THE Jodi Jones murder trial yesterday heard a taped police interview in which the accused discussed his sexual relationship with the schoolgirl and his interest in horror films.

The jury listened to the interviewwith Luke Mitchell, which was recorded over several hours at a police station - days after he found Jodi's body near the woodland shortcut between their homes.

Detective Constable Stephen Quinn, 43, one of the officers present during the interview, which Mr Mitchell attended voluntarily with his mother on July 4 last year, described it as "quite genial, a fairly relaxed conversation".

During the questioning at a police station in Dalkeith, near Edinburgh, the accused, then 14, spoke of his own tastes in music and movies. He said: "I like horror films like Dog Soldiers and stuff, like that Scream, the Relic and the Omen. I love the Omen series."

Mr Mitchell also told police that he and Jodi had tried to see each

other "as much as possible" when they started going out together five months prior to her death. He said they had favourite places they would go to "get away from the locals", such as Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh.

As the tape played, the High Court in Edinburgh heard that the pairwould also go to a path behind Newbattle High School in Dalkeith, where Mr Mitchell said they "(would) just sit and have a cigarette or

whatever.

Just sit and talk, or laugh". Mr Mitchell's favourite music was Nirvana, which Jodi had got him into, rapper Eminem and goth rockerMarilyn Manson, the jury heard.

"She loved (Nirvana frontman) Kurt Cobain's music because he didn't write it to impress folk . . . She liked it because she listened to the music and what he was saying, " he said of Jodi.

Mr Mitchell also made reference to cord jeans he said Jodi had been

wearing "on Monday night", which he thought had been borrowed from Janine, her sister.

Questioning the witness later, Alan Turnbull QC, advocate depute, prosecuting, asked:

"He did say Monday night?"

"He did, yes, " Mr Quinn replied.

Mr Mitchell, 16, of Newbattle Abbey Crescent, Dalkeith, Midlothian,

denies murdering his 14-year-old girlfriend Jodi on June 30 last year.

He claims that Jodi failed to meet him on the night she died, despite theirmaking arrangements to see each other.

While talking to police, Mr Mitchell suggested a number of reasons why his girlfriend had failed to meet him that night - saying she had only stood him up once before. But he did not mention then making a telephone call to her house and being told Jodi had already left to meet him, the court heard.

Mr Turnbull asked the witness: "Did he provide information in an intelligent and articulate fashion?" The detective told him: "Yes."

"Did he seem comfortable talking about Jodi?" asked Mr Turnbull. Mr Quinn replied:

"He was fine at that time, yes."

Mr Mitchell told the officers he and Jodi first had sex a couple of

days after they started going out but it was not a regular occurrence.

The trial continues.