A 40-year-old unsolved murder case in Suffolk, England is set to be examined on a Channel 5 show called Prime Suspect: Murder in Suburbia. The case revolves around the murder of Diane Jones, whose body was found in a copse in Brightwell in 1983. The program will feature new evidence from detectives, friends, lovers, and neighbors, shedding light on the mysterious case. Diane Jones was last seen in a pub in Coggeshall, Essex on July 23, 1983. Her husband, Dr. Robert Jones, became the main suspect in the case. He claimed to have driven her to their home at Lee's Farm before parking the car in a garage. Mrs. Jones was not reported missing until nine days later. Her body was eventually discovered 30 miles away in Brightwell in October 1983. The examination of her remains revealed that her skull had been fractured in four places, indicating she had been struck with a weapon similar to a slate hammer. Dr. Robert Jones passed away in France in June of the previous year, making it unlikely that the case will progress further. The program is scheduled to air on Easter Monday from 10pm until 11.40pm. [2505f264]
In Scotland, Luke Mitchell's first attempt at release is set to be rejected after a damning psychological report. Mitchell's legal team insists there is 'no basis' to reject his initial bid for freedom despite psychiatrists deciding he still poses a danger to women. Mitchell was jailed at the age of 15 for the murder of student Jodi Jones. The criminologist Dr. Sandra Lean sharply criticized the report. Mitchell will be denied parole, according to the report. Supporters of Luke Mitchell protested yesterday - 20 years to the day since his first arrest. Mitchell's mother Corinne, 64, said, 'How can Jodi rest in peace when she knows the wrong person is in prison and her real killer is walking freely among us?' Mitchell's legal representative Dr. Sandra Lean added, 'More and more people are saying enough is enough. It's time to review this case.' Jodi's relatives have told authorities they fear for her family when he is released. Jodi's brutal murder shocked the country 21 years ago. Her throat was slit and her neck was trapped. Mitchell claimed his dog led him to her mutilated body in woods near Dalkeith, Midlothian. He maintained his innocence, but a jury found him guilty of murder in January 2005 and he was sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. Mitchell's conviction has faced scrutiny, with campaigners arguing that he was the victim of a miscarriage of justice. In 2012, he took a lie detector test to prove his innocence. The destruction of forensic evidence that had never been made available to his legal team raised new doubts about Mitchell's guilt. The Parole Board for Scotland will deny Mitchell's release based on the psychological report. [46bf0080]
On the same day that the finale of HBO's The Jinx aired, Robert Durst, the real estate scion suspected of three murders, gave a nearly three-hour interview to cold case specialist John Lewin on March 15, 2015. Durst agreed to the interview without a lawyer present and discussed topics such as his crimes, family history, attitude toward dogs, drug use, and a potential plea deal. He admitted to applying for food stamps despite being worth an estimated $100 million and revealed that he had been smoking pot every day for as long as he could remember. Durst also expressed a desire for a sympathetic documentary-style project about himself, similar to the film All Good Things, which was loosely based on his life. He discussed his relationship with former inmates and his decision to shoplift while on the run. Durst also mentioned learning how to more effectively dismember a human body after the murder of Morris Black. He speculated about a potential plea deal and expressed openness to revealing what happened to his missing wife, Kathie, in exchange for something in return. Durst explained that he didn't flee despite knowing about incriminating evidence because he didn't think he would be arrested. The interview provides insight into Durst's mindset and the strategy of Lewin, who eventually prosecuted Durst for the murder of Susan Berman. [93060adb]
South Wales Police has refused to release a report that suggested three men, Michael O’Brien, Darren Hall, and Ellis Sherwood, who were exonerated of a murder after spending 11 years in jail, may still be guilty. The report, written by a retired senior detective, was leaked to O’Brien last year and refers to a bigger report written by the detective. The motive for the murder was said to be robbery of the cash takings received at the victim’s kiosk in Cardiff bus station. O’Brien has called for a public judicial inquiry into miscarriages of justice, including his own case. The police report, written by two civilian employees, was dated July 21, 2003, and was addressed to Chief Superintendent JB Adsley of South Wales Police’s Professional Standards Department. The report analyzed cases cited by the Miscarriages of Justice Organisation (MOJO) and expressed suspicions that the three acquitted men may still have been involved in the crime. South Wales Police has rejected O’Brien’s request for the full report, citing the need to avoid prejudicing the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of criminal offenses. [d1234cf5]