THE jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering a former Pendle schoolgirl will resume deliberations tomorrow.

The panel of six men and six women were sent out on Wednesday afternoon to consider verdicts against Ben Blakeley, 22, and his 17-year-old brother Jake following a three-week trial.

Oxford Crown Court has heard that Jayden Parkinson, 17, died at the hands of her ex-partner Blakeley in the countryside near Didcot, Oxfordshire, on December 3 last year - 24 hours after she told him she was expecting his child.

Blakeley, of Christchurch Road, Reading, Berkshire, admits the manslaughter of the teenager but denies her murder.

His brother Jake, of Venners Water, Didcot, Oxfordshire, denies a charge of preventing a lawful burial. They have both admitted perverting the course of justice.

The court has heard that after strangling the teenager, the former binman enlisted the help of his brother to bury Jayden's body in their uncle's grave at All Saints' Church in Didcot.

Today the jury spent 90 minutes deliberating but the case was adjourned because one of the jurors has a prior commitment.

Judge Patrick Eccles QC said: "As I said yesterday one of your number needs to leave early for the weekend.

“I am going to allow you to separate now with the usual direction that you must not discuss the case when you leave the courtroom.

"You will reassemble at 10am on Monday."