Cousin 'was not following Jodi'

John Ferris has denied involvement in Jodi's death

The jury in the Jodi Jones murder trial has been told by her cousin that he was not a "mystery man" seen following her on the day she died.

John Ferris told the High Court in Edinburgh the man described in several newspapers did not resemble him.

Mr Ferris has denied being involved in Jodi's death and on Wednesday he agreed that at no stage had he been accused of the crime.

Luke Mitchell denies murdering his 14-year-old girlfriend Jodi last June.

The teenager, who was 14 at the time Jodi died, has lodged two special defences, one of alibi and one of incrimination.

Knife evidence

Meanwhile, a witness has told the court that she saw a knife in the possession of Mr Mitchell "more than once".

Ashley Coutts, 15, said she had seen the teenager with the knife at his father's house in Livingston, West Lothian, in 2002.

The witness was shown a brown knife and confirmed to the court that she recognised it.

Asked by prosecuting advocate-depute Alan Turnbull QC whether she had seen it in Mr Mitchell's room at his father's house, she said: "Yes," adding that the knife she remembered seeing was "identical" to the one she was being shown.

The trial continues.