Sarah Payne murder trial begins

The distraught parents of schoolgirl Sarah Payne arrived at court today for the start of the trial of the man accused of her murder.

Sara and Michael Payne, both 32, entered Lewes Crown Court in East Sussex with police family liaison officer, Detective Sergeant Sean Scott.

Detective Superintendent Alan Ladley, who led the murder hunt, also accompanied the couple, from Hersham in Surrey, into court.

Mrs Payne arrived with her husband's parents, Terry and Lesley. She is expected to be a witness for the Crown and arrangements have also been made for a video link to enable Sarah's brother Lee, aged 14, to give evidence.

Sarah was eight years old when she was abducted from a country road close to her grandparents' home near East Preston, West Sussex in July last year.

She disappeared after a day on the beach with her family and her naked body was discovered two weeks later after one of Britain's biggest police searches. It was partially concealed in a field near Pulborough, 12 miles away from where Sarah went missing.

Stock car racer Roy Whiting, 42, of Littlehampton, West Sussex, denies kidnap and murder and the trial, delayed today by legal argument, is expected to last until Christmas.

Timothy Langdale, QC, will lead the Crown's case in front of Mr Justice Curtis. Whiting is defended by Sally O'Neill, QC.