9am Briefing: Jodi Jones' mum slams 'sociopath' Mitchell on appeal website

THE mother of Jodi Jones has branded her killer, Luke Mitchell, a "sociopath" on a website set up to campaign for his release from prison.

Judith Jones reportedly wrote that he had shown no emotion when she visited him right after her daughter's death.

Her comments came after campaigners for Mitchell, 22 confirmed last week that he would ask the lawlords in London to grant him special leave to appeal his conviction.

• A 40-year-old American studying in Edinburgh has said that he was the author of a blog purportedly written by a lesbian Syrian-American living in Damascus. A Gay Girl in Damascus gained fame last week after its supposed author was reported to have been kidnapped. But a man named Tom MacMaster has now posted an apology to the blog saying he wrote it himself.

• A LONE sailor has been rescued from the Firth of Forth after falling overboard. The RNLI at South Queensferry rescued the man, who had tumbled from his yacht near to Crombie Point, at around 1.15pm on Sunday. He was taken to hospital in Stirling, and was released a short time later.

• A man has been rescued by firefighters after a fire in his kitchen at White Park, Gorgie, at around 7am yesterday. The 28-year-old was led to safety and treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.