Unheard facts!
When Luke Mitchell was at trial at 15 years old he was subjected to public humiliation by the Scottish Courts when he should have been treated as innocent until proven guilty…This takes me back to the 1900’s when people were publicly stoned to death or hanged in public.
During Luke’s trial a make shift court was erected to accommodate the reconstruction of the V wall. when a court is adjourned, what is supposed to happen is the jury must be led to a separate holding area away from the public the victims family and the accused.
THIS DID NOT HAPPEN
During this time at trial, the court was adjourned and the Jury made its way outside of the makeshift court to a foyer. Here they mingled with the public and the victims family. So much so that multiple members of the public complained to the courts about the Jury standing talking to the Jones’s.
Not only that but Luke Mitchell was handcuffed to two officers and then he was taken outside of the makeshift court to the foyer, to be publicly paraded right through the middle of the crowd. The same crowd that consisted of the Jury, the public and the victims family.
In addition to this, any Jury at trial in Scotland are not permitted to see any accused in handcuffs before conviction, but this Jury did. This was raised with the court and nothing was done about it. The jury must be free to decide upon the guilt or innocence of the defendant without the risk of being influenced against him by sight of restraint which in their minds suggests that he is regarded with good cause as being a dangerous criminal. The Jury at this point should have been dispersed and a new jury put in place. It was clear they had built an association with the victims family. Was this the reason a Jury member gave the family a thumbs up prior to the verdict being given in court?
Why were the Jury not taken to a separate holding area?
Why were the Jury allowed to mingle with family members of Jodi Jones during trial?
Why was a 15 year old boy who should have been classed as innocent until proven guilty paraded in public in front of the Jury and family members before conviction?
Why was the Jury permitted to see the accused and in handcuffs prior to conviction?
Why did a Jury member give the family a thumbs up before the guilty verdict was read out to the court?
Why did the courts allow this to happen, and why did they not act to replace the Jury when members of the public complained about it?
Luke Mitchell was subjected to a witch-hunt by every authority involved including the Scottish courts
@stuzi_pants@Stephenheid@JNHanvey @Tucker5law @WeKnowTheyKnow1 @Raicheruu@michael73798531@AlexSalmond@citizentommy@AConstance23@CTodd_ALBAParty@AlbaGlasgowSW@DavidDavisMP@ScotTories@scottishLabour@TheSNP@scottishgreens@niallfraser8@AnasSarwar@labourpress@scotlibdems@RussellFindlay1@JamesEnglish0@conventionLaird@BBCScotlandNews@STVNews@Channel5Press@Channel4News@itvnews@copfs@PoliceScotland@ParoleBoardScot@MaxJLHardy@midgov@midCSJP@scottishprisons@edinburghpaper@ScottishSun@ScotParl@JohnSwinney @_KateForbes @AshReganALBA @AamerAnwar@OwenThompson@RossLaird55@ShabanaMahmood@Keir_Starmer @we_are_APPEAL @edwardhenry1@emilydugan
What is the difference between Andy Malkinson case and Luke Mitchells? none both have DNA evidence that points to other people being responsible for the crimes Andy is out now what about Luke Mitchell he should be out with his name cleared too justice will Prevail.
The Wrongful Conviction of Luke Mitchell: A Clear Case of Injustice
On June 30, 2003, 14-year-old Jodi Jones was brutally murdered in Dalkeith, Scotland. Her boyfriend, Luke Mitchell, also 14 at the time, was wrongfully convicted of her murder in one of the most egregious miscarriages of justice in recent history. Despite a lack of direct evidence and numerous investigative flaws, Luke remains imprisoned. This post aims to shed light on the critical facts that demonstrate his innocence.
The Tragic Night
Jodi left her house around 5 PM after exchanging text messages with Luke. Later that night, Luke, along with Jodi's family members, discovered her mutilated body in a wooded area. Luke's dog, Mia, led them to the tragic scene. Luke was immediately taken to the police station, but Jodi's family members who were also in the search party, were not considered important witnesses until hours later, leading to a compromised investigation from the outset.
Shocking Police Incompetence
The handling of the crime scene was marred by mishandling and errors. Forensics arrived the next morning, and by then, crucial evidence was lost. Jodi's body was left uncovered, exposed to the elements and possible contamination. Astonishingly, bin collections, council hedge cutting, and school activities continued as normal, in the areas surrounding the crime scene, further jeopardizing evidence.
Despite the sloppy investigation, several key pieces of evidence emerged:
• DNA Samples: A full DNA sample on Jodi's clothing matched another member of the search party—Janine's boyfriend. Multiple other DNA samples, including semen and saliva, were found but never matched to anyone.
• No DNA Link: Importantly, no DNA evidence linked Luke Mitchell to the crime scene.
The Media's Role in the Moral Panic
For ten months, the media demonized Luke, portraying him as a dark figure obsessed with Marilyn Manson and the occult. This irresponsible journalism created a moral panic, influencing public perception and poisoning the jury pool. Luke's lifestyle, interests, and appearance were scrutinized more than the actual evidence.
The Flawed Trial and Unjust Conviction
Despite the lack of direct evidence, Luke was arrested in April 2004 and convicted in January 2005 after Scotland's longest single-accused trial. The prosecution relied heavily on circumstantial evidence, much of which has been debunked:
• Inconsistent Witness Statements: Initial statements from the search party aligned with Luke's account but changed over time, indicating potential coaching or coercion.
• Baseless Claims: Allegations about Luke's interest in Marilyn Manson and the occult were later discarded by the Crown during appeals, highlighting the flimsy nature of the prosecution's case.
