The mother of murdered West Malling teacher Lauren Patterson says she is frustrated and disheartened after another set-back in her long wait for justice.

Badr Hashim Khamis Abdallah al-Jabr was sentenced to death after being found guilty of stabbing the 24-year-old in Qatar, where she was working as a primary school teacher, in 2013.

In March last year he was sentenced to death, but in February the country’s court of appeal quashed the conviction and ordered a re-trial.

It has since been adjourned six times, the latest of which was today when it was postponed until January 23, due to a witness being in hospital.

Other delays have been caused due to lack of witnesses, issues with the courtroom projector and because the defendant’s counsel did not show up.

Following the adjournment Lauren’s mother, Alison, said: “I’m feeling fed up, frustrated and disheartened. When will Lauren Patterson get the justice she so deserves?”

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

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.