The family of murdered Midlothian schoolgirl Jodi Jones have branded those demanding her killer’s release “shameful” over a sticker campaign bearing her image.
An image of the tragic 14-year-old with the words ‘the truth must be known’ is among several stickers to be affixed to lamp posts around Dalkeith in recent days, leaving loved ones distraught.
Supporters of boyfriend Luke Mitchell, who was jailed for her murder in 2005 after the teenager’s body was uncovered in woodland, have launched a series of unsuccessful appeals against his conviction.
A criminologist backing their efforts claims he now has lawyers willing to take on the case, but Jodi’s family have been rendered traumatised by their latest stunt, blasting the tactic as “disgusting”.
They told the Daily Record : “Using Jodi’s image to say the man convicted of murdering her is innocent is just beyond sick. Our family has had enough of this.
“They are a despicable bunch of people who can’t seem to realise due process was done after a long and protracted police investigation.
“We are satisfied the right man is in prison for Jodi’s murder. It’s shameful they are using her picture to further their cause.
“As a family we are disgusted at this latest tactic. We have put up with the lies and rumours they are posting daily, the tourist ghouls coming to take photos where Jodi died and the constant vandalism in Dalkeith and beyond, but now they’re using a photo of an innocent child to plead the case for her killer. We are devastated.”
Mitchell was 15 when he murdered Jodi and was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years behind bars aged 16.
Attempts to appeal the decision were rejected and his earliest chance of release is 2025, but a documentary which aired earlier this year sparked fury among Jones' family after criminology expert Dr Sandra Lean backed Mitchell's claims of innocence.
Dr Lean claimed she has found him new legal representation – but would not reveal their identity.
During a live Facebook video on Sunday, Dr Lean said: “I can’t say who, it’s in the very early stages at the minute, but that was a big obstacle we had to get over. To get someone willing to take the case on and take it forward and now we have it.”
She continued: “The boxes of evidence will now go to Luke’s legal team.”