An Innocent Life Stolen
The conviction of Luke Mitchell is not just a miscarriage of justice; it is a stark reminder of how societal biases and media influence can destroy an innocent life. The mishandling of evidence, the relentless focus on Luke's lifestyle, and the complete lack of forensic links to him demonstrate his innocence beyond any doubt.
As we continue to explore this case, it is imperative to acknowledge that Luke Mitchell is a victim of a deeply flawed system. Justice has not been served, and it is our duty to rectify this wrong.
@stuzi_pants@Stephenheid@JNHanvey @Tucker5law @WeKnowTheyKnow1 @Raicheruu@michael73798531@AlexSalmond@citizentommy@AConstance23@CTodd_ALBAParty@AlbaGlasgowSW@Dhruva4Alba @Nick4GlasNorth @ScotTories@scottishLabour@TheSNP@scottishgreens@niallfraser8@AnasSarwar@labourpress@scotlibdems@RussellFindlay1@JamesEnglish0@conventionLaird@BBCScotlandNews@STVNews@Channel5Press@Channel4News@itvnews@copfs@PoliceScotland@ParoleBoardScot@midgov@midCSJP@scottishprisons@edinburghpaper@ScottishSun@ScotParl @_KateForbes @AshReganALBA @AamerAnwar@kirstyjmcneill@OwenThompson@RossLaird55@TRobinsonNewEra@ShabanaMahmood@Keir_Starmer
"I'm appalled at some original investigations that weren't the search for the truth."
Our Head of Casework, Nora, explains why she's running over 200km for Inside Justice later this month 🏃
You can sponsor her here: https://t.co/QRNizcJrxl
🚨 Update on Luke Mitchell's Case 🚨
In 2003, Luke Mitchell was jailed for the murder of his girlfriend, Jodi Jones. For the past 20 years, Luke has maintained his innocence. The 2021 documentary, Murder in a Small Town, shed light on Luke's case, sparking significant public interest.
🔍 Key Developments:
•Following the documentary's release, at the peak of public interest, Police Scotland discussed destroying the evidence and productions held in storage.
•By the time Luke's legal team was informed, over 90% of the evidence had been destroyed. Thankfully, the remaining 10% includes crucial forensic samples, such as semen and saliva, which have never been tested. Luke's defense was unaware of these samples until recently.
•Communication is ongoing between Luke's legal team and SPA/COPFS to have these samples released for testing.
🏢 Recent Challenges:
•After the documentary's release, Luke was moved to HMP Greenock in preparation for his upcoming parole hearing.
•Despite Luke being 15 at the time of his arrest with no prior police involvement, Police Scotland launched an in-depth investigation into alleged prior offending.
•This investigation stalled Luke's progress at HMP Greenock, leaving him in limbo for over a year. The result of the investigation was a psychiatrists report that when used at Luke's parole hearing was given no weight and was to be disregarded.
🎥 New Documentary Release:
•After over a year of this treatment, The Sound of Silence was released, where Luke Mitchell tells all about his treatment at HMP Greenock. He was subsequently moved back to HMP Shotts.
⏳ Current Status:
•For Luke to progress through the prison system, an RMT (Risk Management Team) meeting must be held. Despite being back at HMP Shotts for almost a year, no RMT meeting has taken place.
❓ Critical Question:How can the police conduct an in-depth investigation while simultaneously destroying crucial evidence held in storage?
⚖️ Concerns About the Conviction:
•Luke Mitchell was convicted primarily on circumstantial evidence, despite the existence of DNA evidence that pointed away from him.
•He was forensically examined by a police surgeon just hours after Jodi Jones was found. Although he was dirty and unwashed, there was no forensic evidence linking him to the crime scene.
•This lack of forensic evidence, combined with the destruction of the majority of the case evidence and the existence of untested samples, raises significant concerns about the safety and validity of his conviction.
@stuzi_pants@Stephenheid@JNHanvey @Tucker5law @WeKnowTheyKnow1 @Raicheruu@michael73798531@AlexSalmond@citizentommy@AConstance23@CTodd_ALBAParty@AlbaGlasgowSW@Dhruva4Alba @Nick4GlasNorth @ScotTories@scottishLabour@TheSNP@scottishgreens@niallfraser8@AnasSarwar@labourpress@scotlibdems@RussellFindlay1@Joannaccherry@JamesEnglish0@conventionLaird@BBCScotlandNews@STVNews@Channel5Press@Channel4News@itvnews@copfs@PoliceScotland@ParoleBoardScot@midgov@midCSJP@scottishprisons@MailOnline@DailyMirror@edinburghpaper@ScottishSun@ScotParl@JohnSwinney @_KateForbes @AshReganALBA @AamerAnwar@kirstyjmcneill@OwenThompson@RossLaird55
'The Wrong Man: 17 Years Behind Bars' will air on BBC2 tonight at 9pm and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.
This documentary follows Andy Malkinson's 20 year journey to prove his innocence after being sentenced to life in prison.
https://t.co/7f1zaOyjo2
#truecrime
'The Wrong Man: 17 Years Behind Bars'. A documentary about our client Andy will air on 6th June, BBC2 at 9pm. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer #NotTheOnlyOne
https://t.co/whzP8CfYEK
@BBCTwo@BBCiPlayer
2003
Craig Dobbie Ws Lookin Into Whether Jodi's Murder Ws 'Sexually Motivated'
He Decided It Wasn't. A 14yo Child,Stripped,Tied Up,Semen From Two Men On & Nearby The Body. What Went So Wrong. Why Did He Refuse When CrimeWatch Offered 2 Feature The Murder https://t.co/fyK8z0mDJ5