Courtroom one of Chelmsford Crown Court was silent as the mother of Danielle Jones took the stand this week to give evidence against her brother-in-law.
Linda Jones spoke of Danielle's character, her hobbies and interests. She told of Danielle's fear of the dark, her love of her two pet rabbits, her lack of boyfriends and her love of aerobics and swimming.
She also told of her daughter's charity work, fundraising for a cancer charity, along with her part time work at Henry Higgings - a fish and chip shop in Lakeside. She also spoke warmly of the numerous close friends Danielle had made at St Clere's school.
Linda, 42, said: "She was a normal girl who liked normal things. She liked animals. She would go to see her friend's horse. She was a member of the local swimming club.
She said Danielle was "a mature, sensible girl" who would come back on time after a party, who did not like the dark "at all".
Dressed in a lilac trouser-suit and black top, she frequently dabbed at eyes and nose, her voice quite and often cracking under the emotion and pain she was clearly going through as she relived the weeks leading up to her daughter's disappearance.
Prosecutor Orlando Pownall asked about arguments or fights between Danielle and the family, particularly Linda and Tony, to which Linda replied that most arguments would centre around Danielle not cleaning up after herself when asked.
She said: "We had a normal mother-daughter relationship. There were petty arguments. But she like to spend time with me shopping."
She denied either her or Tony were ever violent to her, except for one incident in March 2001 where after two days of bickering and a "stroppy atmosphere" Linda lost her temper and slapped Danielle's arm.
The next day all seemed well and when Danielle returned home from school she wrote Linda a note, apologising for her behaviour, saying she would "try hard to improve her attitude".
She said Campbell had become increasingly interested in Danielle from the Christmas of 2000, a few months after her 15th birthday.
He would pick her up from school and bring her home. He helped her configure her new phone - the missing Nokia 402 - at the Jones' house.
Stuart Campbell, 44, of Meadow Road, Grays, denies the abduction and murder of Danielle Jones, of Hayle, East Tilbury. The case continues
Follow the case day by day in the Evening Echo
Published Friday October 11, 2002
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article