Will there ever be justice for murdered West Malling teacher Lauren Patterson?

Her family are beginning to doubt it after the case against her alleged killer was postponed again this morning - for the fifth time - after witnesses called by the defence failed to show up.

Miss Patterson, 24, from Leybourne Chase went missing three years ago after a night out in Doha, where she was working as a primary school teacher.

In March 2014, Badr Hashim Khamis Abdallah al-Jabr was sentenced to death after being found guilty of stabbing her and burning her body, but in February this year the Gulf state’s court of appeal quashed the conviction and ordered a re-trial.

Since then, the case has already been delayed four times: in March, because al-Jabr’s counsel didn’t show up; in May, it was adjourned after only one day of evidence was heard, and in June issues with the courtroom projector caused a further delay. In October, the hearing was adjourned again because vital witnesses weren’t present.

The same thing happened today, with the judge agreeing to adjourn the case until Monday, December 19.

Miss Patterson’s mother, Alison, had travelled to Qatar for the hearing: the 19th time she has made the 4,000 mile journey.

She posted on her Facebook page this morning: “A complete waste of time. The defence called the two witnesses and surprise, surprise, they were not in court.”

Family friend Jo-Michelle Prentice said: “It is completely outrageous and it makes a complete farce of the ‘legal’ system.”

A second man, Mohamed Abdallah Hassan Abdul Aziz, was convicted of helping to hide Miss Paterson’s body and interfering with evidence. He has already been released from prison.

Miss Patterson’s remains were found in a pit in a remote part of the desert with a knife still lodged in her ribcage.

Her body had been burnt and only her feet had escaped the flames.