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

[Stephanie]

Nope. Just from my experience here.

Can you provide examples...

[Stephanie]

This statement intrigues me.

Yet Shane has a different take on things.

Luke's brother admits mum aided evidence
Source: Evening News - Scotland
Date: 1/13/2005

THE brother of Jodi Jones murder accused Luke Mitchell today admitted discussing his police statement with his mother before telling police Luke was in the family's house on the day the schoolgirl was killed.

In a statement given to police on July 7, 2003, Shane Mitchell said he recalled seeing his brother in the kitchen "mashing tatties".

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that his mother had given a statement the previous day also claiming that Luke was in the kitchen that evening "cooking pies and mashing potatoes". But the jury previously heard that when Shane was questioned by police on April 14 last year he said he had not seen Luke in the house on the evening of June 30, 2003, and that he had been looking at pornography on his computer in his bedroom.

Advocate depute Alan Turnbull, QC, prosecuting, read sections of Shane's statement from July 7 to the jury. In his statement he told police that he remembered his mother's car being in the driveway and the front door being open.

His statement continued: "I went into the hallway and shouted out and then went upstairs to the bathroom to wash my hands. About five minutes later I came straight back down. When I was in the bathroom I left the door open.

"Afterwards I went downstairs into the living-room, then into the kitchen. Luke was standing at the cooker mashing tatties. I could smell burnt steak pies. I did not mention the smell because I did not want to insult him.

"He was pretty happy. I spoke to him, then my mother. That was the first time I had seen my mother that day and I was talking to her about how her day had been." The court heard that Shane then went upstairs to log on to his computer but was called down for dinner by Luke five minutes later.

Mr Turnbull asked Mr Mitchell: "I want to understand how it came to be that you make this reference to police about mashing tatties." Mr Turnbull then read out to the court the section of Mrs Mitchell's statement given on the previous day to Shane's. She said in her statement: "When I got home Luke was in the kitchen first of all. Luke then strained the potatoes and mashed them. At that point I think Shane came in and I could smell the pies in the oven and I asked one of them to take them out, commenting that Luke had overdone them."

Mr Turnbull then asked Mr Mitchell: "When you came to give your statement the very next day it includes reference to you saying that Luke was mashing the tatties and there being a burning smell."

Mr Mitchell agreed. Mr Turnbull then asked: "How can it be you gave information to police which was incorrect and then give information about mashing tatties and burnt pies.

"Before you gave that statement did you discuss with anyone what you should say to police?"

Mr Mitchell replied: "In a way."

Mr Turnbull said: "Who".

Mitchell replied: "My mother."

Mr Mitchell then admitted he had been affected by this discussion with his mother. "If it had not been for that discussion with your mother would you have been able to give any of this evidence to police?" Mr Turnbull asked.

"Not really," replied Mr Mitchell.

Asked what his mother had said to him after giving her statement Mr Mitchell replied: "She said to me: 'You came in and Luke was with us and we had tatties for dinner, then you went back out again.'"

Mr Mitchell told the court that he was "extremely shaken" when he gave his statement to police.

Luke Mitchell denies murdering Jodi on June 30, 2003 at a wooded area near Roan's Dyke, between the Newbattle and Easthouses areas of Dalkeith. The trial continues

Again, I ask the question - if the above was twisted and manipulated etc why has Shane Mitchell not spoken out in support of his brother?

[marty]

You are claiming to have been told alarming things about this case and the Mitchell's which changed your mind Stephanie. So what are they, please tell.

[Stephanie]

You are claiming to have been told alarming things about this case and the Mitchell's which changed your mind Stephanie. So what are they, please tell.

Sandra L should be the one to answer this, not me. Ask her.

[Stephanie]

Shane did not initially state he was "home alone" that afternoon - he said he had no idea whether or not he came straight home from work, and gave the time/route he would normally take/arrive home, with the proviso that he might not have come straight home.

Police checks showed he had stopped off to help a friend with a car problem (which Shane instantly agreed was corrrect, he had simply forgotten about it on what must have been, by the Tuesday afternoon/evening, the most shocking and surreal experience.) That meant Luke would have been home before Shane, and not the other way around. He said he usually came in from work and went straight upstairs to his room, and believed he did so that afternoon. If Luke was in the kitchen, Shane would not have seen him, and, unless they called out to each other, may not even have known Luke was there.

I knocked at Corinne's front door and let myself in one day - Mia was lying on the settee in the living room and didn't bark (because she knew me), I said hello to Mia, then walked through to the kitchen (there were heavy curtains on the door between the kitchen and the dining room) and almost gave Corinne a heart attack because she hadn't heard me come in.

None of the questions about Shane which have been posed here take account of the phone call made from Corinne's landline to Scotts Caravans, or the fact that Shane and Corinne ate a cooked dinner which they did not prepare themselves.

The treatment of Shane by police was outrageous - one officer kept telling him "I'm ot accepting "I don't know" or "I don't remember" - that's not good enough" before aggressively telling Shane to picture crtain scenarios in his head. If that isn't a blatant attempt to interfere with witness recall, I don't know what is.

Out of interest, could it be that Corrine Mitchell didn't hear you because she may have had one or two alcoholic drinks?

Also - you mention Mia didn't bark because she knew you? Do you then think it's plausible for Mia to not have been led to the V in the wall because she also knew Jodi and it was in fact Luke who knew where he was going after all?

[marty]

Sandra L should be the one to answer this, not me. Ask her.

Surprise surprise. You claim in earlier posts that sandra had lost all credibility. You also claim she is not answering all the questions you pose. Then the first question you are asked about information you claim to possess, you pass the buck onto someone else and won't answer. Who has just lost all credibility? Bitter and twisted is what comes to mind

[marty]

Out of interest, could it be that Corrine Mitchell didn't hear you because she may have had one or two alcoholic drinks?

And your a saint?

[Stephanie]

And your a saint?

I beg your pardon?

[Stephanie]

Surprise surprise. You claim in earlier posts that sandra had lost all credibility. You also claim she is not answering all the questions you pose. Then the first question you are asked about information you claim to possess, you pass the buck onto someone else and won't answer. Who has just lost all credibility? Bitter and twisted is what comes to mind

No that is what you have claimed. I have said I do not trust Sandra L.

And, she is not answering all the questions I have posed. What I believe she is doing is leading people like you on a merry dance.

Now who is being personnel?

Seems you are unable to debate and be objective Marty!

[marty]

Never claimed to be impersonal

[Stephanie]

Am I just being cynical here, but having read the old wap forum about this case. Did john and Stephanie change their minds about luke only after they had fallen out with everyone on that forum, especially sandra it would seem. John seemed to come back onto that forum still believing innocence but under false names, is that correct? Then when he inevitably fell out with everyone again, he turned against luke. Or more turned against sandra and billy middleton rather than luke mitchell. Is that about right?

Out of interest - do you represent the WAP organisation?

[marty]

Answer the question I posed you then please, or are you just leading people like me a dance also.

[marty]

No I don't represent the wap forum. As it happens, I have much the same feelings about the admin their as you do.

[Stephanie]

Out of interest, could it be that Corrine Mitchell didn't hear you because she may have had one or two alcoholic drinks?

And your a saint?

Never claimed to be impersonal

Not sure what you are attempting to allude to here but FYI I don't drink. 

[Stephanie]

No I don't represent the wap forum. As it happens, I have much the same feelings about the admin their as you do.

How do you know what my feeling are toward the Admin at WAP?