MURDER trial defendant Jack Wall has failed to appear in court for the second day running, after complaining of being sick and suffering from lack of sleep.

Judge Aiden Marron QC said today (Friday) he was forced to “make a very hard executive decision” to send the jury home for the second day in a row.

The judge, sitting at Blackfriars Crown Court, in London, said: “The defendant yesterday reported that he felt unwell, he was due to give evidence in his own defence, but he complained of not sleeping, perhaps understandably, and feeling unwell.”

The judge also said Wall, 22, was “being sick” and was checked over by medics who gave him “anti-sickness medicine”.

“The defendant hasn’t been sleeping and his concentration wasn’t up-to-scratch,” the judge added.

He said he would give Wall, of Hadrian’s Walk, Stevenage, “the benefit of this weekend to catch up on his sleep” and hoped he would be refreshed enough to give evidence on Monday and “answer the questions he must answer”.

Wall, 22, is charged with murdering ex-girlfriend Amelia Arnold, 19, last November.

He admits killing her, but denies murder.

Miss Arnold is believed to have been killed on November 8 last year.

The teenager’s body was later discovered in a shallow grave in Travellers Lane, Hatfield, and bloodstained carpet was found in Hollybush Lane, Welwyn Garden City.

The trial continues.