JENNA Brookfield's mother wept in the witness box during heated exchanges with a barrister, as jurors heard how the teenager ran away from home several times.

Desiree Baldwin, 40, (pictured) giving evidence at the murder trial of her husband, Michael Baldwin, attacked the line of cross-examination by defence barrister Peter Murphy, QC, accusing him of "defacing" Jenna's character.

Judge John Griffith Williams interrupted cross-examination four times during the first 45 minutes of the case yesterday when Desiree became upset and complained about Mr Murphy.

He assured her he would "keep a close eye" on the situation. Mr Murphy told the court Jenna went missing several times before and failed to tell her mother where she was.

Desiree, who had two black eyes and stitches to her face after falling at home on Monday night, accused Mr Murphy of portraying her daughter in a bad light. "You are doing a very good job of defacing her character," she said.

The jury heard that Jenna had a sporadic school attendance at Abersychan Comprehensive and teachers repeatedly complained to Desiree about Jenna's school work.

Desiree said: "Jenna was still doing well in school until the day she died. I never experienced any problems with Jenna's school work."

Baldwin, 36, of Limekiln Road, Pontnewynydd, den-ies murdering the 15-year-old schoolgirl last September. Proceeding.