New suspect claim in Jodi Jones murder case

Published on Saturday 9 December 2006 13:02

SOLICITORS acting for Jodi Jones' killer Luke Mitchell are investigating reports that a new suspect has been identified.

A Dalkeith resident is understood to have contacted police with evidence of the man's behaviour around the time of Jodi's death.

The former drug user, who was on a course for recovering drug users near where Jodi's body was found in 2003, reportedly handed in an essay titled Killing a Female in The Woods to his course tutor three weeks before the murder.

It is reported he was also a regular visitor to the woods where Jodi was killed, and on the day after the murder he had scratches on his face and arms but could not remember how he got them.

Mitchell was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years behind bars in January after a jury found him guilty of killing the 14-year-old.

His lawyers have lodged an appeal but no date has yet been fixed for a hearing.

It is understood mystery DNA was found on Jodi's body which belongs neither to Mitchell nor his victim.

His lawyers are now thought to have asked for a DNA swab from the new suspect to see if it matches this mystery DNA. Gillian Law, of Beaumont and Co, Mitchell's solicitors, was reported as saying: "We are now aware of this statement. It has come to our attention and raises very serious issues.

"We have taken the terms of this statement very seriously and are now liasing with the Crown regarding further enquiries being made of all the potential new witnesses."