The murder of 14 year-old schoolgirl Jodi Jones near Edinburgh on 30 June 2003

[David1819]

the crime scene looks nothing like black dali elisbeth short was cut in half.

That's why I said i find it hard to believe. But I have not seen JJ crime scene to make a comparison. From what I understand there are no similarities at all.

[Stephanie]

Asked to write a statement, not all interviewed.
What you on about

Did the school boys also draw pictures to go with their statements? 

Why would the school have 'been asked to do this part?'

The police would have taken the witness statements from the school children and teachers.

[marty]

That's why I said i find it hard to believe. But I have not seen JJ crime scene to make a comparison. From what I understand there are no similarities at all.

The pathologist said the similarities were superficial at best.

[marty]

Did the school boys also draw pictures to go with their statements? 

Why would the school have 'been asked to do this part?'

The police would have taken the witness statements from the school children and teachers.

Why do you think, so the police didn't have to waste their time interviewing everyone silly. When they were only trying to get info on luke mitchell and not the crime, silly.
They would have " interviewed" the pupils and teachers who came forward with info and taken statements directly from them.

[marty]

There were between 2 and 3000 statements taken - not that number of people interviewed. Dozens of kids whose statements started "I have been asked what I know of Luke Mitchell," (one lad's statement begins like that and continues "I don't know why, because I don't know him and have never met him!")

35 statements from neighbours talking about the log burner (none of whom noticed anything "untoward" that night).

Multiple statements from particular witnesses - I recall working out that there were, on average, something like 8 statements for every one of Jodi's family (including extended family members)

Of those statements, literally dozens of them were from police officers simply logging what they did at certain stages of the investigation - i.e. "I was tasked with patrolling the grounds of St David's High School the day the pupils returned" and so on.

There may have been 2 - 3000 statements, but how many of them were actually the result of genuine investigation (rather than simply attempts to gather damning information about Luke?)

For accuracy, Corinne's fingerprints were never found on the form from the tattoo parlour, nor was her signature on it. A single thumbprint from Luke was identified, which would be expected, since he signed the form. I've said before, the only thing Corinne was guilty of in the tattoo episode was being Luke's mother, and she certainly never denied that! Seriously, can you imagine - "I've come for a tattoo, I'm over 18 and I've brought my mum along to prove it" - please!

The males close to Jodi were not "ruled out one by one." Their stories were either accepted at face value, or the police handed them "innocent explanations" - SK and Janine both say, in statements "I have been asked if it is possible the t shirt Jodi was wearing that night belonged to me/Janine." That'll be the T shirt that had Kelly's DNA from bodily fluids on it.

Ferris and Dickie were "ruled out" before police discovered they'd lied, Ferris cut his hair, and before the DNA results had been returned. So, on what basis were they ruled out? The statements from the witnesses that proved they were lying were not taken until two months later - by which time the investigation was hurtling full pelt down the "Luke Mitchell's our murderer" route.

What about Falconer? His condom was found in the early hours of the morning, he lived a stone's throw from the murder scene, police were in his house on the second day of the investigation, and still they didn't connect the DNA from that condom with him - took them another three and a half years. Then they ruled him out again, even though his own story meant he would have literally have had to step over Jodi's body twice, in daylight, on the evening of June 30th.

[Stephanie]

"According to Police sources, Prof. Ekman found that amongst the emotions on show by Luke Mitchell was one of delight as he delivered his alibi that was subsequently exposed as a lie.

On the day of Jodi's funeral, he was showing little sign of distress, but he demonstrated pleasure as he told the story he thought would fool the watching audience.

In the field of micro-expression, it's known as "duping delight" - gratification that comes from duping someone."

http://news.sky.com/story/322561/meeting-with-a-murderer

[Baz]

"According to Police sources, Prof. Ekman found that amongst the emotions on show by Luke Mitchell was one of delight as he delivered his alibi that was subsequently exposed as a lie.

On the day of Jodi's funeral, he was showing little sign of distress, but he demonstrated pleasure as he told the story he thought would fool the watching audience.

In the field of micro-expression, it's known as "duping delight" - gratification that comes from duping someone."

http://news.sky.com/story/322561/meeting-with-a-murderer

Well if we are going to take detection and reading of  micro expressions as evidence then we surely have to give as much weight to the lie detector. Both pseudo science, both hugely problematic when drawing conclusions.

[marty]

"According to Police sources, Prof. Ekman found that amongst the emotions on show by Luke Mitchell was one of delight as he delivered his alibi that was subsequently exposed as a lie.

On the day of Jodi's funeral, he was showing little sign of distress, but he demonstrated pleasure as he told the story he thought would fool the watching audience.

In the field of micro-expression, it's known as "duping delight" - gratification that comes from duping someone."

http://news.sky.com/story/322561/meeting-with-a-murderer

Oh, and we're off.

[Stephanie]

Well if we are going to take detection and reading of  micro expressions as evidence then we surely have to give as much weight to the lie detector. Both pseudo science, both hugely problematic when drawing conclusions.

From the point of view of looking at all the circumstantial evidence available, I would suggest LM to have shallow emotions - he may even well be a psycho? On that basis - psychos can pass lie detector tests.

[Baz]

From the point of view of looking at all the circumstantial evidence available, I would suggest LM to have shallow emotions - he may even well be a psycho? On that basis - psychos can pass lie detector tests.

Are you qualified to declare someone a psychopath?

Did he not receive any psychological examination?

[sandra L]

Crime scenes - I've only read about the dahlia. scene, so may not be accurate- please correct if I get anything wrong- dahlia, found on a piece of open wasteland, body cut in half, no blood (body drained elsewhere) laid out in X position, arms outstretched bove head,  breast removed, face cut from both sides of mouth to ears, creating "grotesque grin" genital mutilation.  Jodi - woodland strip behind a high wall, believed to have been killed where she was found, arms tied behind her back, lying on her side beside a large fallen tree, belongings at scene (none at dahlia?), two slash wounds to abdomen, one to breast, face slashed from one side of mouth to jaw, no genital mutilation, severe injury to arms (not present in dahlia)

[sandra L]

Having had time to check out the Dahlia crime scene, for comparison purposes, the single biggest difference is - no cut-throat injuries in the Dahlia scene.

[nugnug]

ive studied both crimes there not even vaguely similar.

[John]

One of the most enduring mysteries in this case is why Shane Mitchell failed to corroborate his younger brothers alibi when he was facing a murder charge, certainly Sandra Lean has never been able to explain it and mother Corrine has always avoided the question like the plague.  This is what seperates guilt from innocence in many cases, an inability to answer that one really simple but sticky question.

[nugnug]

Are you qualified to declare someone a psychopath?

Did he not receive any psychological examination?

ive got a feeling the anser to the first ustion is no.


he would of taken one to see if he was fit to stand trail and he would also take a few in prison.

mind you there genral mental health assements they dont really test or weather your a pscopath or not.