Martin Dawes in Nairobi: "Locations and journeys travelled by key individuals will be crucial"

Simon Ole Makallah was chief warden at the famous Masai Mara National Reserve at the time of Julie's murder more than 10 years ago.

Her charred and mutilated remains were found in a remote corner of Masai Mara game reserve near the Tanzanian border in 1988.

Simon Ole Makallah: Due in court

Julie Ward's father, John Ward, was in court to hear the prosecutor outline the case against Mr Makallah.

Mr Makallah, who pleaded not guilty at a pre-trial hearing last year, sat hunched over a note pad during the three hour morning session.

The prosecution said Mr Makallah had lied to distract attention from the area where Miss Ward had gone. It said that, after her car was found, the accused went straight to the place where her remains were later found.

If convicted, Mr Makallah could face the death penalty.

John Ward: "That people get away with it, is just not acceptable"

The long investigation that followed the discovery of Julie's body was marred by allegations of incompetence and cover-ups by Kenyan police who at first said her death was the result of an attack by wild animals.

Two weeks ago a lower court dismissed the case against a second suspect, game park worker David Ole Nchoko.

John Ward: "The end of a long road, I hope"

Magistrate Christine Meoli said the prosecution failed to produce enough evidence to justify proceedings against him.

Julie's father, John, has led a tireless and determined campaign to bring his 28-year-old daughter's killer to justice.

The millionaire hotelier, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, was seconded to the team which carried out the investigation leading to Makallah's arrest on 17 July last year.