Girlfriend of Jodi's killer speaks of her love for him

Gemma Chapman, 17, described the convicted killer as "kind, caring and loving" and said he was wrongly found guilty of 14-year-old Jodi Jones' horrific murder on Roan's Dyke Path in Dalkeith.

In comments echoing those of Mitchell's defence at his trial, Ms Chapman, who lives with her parents near Edinburgh, said in a letter to a friend: "I could go on all day telling of four or five different people who could have murdered Jodi and the funny thing is, all of them would have more evidence to prove it was them than Luke did."

She said it was very painful being separated from the convicted killer, who was found guilty of slashing Jodi's throat about 20 times before mutilating her body.

The judge called the killing "one of the worst cases of murder of a single victim to have come before the court in many years".

Ms Chapman said: "It's so painful being away from the man I love and I feel angry because I don't know the truth and I'm still standing by him."

But she admitted she was frightened her loyalty could be misplaced.

She said: "I'm confused and very scared of making the wrong choices.

"I don't want him to be guilty and wasting my time with him."

Mitchell, 16, was jailed for a minimum of 20 years and is currently being held at Polmont Young Offenders' Institution, near Falkirk, until he turns 18, when he will be moved to Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow.