Shane Mitchell: what evidence did Luke Mitchell’s brother give - and why was it crucial to Jodi Jones murder trial?

Mitchell’s mum Corinne defended his alibi that he was at home when Jodi died, but it was not held up in court

Luke Mitchell was convicted of killing Jodi in 2005 (Getty Images)

A new Channel 5 documentary has re-examined the brutal murder of teenager Jodi Jones in Dalkeith in 2003.

Luke Mitchell was convicted of killing his then-girlfriend, 14, in 2005 following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Yet in two-part series Murder in a Small Town, which aired on 24 and 25 February, Mitchell, now 32, insists he is innocent.

Mitchell’s alibi was that he was at home cooking dinner when Jodi died, but his brother Shane gave crucial evidence during the trial which cast doubt on this.

So, who is Mitchell’s brother Shane - and what was his evidence?

Here is everything you need to know.

What was Shane Mitchell’s evidence?

Mitchell lived in Newbattle, near Easthouses where his girlfriend Jodi lived, with his mother Corinne and his older brother, Shane.

During his 42-day trial, the jury heard evidence from both Corinne and Shane.

Shane’s evidence ended up being crucial during the trial.

Mitchell had claimed he was cooking dinner at home at the time of Jodi’s murder, and Corinne backed his alibi.

In a statement given to police on 7 July 2003, Shane also said he had recalled seeing his brother in the kitchen "mashing tatties".

But the jury heard that when Shane was questioned by police on 14 April 2004, he said he had been looking at internet pronography on his computer in his bedroom on the evening of the murder.

He said this was not something he would have done if he thought anyone else was in the house at the time.

While not unequivocal, that evidence suggested that Mitchell was not at home at the times given in the alibi and contradicted Mitchell’s position in police interviews.

During the trial, Shane admitted discussing his police statement with Corinne before telling the police that Mitchell was in the family home on the day of Jodi’s death.

He said he was extremely shaken up and could not remember anything about the day Jodi was killed as his memory had been affected due to a drugs problem a few years ago.

Shane was asked by prosecuting advocate depute Alan Turnbull QC if the discussion with his mother had affected what he had told the police.

He admitted that it had, and that the statement was not accurate.

He was then asked by defence QC Donald Findlay if there was any point in the evening where he could say he knew for a fact that Luke was not in the house.

Shane responded: "I can't say that."

Who is Corinne Mitchell?

In the Channel 5 documentary, Mitchell’s mother, Corinne, is adamant that she will fight to prove that her son was innocent.

She describes him as a "good lad, who had never been in any trouble with the police before.”

Corinne also defends her son’s alibi that he was at home cooking dinner at the time Jodi was murdered.

However, as the alibi was not held up in court she was arrested for perjury before the charges were dropped.

Speaking to the camera crew, she said: “I'm not just saying he didn't do it because I'm his mother, I'm saying that because he was with me, he was in the house."

After Mitchell became a suspect, Corinne’s caravan business and home were targeted by vandals.

Murder in a Small Town shows her living in her old office out building, with no heating or running water.

Corinne said her health had suffered due to the living conditions, including two strokes and multiple heart problems.

Since the programme was aired, gofundme pages have been set up for Mitchell’s mother.

One aims to raise £5,000 for Corinne and has already received over £1,000 in donations.

It reads: "Corinne Mitchell's life was ruined by a justice system gone wrong. Although she has now been housed, this fundraiser is aimed at helping get Corinne back on her feet."

What was Luke Mitchell’s sentence?

Mitchell was sentenced to at least 20 years in prison when he was 16 years old.

At the trial, he was found guilty of attacking Jodi by hitting her on the head and body and compressing her neck, restricting her breathing.

He was also found guilty of stabbing the teenager with a knife before and after she died, inflicting wounds to her face, ear, mouth, breast and abdomen.

The jury in the trial heard Mitchell was a fan of controversial American rocker Marilyn Manson, who painted pictures depicting the gruesome “Black Dahlia” 1940s murder of Holywood actress Elizabeth Short.

Detectives believed Short’s murder was the inspiration for Jodi’s killing.

Prosecutors also told the jury how Mitchell was obsessed with Satanism.

The jury took just over five hours to reach their decision, and in January 2005 Mitchell was convicted.

Mitchell has had four previous attempts to overturn his conviction.

Two were rejected on appeal and a bid to have his case referred to the UK Supreme Court was turned down at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Another appeal was refused by miscarriage of justice investigators at the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission.