Time to clear up this obtuse line of reasoning of the search party. Why there was no mother, father, brother or police out searching for Jodi Jones. - the simple answer is that of time, of the search trio being led to Jodi by Luke Mitchell and not his dog. I think it's important to highlight here, that power of suggestion/persuasion used by Ms Lean: How easily one can be led away from this very important area of the evidence against LM. By means of distraction on completely irrelevant thoughts. Mainly that of why the search trio were not searching Mayfield when Jodi had told her mother that they (LM and Jodi) would be "mucking around up here" This knowledge is completely irrelevant to the events that took place from 10.49pm onwards, as is that of Jodi's mother banning Jodi from walking this path alone.
It is irrelevant as Jodi had not met with LM by his claims, that these very same claims were that the meet was to be in Newbattle. What is however relevant and extremely so is that of time, there was barely time for this girls mother to gather any thoughts on anything. We know this, as she had barely found out her daughter was missing before discovering that her daughter was dead. She had found out she was missing at 10.42pm, reported her missing at 10.59pm and she was found dead at 11.30pm. That is the stark reality here. Not only was her daughter found dead, but she was found dead in an isolated area of woodland, in the dark, in record breaking time, by no other than LM himself. - the boy she had left home to meet with that day. The only person this girls mother thought her to be with. He had been that first person she contacted, she had given her daughter around 40mins of leniency passed her curfew. She had become somewhat upset at this lateness. She contacted LM, she did not ask if Jodi was with him, she texted 'right toad say goodbye to Luke your grounded again'
Why did the four people meet on this path?, again in record breaking time - the simple answer yet again is LM. This is what I meant by means of prompt by him. LM was on/at Roansdyke path at 10.59pm. (claims) He was definitely on the phone with JuJ at this time.The search party, from the very bottom of Mayfield had left just after 11pm. Far from being some ancient arthritic granny (CM and SL) AW was 66 yrs old and the former village post lady. They were heading in one direction only, that of Easthouse's. Remember here this is just after 11pm around 20-25mins since it is known Jodi was missing and only around 15mins after the call to the police. So we have the search party leaving and LM already being on this path around the same time. There is of course communication and the search trio become aware of LM's presence on this path and they head there instead of JuJ's. The plan of a meet to organise a search is diverted directly to this path, diverted by the very person who is on it, LM
We know this search party met around 11.20pm and we also know that JaJ spoke to LM around 11.18pm when heading out the complex ( next to the High school) Again we know the times of these calls from evidence and Ms Lean. And the search party of 4 meet. No-one got time to go to JuJ's, it simply was not possible for any extensive organisation of a search by others, the police inclusive to have even gotten off the ground.
What is again, highly relevant are reasons as to why AW wanted to search this path properly and again that of time. AW stated 'I was worried Jodi may have fallen and hurt herself' They had not long since left Mayfield and arrived at this path. They knew LM could not and by his own admission have actually searched in any detail. AW wanted it done properly. Also what is extremely relevant here, is If this search party of four, had gotten the chance to meet at JuJ's, the search would still have ended up on Roansdyke Path. We still know the search would have been led there by LM, as he had been claiming that Jodi was going to Newbattle, that she had failed to turn up, that the connecting area she would have walked to do so, would be this path. And If and only then, they had managed to meet at JuJ's, would there have been time for thought and discussion, of the "mucking around up here" and of this ban on the path. It simply did not happen though, there was not time. Again though, the search would still have ended up on this very path.
This constant talk of the search party arriving at the path too quickly - indeed, too quickly for LM who had obviously taken more time than required. He did not get the opportunity to get the dog story straight, did he? as he could not access something of Jodi's to scent with. Perhaps he is kicking himself somewhat here, but interestingly do these claims of the search party arriving too quick stem from him - Has he repeatedly being saying to his mother and SL that they arrived too quick?? By asking if they had anything of Jodi's to scent with? did he hope that the search could be delayed a little until they did? That by this very question it may once again have led the search party to JuJ's to access something of Jodi's - We will never know as AW had the sense to want to search this path thoroughly, to perhaps cancel this path out, whilst they were there and before yet again heading to her daughters house.
But they did meet around 11.20pm and LM did attempt to put his original plan into place, that of the dog. That he did introduce the notion of the woodland at the 'Gino' spot. His dog was doing nothing here. That the search party did not walk passed this V break in the wall-------- will continue this in detail and of Ms Leans fallacy of reasoning, the long route taken to avoid the stark contrast in the search parties statements.
But as above - Those clear precise reasons as to why it was only the four searching, and of why they were on Roansdyke path.
