The family of murdered Midlothian teenager Jodi Jones have slammed campaigners who claim vital DNA samples found on her body were "never tested".
The latest claims form Luke Mitchell's legal team allege at least ten samples of body fluids were removed from the 14-year-old and sent for forensic tests which were never carried out.
As the Record reports, they claim the DNA samples could exonerate Mitchell, 34, who is serving a life sentence for murder. Jodi's family themselves have faced abuse and false accusations on social media.
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Jodi was brutally killed in a woodland area in Dalkeith, Midlothian, in June 2003. Despite being convicted, Mitchell has continued to protest his innocence and is adamant that he will never admit to killing Jodi.
Jodi's family have called supporters of Mitchell "deluded" and urged them to remember a "young girl lost her life and a family are devastated."
Support for Mitchell increased following the release of a Channel 5 documentary Murder in a Small Town which claimed to offer evidence he was innocent.
Despite "new evidence" from Mitchell's legal team, family members of Jodi have hit out after a prominent TV criminologist claimed last week Mitchell's conviction is "unsafe."
The relative, who doesn't want to be named for fear of a backlash, said: "These supporters are dangerously deluded. The family has always been of the view the police have the correct person for Jodi's murder.
"Why won't they let her rest in peace? It would be ridiculous to assume he is innocent from watching a TV show which was incredibly one-sided. Lately they've said DNA samples found on Jodi have been destroyed by police. Why would police keep evidence 20 years down the line when a man is already in prison?
"We have been assured everything was tested to the satisfaction of the investigating team and no stone was left unturned in the murder investigation.
"His team are just muddying the waters and confusing people with no knowledge of the legal system and how it works.
"The social media attacks have been awful for the family to endure. I'm sure all of the people who say things wouldn't be so cocky if it was their family member.
"I'm sure not one of them was present at the trial but suddenly everyone is an expert because a man with a criminal record and a documentary says so? It's soul destroying."
Police Scotland and the Crown Office insist there was no miscarriage of justice.
Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Livingstone said: "Extensive forensic analysis was carried out along with door-to-door inquiries and other investigative techniques and a full report was submitted to the COPFS. As a result, Luke Mitchell was charged with Jodi's murder, before being convicted and sentenced in 2005."
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