'No comparison' with Jodi case

Luke Mitchell has denied murdering Jodi

The Jodi Jones court case has heard that there was little or no comparison between the death of the schoolgirl and a would-be Hollywood actress in 1947.

Defence lawyer Donald Findlay QC put it to pathologist Anthony Busuttil that there were differences between Jodi's death and that of Elizabeth Short.

But Prof Busuttil told the court there were "major similarities".

Luke Mitchell denies murdering Jodi on 30 June, 2003 at a wooded area near Roan's Dyke in Dalkeith.

The 16-year-old, who was Jodi's boyfriend, has lodged two special defences, one of alibi and one of incrimination.

Body severed

On Thursday, the High Court in Edinburgh was shown paintings by goth rocker Marilyn Manson based on the death of Ms Short.

The water-colours of what became known as the Black Dahlia murder showed the woman with massive injuries to her face, breast and torso.

The pictures were shown to the jury.

On Friday, Mr Findlay pointed out that one crucial difference between Jodi's death and the 1947 murder was that Ms Short's body had been severed completely in two.

He added there had been "no attempt made to dismember" Jodi's body, with which the witness agreed.

Pathologist Anthony Busuttil has been giving evidence at the trial

It also appeared that Ms Short had been sexually abused. Prof Busuttil agreed that there was "no evidence of sexual abuse".

Other injuries had been found on Ms Short's body which the pathologist accepted had not been on Jodi's body.

It has been alleged that Mr Mitchell applied a ligature around Jodi's arms and struck her repeatedly on the head, mouth and body with a knife.

He has also been charged with being in possession of a knife or knives in public places, including St David's High School, on various occasions between 1 January and 30 June, 2003.

He has further been accused of being concerned in the supply of cannabis resin to a number of others, including Jodi, at times between January 1, 2003 and 14 April, 2004.

Mr Mitchell denies all three charges.