Family of murdered teen Jodi Jones react with fury as killer Luke Mitchell set to apply for parole

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The family of murdered teenager Jodi Jones have reacted with fury after news her killer is set to apply for parole.Luke Mitchell is eligible to bid for freedom in April this year after serving almost 20 years in prison for the brutal killing of his then 14-year-old girlfriend.

Her family have said: “Until he admits his guilt and shows some remorse for her death, he should never be set free.” Mitchell was convicted of murdering his 14-year-old girlfriend Jodi Jones in Dalkeith in June 2003.

The teenager had been stripped, tied up and stabbed to death. Her throat was also slit during the horrific murder and her mutilated body was found dumped in woods near to her home.Killer Mitchell has continued to protest his innocence and his campaign gained momentum in 2021 after Channel 5 broadcast a documentary called Murder in a Small Town which appeared to contradict the official investigation by police.Sources close to Mitchell said the killer, who was moved from Greenock to Shotts in 2021, said he is set to apply in April for parole and are confident he will be released.The source said: "He was being prepared for release until he failed a couple of drug tests and was being treated badly by the prison service but now we think he stands a good chance of parole.

April is the earliest he can apply and he will be making that application. It will be 20 years since he was first arrested. It's time he was let out."But Jodi's family hit back at the suggestion he was "ready" for re-integration back into society.A relative, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals by campaigners, said: "He is nowhere near ready.