[TruthBeSaid]

Luke Mitchell was born in July 1988 and was living in Newbattle Road, Dalkeith, when he began going out with schoolgirl Jodi Jones.

Jodi, 14, from Easthouses, Dalkeith, was a pupil at St David's Roman Catholic High School along with Luke.

She had been taking a shortcut along a woodland path to Luke's house on 30 June, 2003 when she was brutally attacked and mutilated by the killer.

Mitchell and Jodi had begun going out in about March 2003.

They saw each other a couple of times a week at first, but before long they were spending time together most nights.

On the evening of 30 June, Jodi had left her family home at about 1700 BST but the alarm was raised later when she failed to get to Mitchell's house or return home.

Her body was found on the wooded path known as Roan's Dyke at about 2230 BST by Mitchell and members of Jodi's family.

The picture of Mitchell and Jodi which emerged at the trial was one of rebellious teenagers experimenting with drugs, sex and alternative music.

But Mitchell's fascination with the darker side of music and youth culture was also revealed.

The prosecution highlighted his knife-carrying, cannabis smoking and claimed he had told another teenager that he knew the way "to slit someone's throat".

On the day of the memorial service for Jodi at Gorebridge Parish Church on 3 September, 2003, Mitchell told Sky News he had not killed his girlfriend.

He said: "In all the time we were going out, we never had one argument at all. Never fell out or anything."

Mitchell was arrested the following April and in November 2004 his trial began at the High Court in Edinburgh.

He was charged with repeatedly hitting Jodi, compressing her neck, tying her arms and repeatedly stabbing her before and after she died.

Parallels were drawn in court between Jodi's injuries and death and paintings by Goth rocker Marilyn Manson, one of Mitchell's favourite acts.

The water-colours are based on the death of would-be Hollywood actress Elizabeth Short in 1947.

The pictures of what became known as the Black Dahlia murder showed the woman with massive injuries to her face, breast and torso.

Mitchell's defence dismissed the connection between the two deaths but further evidence of his interest in Manson was brought before the trial.

The court heard how Mitchell liked horror films and occasionally read porn magazines and that he had bought the Marilyn Manson DVD The Golden Age of Grotesque two days after Jodi's death.

It included scenes showing two girls tied together near a track and struggling as hoods were placed over their heads.

His fascination with the darker areas of human behaviour was also reflected in his opinions on religion.

His school jotter was covered in Satanic slogans, with the numbers 666 and references to the Devil.

He also wrote an essay questioning God's existence and saying the world needed Satanic people - "People like you need Satanic people like me to keep the balance."

The word Satan was written across the back of a jotter with the phrase: "I have tasted the Devil's green blood."

In another essay, Mitchell wrote: "So what if I am a Goth in a Catholic school? So what if I dress in baggy clothes?

"Just because I am more violent than others and cut myself, does that justify some pompous git of a teacher to refer me to a psychiatrist?

"Just because I have chosen to follow the teachings of Satan doesn't mean I need psychiatric help."

He also admitted stubbing out cigarettes on his hand as a "party trick" and had scratched the numbers 666 on his upper-right forearm with a compass.

But much of what brought Mitchell and Jodi together was focused around their interest in music and their attraction.

He and Jodi spent a lot of time together and had sex on the Saturday night before she was killed.

Mitchell was accused of going out with another girl at the same time as he was seeing Jodi.

On the day she died, one witness said he saw Jodi and Mitchell smoking cannabis in a hide-away in a wood.

Later, in police investigations of the death scene, the initials LM and JJ were found carved into the bark of a tree and in a search of Mitchell's bedroom a leather knife pouch was discovered with the initials JJ and the dates 1989 to 2003.

Mitchell's cannabis use was said to have escalated after the death and he claimed it doubled to four-and-a-half ounces a week, or about 600 joints.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4187007.stm

[ThisGuy]

hehehe here we go.

[videian28]

600 joints a week!?!?!?!

[chris v]

I'm sure it's the lyrics.

You know, since 99% of all song lyrics are about love, if song lyrics really affected people that strongly, wouldn't we all just be having one big hug-in?

[Face Ache]

So do they have any actual evidence?

[roberto blanco]

this would actually make for a pretty good crime/detective story...

[d4nth3m4n]

i blame alice cooper.

[chris v]

Watch the se guys squirm as they try to blame Frank Zappa:

http://www.muchosucko.com/video-fran...crossfire.html

[GoGoReggieXPowars]

Originally posted by TruthBeSaid:
The prosecution highlighted his knife-carrying, cannabis smoking and claimed he had told another teenager that he knew the way "to slit someone's throat".

