The Killing of Jodi Jones: We must all realise that sex and drugs did not murder Jodiby Joan Burnie 2005
JODI JONES, it was said at Luke Mitchell's trial, was a normal, average 14-year-old.
She went to school.She liked the music of Kurt Cobain.She had rows with her mum.But Jodi loved her mum and her mum loved Jodi.
Jodi also had sex with Luke Mitchell - and she smoked cannabis.That,however,doesn't make her any less normal a teenager.
Kids do have sex before the law says they should - just as kids also experiment with illegal substances.
The statistics tell us that by Jodi's age approximately half of all teenagers will be sexually active anda similar number will have tried drugs at least once.
But let no-one suggest that because Jodi did both these things she is somehow less of a victim than say, Holly Wells or Jessica Chapman,who were murdered by Ian Huntley.
No one deserves what happened to Jodi.
Sex,soft drugs - it's the way they live now.
So those least likely to be surprised,far less shocked by Jodi's life style will be her own generation.
They,unlike too many of their mums and dads,know exactly what goes on.Even if they don't do it themselves, they'll know plenty who behaved like Jodi.
Kids grow up terrifyingly quickly these days.But one thing hasn't changed - like all teenagers they think they know it all.
Unfortunately they don't. In many ways,they are just as innocent,or maybe the better word is ignorant, as kids always have been.
Joan's Juniors has given mea slight insight to their lives.So I know they believe they can handle drugs. They don't see it as much of a problem and, indeed, think adults are hypocrites to condemn it when they drink and smoke.
To many, cannabis is less harmful than alcohol or nicotine.
As for sex - that in itself doesn't worry them too much.By10,most of them know the mechanics in theory if not in practice.
It's love which gets them down.They wish for it above all else.Sadly some,especially girls, have got it into their heads that they won't get that love unless they agree to sex first.So should we panic?
Maybe not.Most of those who have passed a spliff around behind the bike shed won't go on to become addicts.That doesn't imply parents need do nothing but cross their fingers and turn a blind eye.Parents have to be parents not pals and that means telling kids what they can or cannot do as well as laying down some rules and limits.
You discuss drugs.You stress the dangers - and point out that drugs are illegal.
Much the same goes for sex.Too many parents won't talk about it, either through misplaced embarrassment or because they think it's best left to the schools.
That isn't nearly enough. Apart from anything else,kids say they would prefer to talk about sex,especially the emotional side of it, with their parents.
At the very least, if you suspect it's happening you don't encourage it.You certainly don't allow an underage girl to share abed with her boyfriend - - any more than you think it's okay for your sons to be sexually experienced but not your daughters.
I'm not naive enough to believe all of the above will prevent either drug taking or young kids having sex.But if they know you don't approve it gives a reason to say,'No'.
Being able to blame your mum and dad is a useful tool.
What you don't much careyou don'tWhat you don't much care what they get up to.
Jodi's mum did care but it still didn't prevent what happened to Jodi when she met death.Nothing could have saved her.
Luke Mitchell's mother on the other hand failed Jodi and failed Luke as well.
Even if Luke had not butchered Jodi, her son was clearly deeply disturbed as well as disturbing. He needed help.
Smoking the occasional joint and having sex may be relatively normal but using large quantities of cannabis and supplying his friends was not. Nor, by any stretch of the imagination, was keeping bottles of urine under his bed,normal.
But then what normal mother would buy her sona knife?
By apparently covering up the murder, Corinne did Luke no favours.
She merely prolonged the inevitable and subjected Jodi's family to even more grief.
Mitchell may have convinced herself that she acted out of mother love but it wasa perversion of that noble emotion.She defiled it. Her refusal to see wrong in her son let directly to Jodi's death.
Corinne too is guilty. As for Jodi,she wasa young girl. Her sole mistake was to fall for Luke Mitchell - and she paid a terrible price.
May she rest in peace - - and may Luke Mitchell rot.
https://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Killing+of+Jodi+Jones%3A+We+must+all+realise+that+sex+and+drugs+did...-a0127488522
