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| Jeremy Forrest trial: Jury considers 'abduction' verdict | Jeremy Forrest trial: Jury considers 'abduction' verdict |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A jury is considering its verdict in the case of teacher Jeremy Forrest, who is accused of abducting a schoolgirl. | A jury is considering its verdict in the case of teacher Jeremy Forrest, who is accused of abducting a schoolgirl. |
| Mr Forrest, 30, of Petts Wood, southeast London, denies abducting the girl, a pupil at Bishop Bell CofE School in Eastbourne, where he taught. | Mr Forrest, 30, of Petts Wood, southeast London, denies abducting the girl, a pupil at Bishop Bell CofE School in Eastbourne, where he taught. |
| Lewes Crown Court has heard the pair went to France when it became likely their relationship would be exposed. | Lewes Crown Court has heard the pair went to France when it became likely their relationship would be exposed. |
| Judge Michael Lawson QC told jurors they would have to be satisfied that he acted out of necessity to acquit him. | Judge Michael Lawson QC told jurors they would have to be satisfied that he acted out of necessity to acquit him. |
| 'Abuse of trust' | 'Abuse of trust' |
| The girl's mother told the court earlier that she had feared her daughter was dead when she disappeared with Mr Forrest for seven days last September. | The girl's mother told the court earlier that she had feared her daughter was dead when she disappeared with Mr Forrest for seven days last September. |
| Richard Barton, prosecuting, told the jury the teacher's actions were an abuse of trust, carried out without the consent of the girl's parents. | Richard Barton, prosecuting, told the jury the teacher's actions were an abuse of trust, carried out without the consent of the girl's parents. |
| Mr Forrest chose not to give evidence in his defence, but his barrister, Ronald Jaffa, told the court the girl had been "desperate and suicidal" and that he had gone with her to France to prevent her from coming to harm. | Mr Forrest chose not to give evidence in his defence, but his barrister, Ronald Jaffa, told the court the girl had been "desperate and suicidal" and that he had gone with her to France to prevent her from coming to harm. |
| Summing up, the judge told the jury of eight men and four women they would have to be convinced that Mr Forrest's actions were a "reasonable and proportionate" response to prevent "imminent death or serious injury". | Summing up, the judge told the jury of eight men and four women they would have to be convinced that Mr Forrest's actions were a "reasonable and proportionate" response to prevent "imminent death or serious injury". |
| Before the day's proceedings began, Mr Forrest's father, Jim, collapsed and was taken to hospital, but he is expected to return to court later. |