Didn't Luke Mitchell change his appearance somewhat drastically after the murder? What he looked like in the media and in court was surely different to what he looked like on the evening of the murder or is there more to it?
Absolutely. He had changed considerably between June '03 & his court appearances between November '04 & January '05, owed to puberty and his still developing physically. Also, he had much longer hair during court appearances, and I've no doubt him growing his hair and wearing it in a ponytail was done deliberately with a view to trying to confuse eyewitnesses -- much like him changing into the shiny green bomber jacket between 1745 - 1800 from the dull long olive green parka jacket he was spotted wearing between 1655 and 1740. This is why MO & DH were adamant it wasn't LM at court; he had changed so much between their sighting in June '03 and his court appearances in '04 & '05. Even AB said she wasn't sure if it was LM in the dock, after saying to police on August '03 that "she was as sure as she could be that it was him she seen with Jodi at 1655 at Easthouses on 30.06.03. Likewise, F & W were a tad confused by LM's physical appearance in court, after saying to police on August '03 that it was unequivocally LM they had seen on NB Rd at 1740 on 30.06.03 (ie, "OH my God, it's him!"). The good thing is that there were 3 boys in pushbikes who knew LM personally and they positively ID'd him on the NB Rd at just after 1800 on 30.06.03. Crucially, these 3 boys id'd LM in court and, even more crucially, they noted the green bomber jacket and black baggy jeans that LM was wearing at 1805 on 30.06.03 -- the same clothing MO, DH & CH noticed this same youth was wearing. So, the youth MO & DH saw was actually Luke Mitchell. It was him on Nbattle rd between 1805-1815, wearing a change of clothing (changing from the dull olive green parka jacket at 1755/1800 into a shiny green bomber jacket). LM was very devious & crafty, but providence worked against him in this case.
