Kebab jury sent home

Updated 18.34 Mon Oct 01 2007

Keywords: Iyad Albattikhi, Charlene Downes, kebab, Blackpool

The jury in the trial of a takeaway boss accused of killing a girl and joking she had "gone into the kebabs" has been sent home.

The judge told them to report back to the court at 10.30am on Monday.

Iyad Albattikhi, 30, is accused of having sex with 14-year-old Charlene Downes before strangling her and having her "chopped up" and disposed of

Iyad Albattikhi, 30, is accused of having sex with 14-year-old Charlene Downes before strangling her and having her "chopped up" and disposed of.

The Jordanian immigrant denies murder. His business partner and landlord, Mohammed Reveshi, 50, originally from Iran, denies helping to dispose of the body.

On Monday, the jury was asked if it could reach a majority verdict in the case after failing to reach a unanimous verdict after five days of deliberation.

The Blackpool teenager spent her time hanging around shops on the famous promenade and was last seen on the early evening of November 1, 2003.

Preston Crown Court heard there has been no trace of Charlene's body.