THE mum of Billie-Jo Jenkins died before she was able to see justice for her murdered daughter, it has emerged.
The 13-year-old was battered over the head with an 18in iron tent peg as she painted patio doors in 1997.
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Foster dad Sion Jenkins, now 63, spent six years in jail before his life sentence was quashed on appeal.
He was formally acquitted in 2006 following two inconclusive retrials — but later had a compensation claim rejected because his innocence could not be proved.
Billie-Jo’s biological mum Deborah Barnett was forced to give up her daughter after the girl’s dad was sent to prison and she struggled to cope on her own.
It has now emerged that she died in 2018, a year after calling for police to re-open the case, the Mirror reports.
On February 15 1997, Billie-Jo was painting the patio doors at the back of the house when she struck at least five times on the head in a shocking attack.
She was found dying, in a pool of blood, when Sion returned to the house following an aborted trip to a DIY store, with his two oldest daughters.
Sion – father to Annie, 12 at the time of the murder, Lottie, 10, Esther, nine and Maya, seven – has always maintained his innocence and claims a prowler could have been responsible for the murder.
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It comes as police are now carrying out a forensic review of exhibits from the scene in Hastings, East Sussex.
The initial case hinged on 148 “invisible” blood spots found on the clothing of ex-deputy head Jenkins.
Prosecutors claimed the spots were consistent with “impact spatter”.
Jenkins’ defence team argued they came from a fine spray on Billie-Jo’s breath after he discovered her dying.
The spots — and whether they contained bone fragments — will form part of the review.
Scientists are also conducting DNA tests from tapings in the hope of matching it with potential suspects.
Police stress there is no new information and detectives are not reinvestigating.
Sussex Police said: “We are carrying out a forensic review of material to establish whether or not scientific advances can provide new lines of inquiry.”
Following Jenkins’ acquittal, his ex-wife Lois alleged he had been violent to her and their four daughters.
Jenkins, who remarried, has repeatedly demanded police reinvestigate the murder and accused them of lacking the courage to face mistakes.
His Justice for Sion Jenkins website says: “Billie-Jo’s story can’t have a happy ending but it should have a truthful one.”
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