Suspicion falls on Mitchell

The suspicion fell on Mitchell and school authorities cited concern about Mitchell’s safety in unsuccessfully attempting to prevent his return to school; two months after the murder he was suspended after objecting to being separated from other pupils.[17]

After the discovery of the body, Mitchell was initially questioned as a witness; he quickly became the main focus of the investigation. Ten months later he was arrested and charged with the crime. He was also charged with the possession of a knife or knives in public places, including St David’s High School, and of supplying cannabis.[18] The timing of this meant that he could be tried as an adult in court.[19] Police were later criticised for infringing his human rights by questioning him without a solicitor present.[20][21]

During a search of his home, detectives confiscated a copy of The Golden Age of Grotesque by Marilyn Manson containing the short film Doppelherz.[22] It was purchased two days after Jones’s death.[23] A ten-minute excerpt from the film, as well as several paintings by Manson depicting the Black Dahlia’s mutilated body, were presented as evidence during the trial.