So the killer, if Luke, had as little as 5 minutes to get home, tell his mum and brother that he’d killed Jodi, clean up and get back on the Newbattle Road for 5.55pm. Even at the longest estimate of 15 minutes it would be incredible but 5 MINUTES. Even you can’t believe that, can you?
Let us do just that, we do not erase the fact of the type of murder and mutilation. This is the mindset we are dealing with here. Not some little boy who made a gross mistake in a fit of rage, full of remorse and unable to think, was he now?
This fantasizing of the best way to kill someone comes with an element of pre-meditation. You want to apply the minimum time of just FIVE minutes. Which tells us, if this were the time it took, then Mitchell without doubt had clothing stashed in his playground. That woodland by his estate, by that river.
Then we apply distance and time. We know from house to that path, the long way, is a 7min walk at an even pace. We are talking a much shorter distance here. From that wooden gate to that stash, then back on to Newbattle road, seen attempting to exit that woodland by that couple in their car, before making his way DOWN to the estate entrance.
Then we apply clothing. Where we know just how much of Mitchell could/would be covered by what he was wearing, which left virtually nothing of himself exposed to any elements. Part of his face and at a push some strands of hair. And we never discount having gloves on. So, he needed a basic wash of surface contamination to the very little of himself exposed. Into other clothing and back on to that road. Your minimum 5 mins is ample time here.
For riding on this all is that alibi, the only person this girl was to be in the company of. That initial call then needing to place himself in that 'intentional' window of opportunity to be seen. The more you try to state the impossible, the more you simply highlight that level of premeditation to this.
We revert back to AB here, a girl, who was obviously not keen on going with the boy where he wanted to go. Beckoning on her to come to him, to go with him down there, as opposed to the "up here" she believed was happening. Leading her down into that area off the beaten track and instantly attacking her - Mitchell knew exactly what he was going to do. That fantasizing into reality. Didn't he now?
This clothing and the very little of himself being exposed, which also answers perfectly why his poor victim picked nothing of him up. There was nothing of him to pick up, was there now? Have another look at those types of hoods, some have drawstrings whilst others have buttons. Given that monk type effect, the face some distance in from the front. That is the reality of what need be exposed.
We apply the murder here, without a doubt having as much covered as possible, not just for contamination but should someone, on that slight off chance, wander into that area off the beaten track. Keeping his identity covered.
Which answers more, If that hood took the brunt of any contamination, then having it down when hearing that car. Having his head down - His hair, almost all of it, having nothing upon it. We have covered the material and colour, red against khaki green,
So there is that minimum 5 mins covered - From a killer who was fully covered bar that little exposure of his face. Which in turn tells us why his ankles were manky, his neck, his hair, none of which needed scrubbed, no killer that needed to be under any long, hot shower, at all. Leaving those nails which was the easiest part of all. Those missing time frames, any further cleaning after that "intentional" window of opportunity. Those hours before he was in police custody.
And not forgetting Mitchell striving to have himself over that wall - He had no idea the extent of anything that would happen, but certainly, should anything have been found upon him he would have put it down to this - Wouldn't he have?