BRITAIN: Flowers, photographs and personal messages were waiting outside the Old Bailey yesterday when the parents of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells arrived for the opening day of the trial of the man accused of murdering the 10-year-old girls.
The tributes included a bouquet of pink orchids and red chrysanthemums with a message that read: "Always in our hearts, from Man United supporters and players".
The girls, friends since they were four years old, were wearing identical red Manchester United football jerseys when they disappeared on August 4th last year. David Beckham, then still with Manchester United and a favourite of the football-mad pair, joined in appeals for their safe return to their homes in Cambridgeshire the day after their disappearance.
Following one of the biggest manhunts in British history, their bodies were found in a ditch in Suffolk, near their homes, by a walker on August 17th.
Ian Huntley (29), a former caretaker at the girls' school in Soham village, has pleaded not guilty to murder, but guilty to conspiring to pervert the course of justice. His former girlfriend, Maxine Carr (26), who had worked at the school as a teaching assistant, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting an offender and one count of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
Both have been in custody since their arrest hours before the bodies were found, and have both reportedly attempted suicide. They have also spent time in psychiatric institutions, but have been assessed as mentally fit to stand trial.
The trial, before Mr Justice Moses - who has imposed reporting restrictions - is expected to last for two months and hear from more than 170 witnesses.
Holly's parents, Kevin (40) and Nicola (36), arrived at London's central criminal court hand in hand. Along with Jessica's parents, Leslie (52) and Sharon (43), they paused before entering the court to allow photographers lining the opposite footpath to take their picture. The four, who have been in court for most of the pre-trial appearances of the accused pair, looked tired, drawn and nervous.
Jury selection is expected to be completed today, with the swearing in of 12 selected from 100 potential jurors.
Mr Richard Latham QC, prosecuting, is expected to open the case for the Crown tomorrow.