Peter Tobin murder trial jury discharged

Tuesday 07 July 2009 06:45 EDT

The trial of a handyman accused of murdering a sixth former 18 years ago was halted today.

Jurors hearing evidence in the trial of Peter Tobin at Chelmsford Crown Court were discharged, and a new trial date fixed for 14 December.

The judge told jurors that Tobin was ill, needed surgery, and could not continue to appear at the trial.

Mr Justice Calvert-Smith said Tobin had shingles plus "complications".

Tobin, 62, of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, denies murdering 18-year-old Dinah McNicol.

Miss McNicol, of Tillingham, Essex, disappeared in August 1991, after attending a music festival in Liphook, Hampshire.

The trial started in late June, and jurors had heard a summary of the prosecution case and evidence from a number of prosecution witnesses.

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