FOUR witnesses yesterday told a murder trial jury they saw missing shopworker Jenny Nicholl after she is alleged to have been murdered.

The dramatic courtroom claims were made on the final day of the defence case for the teenager's married lover, David Hodgson, who is charged with her murder.

A retired magistrate, a charity shop boss, a barmaid and an amusement arcade worker all said they had seen Jenny since June 30, 2005.

The prosecution claims the 19-year-old was killed by father-of-two Mr Hodgson on that night, more than two-and-a-half years ago. Mr Hodgson said she was still alive and ran away from her home in Richmond, North Yorkshire, to get away from her father, Brian, who Mr Hodgson said abused her.

The 47-year-old completed his evidence at Teesside Crown Court yesterday before six further defence witnesses were called.

Neighbour Evelyn Morgan told the court she saw Jenny as she returned from a French market in Richmond town centre on July 3.

The former magistrate and hotel housekeeper said she "vividly" remembered the occasion, and said: "I am absolutely confident I saw her."

Shop manageress Amanda Wilson told the jury she saw Jenny in her Oxfam charity store in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, in late August 2005.

Mrs Wilson said her customer was wearing a grimy blue anorak on a blistering hot day, and bought two summer tops for several pounds.

She reported the sighting to police after seeing a missing person appeal on television, but was not interviewed until last month, the court heard.

Mrs Wilson was shown a photograph of Jenny, and told the jury: "It was definitely the young lady I spoke to, although she had her hair tied back."

She said: "Her profile is quite striking and her smile is quite striking."

A barmaid from Jedburgh, in the Scottish borders, told the court that she recognised Jenny as a customer from mid-July 2005.

Jenny's mother, Ann, went to the town after text messages were sent from there in the days after the teenager's apparent disappearance.

It is said by the prosecution that Mr Hodgson travelled to Jedburgh and to Cumbria to send texts to give the false impression Jenny was alive.

But part-time barmaid Zoe Gourlay told the jury that when Mrs Nicholl showed her the photo of her missing daughter "my stomach churned".

She said the customer was with an older man who ordered a "diesel" - cider, lager and blackcurrant - which was Jenny's preferred drink.

Brenda Gardener said she saw Jenny and Mr Hodgson's brother, Robert, in her town centre amusement arcade cafe on the morning of Friday, July 1.

Mrs Gardener - a former classmate of Robert Hodgson - said they both appeared drunk and "were staggering all over".

The court heard that they stayed in the Cobblestones cafe for about an hour before leaving after Jenny complained that the toilets were dirty.

Mrs Gardener refused to accept the suggestion from James Goss, QC, prosecuting, that she was wrong with her date and the pair had been there the previous week.

Mrs Morgan, who has known the Nicholls since they moved to Richmond, admitted she had expressed doubt to her family over the date of her sighting, but told the jury yesterday: "I am convinced I saw Jenny on that day."

Miss Gourlay recalled how Mrs Nicholl came into her hotel on August 26 with a photograph of Jenny, told her she was missing and asked if she had seen her.

"She looked fairly similar to someone I saw in the bar and my stomach churned," she said.

"Mrs Nicholl said she used to drink diesel and my heart went."

David Hodgson, of Olav Road, Richmond, denies murder. The case will continue today with closing speeches from barristers for both sides.

The judge, Mr Justice Openshaw, is expected to start summing-up the four-week trial on Thursday.