So, there we have it in black and white - That remarkable time frame. What is important I think to take on board before this part, is of what Ms Lean may have at hand, the defence case/papers and so forth. That of this massive collection of case notes, statements and so forth - what we actually get to see as way of proof for the varies points that are discussed, is actually around 5% - We are all aware of data protection, of Scottish law and restrictions this brings. What we are also aware of, is there are no restrictions when it suits, in releasing full sentences and so forth. The search party of 4:
A refresher of that remarkable time frame - Of Jodi being reported missing at 10.49pm and of Jodi being found dead by 11.30pm. Not only was she found dead, but she was found in an isolated area of woodland, hidden to an extent behind a large Oak tree. It was the height of summertime when growth was at it's fullest. It was overcast and it was dark, this along with the shelter of trees and overgrowth would have reduced visibility extensively. What we do know with certainty before we move onto the next part, is that LM had been in this woodland mere seconds before he had shouted out he had found something. To highlight that very important factor yet again. That this search party were not in the woodland. There was no dog running free picking up any scent. The dog was not in the woodland, and the dog was on a lead. What we also know with certainty is that there is absolutely no proof of this dog being trained, nothing was produced in court - very good reason for that IMO, as:
The evidence led was mainly around where the search party were when LM went into the woodland. Remember here yet again, as it is extremely relevant to all that happened and of suspicion upon LM - That time factor, reported missing at 10.49pm and found dead by 11.30pm. That after the call to the police, LM offered to search for Jodi, that he would look on this path on his way to her mothers house. This call was at 10.51pm and LM was on/at Roansdyke path by 10.59pm. We have already made it clear why the search party of 4 met on this path and of why there was no time for an extensive search to have gotten off the ground. And we know the search trio from Mayfield headed to the path as LM was on it. And they did meet - and in approx 10mins of this meet - Jodi is found. She is lying in an isolated part of this woodland as above.: Where was everyone?
Let's think first of all, of those areas verbatim from statements - those chosen selective points which amounts to around 5% of their total? Of a trial, and that even playing field when this is done? And of Ms Leans solo defence case. And of those sentences given when it suits? And of those extraordinary lengths of explanation given to make up some futile points? That of the search party - of the change in statements - and of this dog.
LM claimed that - 'we had walked some distance passed a V break in the wall, not even 20yds when Mia alerted me' 'she was on her hind legs air sniffing, I went back to the V to gain access to the woodland'
The search trio - nothing outwith multiple areas to show that they must have walked passed this V - why the long road? We know they walked passed the V, but they walked passed this V after LM went into the woods. We know they used words such as "backtracked to the V" But they did not use those words until after LM had went into the woodland. And after they had continued down this path. Where are the sentences of - We had walked some distance passed this V when the dog reacted? We know the search party used words such as the "the dogs head was level with the V" "the dog was pulling to the V" We also know the following:
That JaJ gave an account of of LM going over the V and of him turning to his left.
That AW gave an account of LM handing her the lead, of him going over and turning to his left.
That AW stayed at the V, that after LM turned left JaJ and SK continued to walk down this path.
That they had barely walked 10ft or more when LM shouted he had found something.
That they then hasted back to this V, that when they got to this V LM was on the other side.
That SK and AW went over the V - no unfamiliarity, no trepidation, they were shown exactly where Jodi was.
And those God awful screams we here of - of those hysterics, AW is screaming, JaJ is screaming and SK is retching and being sick.
LM phoned the emergency services at 11.34pm.
So the dog is actually irrelevant - as the dog was not where LM claimed the dog and the search party were.
Outwith those clear contrasts in those first statements there is that time factor, as with the dinner tale and all else - There was never the time for the events to have taken place. LM did not walk some 20yrds not even 60ft passed this V then backtracked to it. There was no time. Sk, and JaJ could not have continued down a further 10ft or more, there was no time. They were at the V as they stated in that first initial account. - The only account that was completely off, from the Off was LM's. It was in total contrast to that of the other three people present.
And there, yet again is that clear line of extremely valid suspicion. That this girl was found dead within minutes of the missing person report being filled in. That she was found by LM in the dark, in an isolated spot of this woodland. Every single part of these irrelevant accounts of "mucking around up here" of walking this path alone, of the search party arriving too quick - are diversion and distraction - They had nothing to do with those minutes of when Jodi was found. No one else put LM on Roansdyke Path. And it was LM who put the search party on this path, by the mere fact he was on it, those claims of searching en-route.
And this is why DF did not go down foolish routes of bringing in dog experts - This is why the Jury were taken to the locus, why the replica wall was built in court. So they could see first hand, how impossible this was in the timescale given. And they were taken in the daytime, the growth was not the same, some branches and so forth cut back - but they did see the pictures taken before this had happened.
