February 2008 Jodi's mother, Judith Jones visits Corinne Mitchell's workplace in the middle of the day and physically attacks her. The attack is sustained to the point where the police are called and eventually remove Judith Jones from the premises. Until the Police confirm it, Judith denies the attack. No action is taken against her.

In the Devil's Own documentary, Scott Forbes claims that Mark Kane wrote an essay about killing a girl in the woods. At appeal John Beckett claims no such essay existed. Beckett claims that Scott Forbes fabricated the story for financial gain, a claim widely reported in the Scottish tabloid press. However it is revealed some years later that the essay entitled 'No Remorse' by Mark Kane was taken by police from Newbattle Abbey College. It is not known why Beckett denied the existence of the essay. Scott Forbes has yet to receive an apology. John Beckett is now Lord Justice Clerk. https://johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/2023/09/13/luke-mitchell-case-an-foi-response-from-the-scottish-criminal-case-review-commission-sccrc/

A condom filled with the fresh semen of James Falconer was found at the crime scene. The Crown discovered the match when Falconer's DNA was entered into the database during a separate enquiry. Falconer even provided an explanation, that he visited the scene for privacy. John Beckett QC told the hearing that Falconer was "no match whatsoever". We do not know why Beckett refuted the Crown's evidence nor on what basis.

At the first appeal, Beckett argued against documents being released to the defence. He called their request a 'fishing expedition' . "We are hampered because we don't have access to this information," Mitchell's junior counsel, Jane Farquharson, told the court. Beckett urges judges to throw out the defence petition for the documents, saying "I'm left to guess as to why it's thought this information might be helpful."

Named in the documentary, Mark Kane is dismissed as a potential suspect at appeal. However, the failure of the police to eliminate means he is openly named as a strong suspect. This is distressing and traumatic for Kane, who passes away in 2018. The risks that eyewitnesses could have confused Kane for Mitchell are dismissed though judges confirm the similarity in colouring and build between the two. Kane was known to wear a parka coat and was out in Dalkeith on the night of the murder. There is no evidence to suggest Kane was involved in Jodi's murder. He was a vulnerable young man who would have been spared a lot of trauma had the police acted appropriately and eliminated him from the enquiry in the early stages.

"The case against the appellant was wholly circumstantial. There was no direct evidence that he was responsible for the murder of Jodi Jones." ref The appeal judges point to a missing knife. They state that the Luke's knife and knife pouch were "not relevant". Though Mitchell carried knives prior to the murder, his fishing knife and multitool were taken by police. A skunting knife bought after the murder was handed in by Mitchells solicitor after the police seized its empty pouch in a raid. It is not known how the judges came to believe the knife was missing. Issues around media attention, pre-trial publicity and local hysteria prejudicing the trial remain. That such risks may have been compounded by a trial heard locally, the appeal verdict was that this decision was left to the discretion of the trial judge. Issues around witness identification remain. That the Mitchell's dog Mia, was a training tracker dog, was not explored. The Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Gill said, "There is no doubt that the appellant is an unsympathetic individual. There is also no doubt as to the strength of public outrage in Dalkeith and beyond. Since the appellant will not even be considered for parole until he is almost 36, the chances of his being rehabilitated and making something of his life will be gravely prejudiced. The prospects of his becoming institutionalised beyond hope of recall will be significant."

February 2008 Jodi's mother, Judith Jones visits Corinne Mitchell's workplace in the middle of the day and physically attacks her. The attack is sustained to the point where the police are called and eventually remove Judith Jones from the premises. Until the Police confirm it, Judith denies the attack. No action is taken against her.

In the Devil's Own documentary, Scott Forbes claims that Mark Kane wrote an essay about killing a girl in the woods. At appeal John Beckett claims no such essay existed. Beckett claims that Scott Forbes fabricated the story for financial gain, a claim widely reported in the Scottish tabloid press. However it is revealed some years later that the essay entitled 'No Remorse' by Mark Kane was taken by police from Newbattle Abbey College. It is not known why Beckett denied the existence of the essay. Scott Forbes has yet to receive an apology. John Beckett is now Lord Justice Clerk. https://johnsmytheinvestigations.wordpress.com/2023/09/13/luke-mitchell-case-an-foi-response-from-the-scottish-criminal-case-review-commission-sccrc/

A condom filled with the fresh semen of James Falconer was found at the crime scene. The Crown discovered the match when Falconer's DNA was entered into the database during a separate enquiry. Falconer even provided an explanation, that he visited the scene for privacy. John Beckett QC told the hearing that Falconer was "no match whatsoever". We do not know why Beckett refuted the Crown's evidence nor on what basis.

At the first appeal, Beckett argued against documents being released to the defence. He called their request a 'fishing expedition' . "We are hampered because we don't have access to this information," Mitchell's junior counsel, Jane Farquharson, told the court. Beckett urges judges to throw out the defence petition for the documents, saying "I'm left to guess as to why it's thought this information might be helpful."

Named in the documentary, Mark Kane is dismissed as a potential suspect at appeal. However, the failure of the police to eliminate means he is openly named as a strong suspect. This is distressing and traumatic for Kane, who passes away in 2018. The risks that eyewitnesses could have confused Kane for Mitchell are dismissed though judges confirm the similarity in colouring and build between the two. Kane was known to wear a parka coat and was out in Dalkeith on the night of the murder. There is no evidence to suggest Kane was involved in Jodi's murder. He was a vulnerable young man who would have been spared a lot of trauma had the police acted appropriately and eliminated him from the enquiry in the early stages.

"The case against the appellant was wholly circumstantial. There was no direct evidence that he was responsible for the murder of Jodi Jones." ref The appeal judges point to a missing knife. They state that the Luke's knife and knife pouch were "not relevant". Though Mitchell carried knives prior to the murder, his fishing knife and multitool were taken by police. A skunting knife bought after the murder was handed in by Mitchells solicitor after the police seized its empty pouch in a raid. It is not known how the judges came to believe the knife was missing. Issues around media attention, pre-trial publicity and local hysteria prejudicing the trial remain. That such risks may have been compounded by a trial heard locally, the appeal verdict was that this decision was left to the discretion of the trial judge. Issues around witness identification remain. That the Mitchell's dog Mia, was a training tracker dog, was not explored. The Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Gill said, "There is no doubt that the appellant is an unsympathetic individual. There is also no doubt as to the strength of public outrage in Dalkeith and beyond. Since the appellant will not even be considered for parole until he is almost 36, the chances of his being rehabilitated and making something of his life will be gravely prejudiced. The prospects of his becoming institutionalised beyond hope of recall will be significant."