A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a businessman accused of the murder of his sister's boyfriend on Christmas Day last year.

Adam Jenkins, who owns a successful construction company, stands accused of killing Simon Birch, 39, by cutting his neck with a kitchen knife on December 25.

Read more: 'Colour was draining from his face' - how Christmas Day party turned to tragedy

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court has today (Thursday, December 15) failed to reach a verdict on which they can agree after a day-and-a-half of deliberations.

Mr Justice Andrew Baker has now discharged the 12 members of the public and thanked them for their service.

The court was told Jenkins and his partner, Natalie Shaw, invited his family to a Christmas Day lunch at their home in Newbottle, near Houghton-le-Spring.

The guests included Jenkins' mum, step-dad, father, brother and his sister Emma Jenkins, with her partner Mr Birch, who was 39.

The Northern Echo:

Read next:

The Northern Echo: The house in Newbottle, near Houghton-le-SpringThe house in Newbottle, near Houghton-le-Spring (Image: Contributor)

The court heard trouble flared at the house late on Christmas night and Mr Jenkins, 35, used a kitchen knife to cut Mr Birch’s neck.

He died from his injuries shortly afterwards.

Mr Jenkins will now face a retrial as a date to be fixed.