Jodi trial shown 'Satanic' jotter

Jodi Jones was found dead in woods near her home last June

The jury in the Jodi Jones murder trial has been shown her boyfriend's school jotter, which was covered in Satanic slogans.

Luke Mitchell, who is now 16, and denies killing the Midlothian teenager, handed in an essay with references to the Devil, a court heard.

His former teacher told the High Court in Edinburgh she was concerned about an essay entitled Pain and Suffering.

It questioned God's existence and said the world needed Satanic people.

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

Geraldine Mackie, 41, taught Mr Mitchell in his third year at St David's Roman Catholic High School in Dalkeith.

She expressed concern about his English essay which said: "People like you need Satanic people like me to keep the balance."

Mrs Mackie showed the court Mr Mitchell's English jotter which had the numbers 666 and references to the devil on the front cover.

This is an assortment of rubbish on a kid's jotter, isn't it? Donald Findlay Defence counsel

The word Satan was written across the back of the jotter with the phrase: "I have tasted the devil's green blood."

She told prosecuting advocate Alan Turnbull QC that she referred the teenager to a guidance teacher after he wrote the essay, the first time she had taken the step with a pupil in 15 years as a teacher.

In another essay, Mr Mitchell wrote: "So what if I am a Goth in a Catholic school? So what if I dress in baggy clothes?

"Just because I am more violent than others and cut myself, does that justify some pompous git of a teacher to refer me to a psychiatrist?

"Just because I have chosen to follow the teachings of Satan doesn't mean I need psychiatric help."

Defence advocate, Donald Findlay, QC, suggested that Mr Mitchell was just another rebellious pupil.

Mrs Mackie said: "Well, from my point of view I was quite concerned about him and the nature of his rebellion."

A passage in an essay read: "How can anyone be good because without evil there can be no good, so it must be good to be evil."

Four-letter insults

Mr Findlay said: "It seems to be pretty thoughtful for his tender years."

The QC showed the court words scrawled on the back of Mr Mitchell's school jotters which included four-letter insults levelled at the Queen and the world and another profane demand that people "stay out of my mind".

Mr Findlay asked: "This is an assortment of rubbish on a kid's jotter, isn't it?"

Mrs Mackie replied: "Yes."

The court also heard extracts from Jodi Jones' diary where she'd written she thought she was in love with Luke Mitchell.

Michelle Tierney, 17, a former classmate of Mr Mitchell's, told the court he said he had imagined himself getting "stoned" and killing someone.

She said Mr Mitchell said it would be funny, before he stubbed a cigarette out on his hand.

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

The trial before Lord Nimmo Smith continues.