Was The Perp A Fisherman?

[Cambridgecutie]

As a johnny-come-lately to the case I have been struck by the emphasis on locals when Dalkeith is not remote and has plenty to attract outsiders. 

All concerned appear to have concluded the perp was local including police and Luke's defence at trial.  Eg Donald Findlay QC put it to John Ferris he was the murderer.  The jury might have concluded from this if it wasn't Luke then it was someone local and as no one fitted the bill they found Luke guilty. 

I can't see any reason to rule out someone from some other place in the UK or even overseas. 

Aspects of the case lend to the possibility the perp may have been a fisherman. 

Dalkeith would appear to be an attractive venue for fishing:

https://www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/outdoor-activities/fishing/

Fisherman carry sharp knives and are allowed to do so by law (I think?)

https://britishseafishing.co.uk/legal-issues-of-carrying-knives-for-fishing/

https://bonfirebob.com/best-fishing-knives/

Witness Andrea Bryson said the male she observed was wearing a "khaki green, hip-length, fishing-style jacket".

[David1819]

Witness Andrea Bryson said the male she observed was wearing a "khaki green, hip-length, fishing-style jacket".

Witness Andrea Bryson also said the male she observed was Luke Mitchell.

Less than an hour before she died, Jodi told her mother she was going to meet Luke, not a fisherman.

This is stupid.

[David1819]

Luke also possessed a fisherman's knife. The knife was missing but the pouch had Jodis initials on the  dates of her birth and death.



It would be interesting to know if the knife found not far from the murder scene, with Luke's name carved on it fits into the pouch.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-10746520

[Cambridgecutie]

Witness Andrea Bryson also said the male she observed was Luke Mitchell.

Less than an hour before she died, Jodi told her mother she was going to meet Luke, not a fisherman.

This is stupid.

You have a habit of thinking everything is stupid if it doesn't fit your narrow view and/or you were not the originator. 

Witness Andrina Bryson identified Luke from photographs but was unable to identify him at court.

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Beyond+ond+reasonable+doubt%3B+EXCLUSIVE+THE+10+CRUCIAL+PIECES+OF...-a0653482561

I hope her observation was more accurate than your spelling of her name.

The exchange of text messages between Jodie and Luke were not preserved therefore we do not know exactly what was agreed upon. 

At 1635 she used her mother's mobile phone to send a text message to the appellant. The appellant responded at 1636. A further text was sent by the deceased to him at 1638. The terms of these text messages were not preserved. The deceased left her house at about 1650, informing her mother that she was going to meet the appellant and would be "mucking about up here".

The appellant would sometimes collect the deceased at her house. On other occasions they would meet at the east end of the path. The deceased had been told by her mother that she was not allowed to walk along the path on her own.

Assuming the last para is accurate it appears Mrs Jones trusted Luke but thought the path was unsuitable for a young lone woman. 

[Cambridgecutie]

Luke also possessed a fisherman's knife. The knife was missing but the pouch had Jodis initials on the  dates of her birth and death.



It would be interesting to know if the knife found not far from the murder scene, with Luke's name carved on it fits into the pouch.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-10746520

Afaik the murder weapon has never been found.  Does the length of knife contained within the pouch align with the depth of Jodie's injuries? 

[David1819]

Witness Andrina Bryson identified Luke from photographs but was unable to identify him at court.

That comes as no surprise giving the fact his appearance had changed come trial and she only got a glimpse of him. Prison takes its toll on people

[David1819]

I hope her observation was more accurate than your spelling of her name.

You might want to check how you spelled her name in the last sentence of your first post. I only copied it from the quote of your text.

[Cambridgecutie]

That comes as no surprise giving the fact his appearance had changed come trial and she only got a glimpse of him. Prison takes its toll on people

Well prison didn't take its toll on John Ferris.  He decided to cut his own hair shortly after Jodie was murdered:

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/THE+JODI+JONES+TRIAL%3A+I+think+I%27m+actually+in+love+with+Luke..+well...-a0125381355

JODI'S second cousin admits he hacked-off his curly hair around the time police issued a description of a man seen near where she was killed.

John Ferris, 18, is asked by Donald Findlay QC why he was so keen to get rid of his hair that he cut it himself.

Ferris replies: 'I don't know.' The court is shown newspaper cuttings from the days following Jodi's death, including an appeal by police for a man seen in the area at the time to come forward.

He was described as having brown or ginger, curly or wavy hair. Ferris admits that he and his cousin Gordon Dickie were near the spot where Jodi was killed on the same day.

Donald Findlay QC, defending Mitchell, asks Ferris three times: 'Did you murder Jodi?'. Each time, Ferris replies: 'No.'

[Cambridgecutie]

You might want to check how you spelled her name in the last sentence of your first post. I only copied it from the quote of your text.

You can find the correct spelling in official docs.

[David1819]

You can find the correct spelling in official docs.

And the incorrect spelling in your posts. 

[Cambridgecutie]

And the incorrect spelling in your posts. 

So why repeat it if you knew it was incorrect?

[Cambridgecutie]

Afaik the murder weapon has never been found.  Does the length of knife contained within the pouch align with the depth of Jodie's injuries?

Have you worked out yet whether the length of the blade on the images you uploaded align with the depth of Jodie's injuries?

[nugnug]

intresting you know i ha never thought of that o you mean a comercial fishermen or an angler

[Cambridgecutie]

intreting you know i ha never thought of that o you mean a comercial fishermen or an angler

I thought commercial fishermen only fished in the sea/ocean?  I was thinking more of a hobby fisherman.  The river Esk runs right around Dalkeith with the river north Esk one side and the river south Esk the other. 

[nugnug]

be intresting to know if any if any of the people mentione in asee ar fishman.