Shannon Matthews trial day 1 - Jury sworn in

Nov 11 2008 By Andrew Jackson

A JURY was sworn in today to try the mother of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews, who went missing for 24 days earlier this year.

Karen Matthews, 33, stood in the dock at Leeds Crown Court along with Michael Donovan, 40, as the jurors each took the oath.

Both are on trial charged with the kidnap and false imprisonment of Shannon, who was nine years old at the time.

Matthews and Donovan have already pleaded not guilty to these charges and have also denied perverting the course of justice.

Shannon disappeared on February 19, sparking a massive search operation by West Yorkshire Police which became one of the highest-profile missing person inquiries ever seen in Britain.