no point in going down the same blind alley again Bob Woffinden
He was then formally acquitted after juries in two re-trials failed to reach a verdict.
Billie-Jo's natural father Bill died of cancer in the summer.Billie-Jo's natural father Bill died of cancer in the summer.
Other relatives say he wanted to bring a civil action, but they considered the move only after criminal proceedings concluded in February, nine years after her murder. Other relatives say he wanted to bring a civil action, but they only considered the move after criminal proceedings concluded in February, nine years after her murder.
Billie-Jo's aunt, Maggie Coster, told the BBC: "All we're interested in is getting some sort of justice for Billie-Jo. Billie-Jo's aunt, Maggie Coster, told the BBC: "All we're interested in is getting some sort of justice.
"She was a 13-year-old child brutally murdered - battered - and there's nobody to answer for it.""She was a 13-year-old child brutally murdered - battered - and there's nobody to answer for it."
The government is to consult on plans to change the limitation period in civil cases, but it is not clear how far the reforms will go and whether the new rules will apply retrospectively. Government consultation
Next year, the Law Lords will rule on the case of the serial rapist Iorworth Hoare, who won £7 million on the lottery. One of his victims was prevented from suing him because the attack happened 18 years ago. Mr Woffinden, a journalist who befriended Mr Jenkins during the court cases and became his media adviser and campaigner, said in response: "If anything were to happen it would obviously be very vigorously contested.
"There's no point in going down the same blind alley again."
Mr Woffinden said Mr Jenkins' concern was that the murder should be fully re-investigated by the police.
The government has said it will consult on plans to change the limitation period in civil cases, but it is not clear how far the reforms will go and whether the new rules will apply retrospectively.
Next year the Law Lords will rule on the case of serial rapist Iorworth Hoare, who won £7 million on the lottery.
One of his victims was prevented from suing him because the attack happened 18 years ago.