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| Jodi killer's lawyer in DNA claim | Jodi killer's lawyer in DNA claim |
| (2 days later) | |
| DNA found on the body of 14-year-old Jodi Jones will form part of the appeal by the teenager jailed for her murder, according to his lawyer. | DNA found on the body of 14-year-old Jodi Jones will form part of the appeal by the teenager jailed for her murder, according to his lawyer. |
| Luke Mitchell was ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years for murder in Dalkeith, Midlothian, in 2003. | Luke Mitchell was ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years for murder in Dalkeith, Midlothian, in 2003. |
| His legal team will argue that the forensic material points to the involvement of an unknown third party. | His legal team will argue that the forensic material points to the involvement of an unknown third party. |
| Lothian and Borders Police and the Crown Office said they would not comment ahead of appeal proceedings. | Lothian and Borders Police and the Crown Office said they would not comment ahead of appeal proceedings. |
| Mitchell's lawyers said a tiny sample discovered on the body of Jodi has never been matched to her boyfriend. | Mitchell's lawyers said a tiny sample discovered on the body of Jodi has never been matched to her boyfriend. |
| His solicitor Nigel Beaumont said the DNA evidence, which was heard at the original trial, would form one aspect of the appeal against Mr Mitchell's conviction. | His solicitor Nigel Beaumont said the DNA evidence, which was heard at the original trial, would form one aspect of the appeal against Mr Mitchell's conviction. |
| Investigators have failed to link the traces of DNA to anyone else close to Jodi who could have been in contact with her before she died. | Investigators have failed to link the traces of DNA to anyone else close to Jodi who could have been in contact with her before she died. |
| Preliminary hearing | Preliminary hearing |
| Mitchell was convicted of stripping Jodi, tying her up and stabbing her to death in woods near her home in Dalkeith in June 2003. He was also 14 at the time. | Mitchell was convicted of stripping Jodi, tying her up and stabbing her to death in woods near her home in Dalkeith in June 2003. He was also 14 at the time. |
| Mr Beaumont said: "There are a substantial number of grounds of appeal, inter alia, DNA evidence, which was part of the original trial. | Mr Beaumont said: "There are a substantial number of grounds of appeal, inter alia, DNA evidence, which was part of the original trial. |
| "There are considerable grounds for appeal and we hope all of them will be put before the appeal court." | "There are considerable grounds for appeal and we hope all of them will be put before the appeal court." |
| Judges have been considering a submission made by Mitchell's lawyers at a preliminary hearing to allow them to make 14 grounds of appeal when the full hearing takes place. | Judges have been considering a submission made by Mitchell's lawyers at a preliminary hearing to allow them to make 14 grounds of appeal when the full hearing takes place. |
| The latest stage in his appeal was heard in Edinburgh earlier this month. | The latest stage in his appeal was heard in Edinburgh earlier this month. |
| Jodi Jones was killed in June 2003 | Jodi Jones was killed in June 2003 |
| Mitchell, now 18, was found guilty of murder in January last year. He has always denied he had any involvement in the killing. | Mitchell, now 18, was found guilty of murder in January last year. He has always denied he had any involvement in the killing. |
| In sentencing , Judge Lord Nimmo Smith said the brutal killing may have been inspired by the work of Gothic rock star Marilyn Manson. | In sentencing , Judge Lord Nimmo Smith said the brutal killing may have been inspired by the work of Gothic rock star Marilyn Manson. |
| Mitchell's defence team told the Court of Appeal earlier this month the case received a vast amount of hostile and almost "hysterical" pre-trial press coverage, which all but accused Mitchell of being the killer. | Mitchell's defence team told the Court of Appeal earlier this month the case received a vast amount of hostile and almost "hysterical" pre-trial press coverage, which all but accused Mitchell of being the killer. |
| Donald Findlay QC claimed that, in view of the media interest, the trial should have been moved away from the Edinburgh area. | Donald Findlay QC claimed that, in view of the media interest, the trial should have been moved away from the Edinburgh area. |
| Mr Findlay argued that several grounds of appeal, which had previously been rejected, should be considered by the court. | Mr Findlay argued that several grounds of appeal, which had previously been rejected, should be considered by the court. |