except that is exactly what the supposed case for Mitchell's innocence repeatedly asks of us
No it doesn’t.
From what I have read, from different sources, I believe that the case against Luke was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt....and that is the legal standard. As the verdict was a majority one it would appear a number of the jury, who had heard all the evidence, believed so too.
There are those who will form an opinion without ever really digging any further than the primary source. We have, of course, seen that on both sides of this case but no matter what side you’re on and whether or not you find Sandra Lean credible there are serious questions about the police’s handling of the case that still haven’t been adequately answered.
A fourteen old child was questioned for 6 hours without any legal representation whatsoever. Of course the media tried their best to make Luke ‘ not like other children’ so not deserving of the same, considered treatment as other children. If it was your child what would your reaction have been? As far as the police would have been aware in those first hours this child had just seen his girlfriend brutally murdered. At the very least his mental state should have been assessed to gauge whether Luke needed extra support. Would you like any child of yours to be treated like that?