Jodi trial shown injury pictures

Luke Mitchell has denied murdering Jodi

A pathologist has told the jury in the Jodi Jones murder trial that a cut to her throat almost severed a main artery and sliced through the jugular vein.

Professor Anthony Busuttil said that type of injury would almost always prove fatal.

The jury at the High Court in Edinburgh was shown mortuary photographs of the 14-year-old schoolgirl's body.

Luke Mitchell, 16, denies murdering Jodi at a wooded area in Dalkeith on 30 June, 2003.

Prof Busuttil, 59, examined Jodi's body following her death.

Neck injuries

He discussed a report he compiled relating to Jodi's injuries and how they had been inflicted.

Jurors viewed a photograph of Jodi's face, showing massive injuries to her cheek and neck.

Referring to the cheek wound, Prof Busuttil said the injury penetrated the skin to a depth of about half-an-inch.

Alan Turnbull QC, prosecuting, asked the pathologist about the time the injury might have been inflicted. Prof Busuttil said it would have occurred "around the time of death".

Prof Busuttil said that the main artery in Jodi's neck had been cut seven-eighths of the way through.

The jugular vein had also been cut right through and the main nerve has also been nicked Prof Busuttil

The court heard that there were a minimum of 12 superficial and deep cuts to the neck area and that a hole had been cut in the schoolgirl's windpipe.

Prof Busuttil added: "The jugular vein had also been cut right through and the main nerve has also been nicked.

"The slash has gone through all three structures."

Mr Turnbull asked: "Would that sort of damage be fatal?"

The pathologist replied: "That would be fatal almost immediately."

Earlier, the jury viewed paintings by rock singer Marilyn Manson depicting the unsolved murder of a woman in 1947.

They illustrated the killing of actress Elizabeth Short in Hollywood.

The jury heard that Ms Short, who was also known as the Black Dahlia, was cut in half and suffered other wounds to her face, breast and torso.

The body was completely severed and she was found placed in a grotesque pose with her body in two parts, lying in some open ground Donald Findlay QC Referring to the 1947 case

Several of the pictures had the title - Elizabeth Short as Snow White. One, with the title A Smile II, showed the woman as having facial injuries and a mark on her forehead.

Another, entitled - And now a special sort of death for one so fair - showed injuries to the mouth and breast and her torso was shown cut in half.

Mr Turnbull put it to witness Detective Constable Adam Brunton, 41, that Marilyn Manson "seemed to express a particular interest" in the murder.

The witness agreed.

Singer 'obsessed'

The court heard that Manson had previously stated he had been "obsessed" with the Black Dahlia murder since he was a youngster.

During cross-questioning, defence counsel Donald Findlay QC gave more details about Ms Short's murder.

He said: "The body was completely severed and she was found placed in a grotesque pose with her body in two parts, lying in some open ground."

Luke Mitchell denies murdering 14-year-old Jodi at a wooded area near Roan's Dyke on 30 June, 2003.

He says that at the time he was in, or near, his home, and that Jodi was murdered by person or persons unknown.

He also denies charges of possessing knives in public places and being concerned in the supply of cannabis resin to other school pupils, including Jodi.

The trial continues.