Jury sworn in as two girls stand trial over murder of Angela Wrightson

Angela Wrightson, 39, was found dead at her home in Hartlepool in December 2014.

The two teenagers who are accused of the killing and were 14 and 13 at the time cannot be named for legal reasons.

Flowers left outside the scene following the death of Angela Wrightson.

They both deny the charge.

A panel of eight women and six men was selected from a pool of around 30 potential jurors when proceedings got under way at Leeds Crown Court.

The girls were each flanked by an intermediary who will help them understand the court process.

One female and one male dock officer were also present.

Police cordon off the area following the death of Angela Wrightson.

One of the defendants fiddled with her hands as they sat and listened to the formalities.

The victim's mother sat in the public gallery along with other members of the public.

Presiding over the trial, Mr Justice Henry Globe told the jurors: "The people who are on trial are two young girls and I'm going to ask them to stand up.

They are respectively 15 years and 14 years of age. I hope everybody has been able to see them.

"Here we are in Leeds and this case is about events that took place in Hartlepool.

"The case concerns the death of a lady called Angela Wrightson.

"She is a lady who died at her home at an address in Stephen Street, Hartlepool, and she died on December 8 2014. The two girls who are on trial are charged with murder."

He added: "They each have somebody who is assisting them because of their age and understanding in the dock."

The case is expected to be opened tomorrow by prosecutor Nicholas Campbell QC.

The trial is listed for five weeks.