Ca$h?

[engaged]

I'm slightly amused (or impressed?) that someone from the US (I assume that's where you're from TruthBeSaid, you don't say where; I stand corrected if not) has posted regarding this murder - I suppose that it may have attracted a bit more media interest and exposure overseas because of the alleged links with Marilyn Manson.

This case has been going on for months and has been one of the biggest ever murder trials in Scotland - we live just outside of Dalkeith, a few miles from where the murder occured. One of my wife's friends (a Police Officer) played Jodi in the Police reconstruction.

All manner of dark things are going to come to light now he's been found guilty.

[DarwinX]

This makes me think of a large debate I had in a college course one time. Does music influence your mood, or does your mood influence the music you listen to?

Personally for me, I don't believe music puts me in any mood as I only listen to certain music depending on the mood I'm in. Any thoughts (besides that this thread is bound to get out of control)?

[AB^2=BCxAC]

Poor parenting, poverty, a sense of futility overwhelming any hope... It's not the music.

From what I understand, these crimes have far less to do with music than somebody being made to feel like an outsider their whole life, and how they desperately cling to anything that they feel gives them some validation for being an outsider or an underdog, and that they will act aggressively when they feel too trapped. Some depressed people just can't fit in, no matter where they are, because the pudish, conservative majority around them make a misunderstood person feel hostile and alone. Aren't drugs, cutting, anorexia, bulimia, over-eating and binge drinking coping habits for people with little sense of self-worth and public respect?

If all the poor, goth, video-game addicted, pot smoking dweebs got together, they'd represent a larger minority than most ethnic groups. But when you're feeling alone, you don't see it that way.

[Sherwin]

Originally posted by AB^2=BCxAC:
Some depressed people just can't fit in, no matter where they are, because the pudish, conservative majority around them make a misunderstood person feel hostile and alone.

"Conservative majority"?
In Scotland?

More like:

Some depressed people just can't fit in, no matter where they are, because the liberal majority around them make a misunderstood person feel hostile and alone.

[chris v]

I thought there wan't a liberal majority?? Can't you people (used ironically, let me assure you) make up your minds?

[demograph68]

When I was younger, I would have made Luke look like a behaved christian. I was quite the goth in highschool... I was suspended for wearing a trench coat to school because of what happened at Columbine. I was suspended again because i supposedly told two girls that I was going to kill them. (Which was obvious ********) I was then expelled because a teacher caught me cutting myself... I was taken to a hospital shortly after. Somehow, I wouldn't mind doing it all over again.

[SubGeniux]

In Scotland we're pretty much of the free thinking lot. None of yer Bush type cult following and simple-minded sheep who believe what we are fed by others.

[ort888]

Couple of points...

You can't smoke 600 joints a week and do anything. That's like chain smoking joints. You would be immobile.

The Goth Metal Culture is not a waste of life. This guy obviously had problems deeper then his lifestyle. There are many goth-metal kids who are perfectly sane and normal people.

Marylin Manson is a hack, and is not considered a real goth metal band. He is a smart dude and is playing to his audience. He's a corporate shill. He's like the Backstreet Boys of the goth world.

[sek929]

The blame is squarley on music....and Doom 2

I used to listen to nothing but Metal (Goth rock maybe, I did like Manson alot) and although a sick twisted individual may be able to use the music as his inspiration its ******** to say that music (or an artist) is to blame for bringing a persons mental condition about.

As a side note I don't think I would be able to sucessfully kill a snail while smoking 600 joints a week.

[AB^2=BCxAC]

Originally posted by SubGeniux:
In Scotland we're pretty much of the free thinking lot. None of yer Bush type cult following and simple-minded sheep who believe what we are fed by others.

Alas, Scotland is a minority.

[TheBadgerHunter]

I'll admit this guy had a mental problem, many goths do. I'm sure the music complemented his mood. However I just don't think there is enough evidence. Aside from the knife pouch its all conjecture.

[m a d r a]

the "the star spangled banner" must be evil too then, coz george bush loves that tune - and look how many people he's murdered!

[Shaddim]

Originally posted by SubGeniux:
In Scotland we're pretty much of the free thinking lot. None of yer Bush type cult following and simple-minded sheep who believe what we are fed by others.

Funny you mention sheep and Scotland together.

[billybob128]

im sorry but there are a few points here:

most goths are not mentally unstable its just who they are. people are differant and there is no way (enless some form of illness is at play) that a person can say others are "mentally unstable" because that is a matter of opinion. such as saying some music is sh*t. nearly all music is very good and high quilaity playing it is just peoples opinion of "sh*t"

and two blaming manson for this is just stupid and a way to try to place blame. the guy from scotland that posted said it best. people have FREE CHOICE to do what they want, im not condoning murder here merly saying that music has little influence on peoples actions. i personally listen to manson a lot and while some of his songs can be emotionally moving they could never compell me, or any of my friends that listen to him, to DO something because that is our chioce.

