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.
