MICHAEL BALDWIN, the stepfather of Jenna Brookfield (pictured), was due to stand trial today, accused of the teenager's murder.

The long-awaited trial of 37-year-old Pontypool man Baldwin, who denies murdering 15-year-old Jenna, is expected to last six weeks at Cardiff crown court before the Recorder of Cardiff, Judge John Griffith Williams.

Jenna was reported missing on September 12 last year, and an extensive search was launched for her.

Her poultry worker stepfather, formerly of Limekiln Road, Pontnewynydd, was arrested 50 days later and charged with her murder.

Jenna's body was discovered in a shallow grave in a layby besides the B4246 Blaenavon to Abergavenny Road at Fiddler's Elbow late on November 18 last year.

The discovery shocked the community of Abersychan. The family had been living at Ffrwd Road before moving, after Jenna's disappearance, to Pontnewynydd.

When she went missing, Jenna had been due to start her final year at Abersychan Comprehensive School to complete her GCSEs.

Shortly after her disappearance her mother Desiree said that Jenna was "a typical teenager" who loved hardcore music.

At Jenna's funeral on December 9 her mother paid a touching tribute to her daughter.

She said: "I was told I had a very bright and special child and I was proud. I believed she lived her short life to the full and enjoyed her time with us."