[Mafia]

blame manson.

[Sherwin]

Originally posted by MacNStein:
Funny you mention sheep and Scotland together.

Funny you should mention sheep.

[billybob128]

yes of course because of that poster lets all follow like good little lemmings and jump off the cliff... or not.

many people always whine that they dont get the freedome that a man(or woman) should get but dont like it when they hear of other people expressing themselves. if you dont like something then dont look/listen etc to it


ps please can we clear up the confusion. the scotts have nothing much to do with sheep its the welsh that do funny things with their sheep

[Mafia]

Originally posted by billybob128:
yes of course because of that poster lets all follow like good little lemmings and jump off the cliff... or not.

many people always whine that they dont get the freedome that a man(or woman) should get but dont like it when they hear of other people expressing themselves. if you dont like something then dont look/listen etc to it


ps please can we clear up the confusion. the scotts have nothing much to do with sheep its the welsh that do funny things with their sheep

[billybob128]

yes but of course. you are what i would call a foolish child.

now if manson has sung go stab your girl friend and as people here seem to make it out people follow what he sings then why are there not more deaths such as this?

erm possibally because people dont do what he says they do it of their own accord.

[Mafia]

Originally posted by billybob128:
yes but of course. you are what i would call a foolish child.

now if manson has sung go stab your girl friend and as people here seem to make it out people follow what he sings then why are there not more deaths such as this?

erm possibally because people dont do what he says they do it of their own accord.

i posted the picture as a joke of examples of people blaming musicians for crime... foolish.. heh maybe you can take sarcasm on a internet message board next time.

[billybob128]

i do apologise it seems that i have the wrong end of the stick

[Mafia]

Originally posted by billybob128:
i do apologise it seems that i have the wrong end of the stick

its kool, i didn't figure anyone would think i was serious, heh.

[demograph68]

I still kind of umm.... listen to Marilyn Manson, BUT only Anti-Christ Superstar. His newer stuff sucks in comparison... it's a guilty pleasure thing... well... I'm going to see my girlfriend tomorrow, let's hope I don't kill her and eat her rotting corpse or whatever... god knows I would!

[Sherwin]

"Who is this Manson character?"

[Macfreak7]

Originally posted by DarwinX:
This makes me think of a large debate I had in a college course one time. Does music influence your mood, or does your mood influence the music you listen to?

Personally for me, I don't believe music puts me in any mood as I only listen to certain music depending on the mood I'm in. Any thoughts (besides that this thread is bound to get out of control)?

I created a thread about exactly that once. I don't think many people realized the difference between the two.

Found it

[demograph68]

Hail Satan!

[ringo]

Let's not blame his upbringing or his parents, let's blame a musician.

I bet he went to Catholic school more often during his life than he smoked pot. Maybe a priest molested him when he was a kid. Maybe that strict religious upbringing made something snap.

The culture of blame is a waste of life.

[Mafia]

Originally posted by demograph68:
I still kind of umm.... listen to Marilyn Manson, BUT only Anti-Christ Superstar. His newer stuff sucks in comparison... it's a guilty pleasure thing... well... I'm going to see my girlfriend tomorrow, let's hope I don't kill her and eat her rotting corpse or whatever... god knows I would!

i have to confess, once in a while i turn on one of his songs.

[TheBadgerHunter]

Originally posted by ringo:
Let's not blame his upbringing or his parents, let's blame a musician.

I bet he went to Catholic school more often during his life than he smoked pot. Maybe a priest molested him when he was a kid. Maybe that strict religious upbringing made something snap.

The culture of blame is a waste of life.

Say what? No one is blaming the music at all. It would phenomenally stupid for the prosecution to state that the music made him do it. Defense, sure. I believe they were trying to show that his "fascination with the darker areas of human behavior" was reflected in his music choices etc.

(forgive me if I've missed what you were talking about)

[chris.p]

For the record, sheep are more associated with Wales than Scotland- however, in this case it seems to be with the media.

[Zimphire]

Originally posted by videian28:
600 joints a week!?!?!?!

Must have been some pretty crappy stuff.

[Zimphire]

Originally posted by ort888:
Marylin Manson is a hack, and is not considered a real goth metal band. He is a smart dude and is playing to his audience. He's a corporate shill. He's like the Backstreet Boys of the goth world.

You got that right.