UK - Alesha MacPhail, 6, raped & murdered, Ardbeg, Isle of Bute, Scotland, 2 Jul 2018 -*arrest* #5

[Nikynoo]

For anybody interested I emailed Professor Wilson earlier and was surprised to get a response. I've taken some details out as i'd rather not have my personal details on here.

I emailed him: Hi Professor Wilson, I am a big fan of your work and really enjoy the shows i've seen you in. However, I am struggling with this case and trying to understand it. I am by no means an expert but have a keen interest in crime. My question is how much knowledge did you have of the case? Did you have information not readily available to the public? My main problem is you not having enough evidence to label him a psychopath and killing out of dissociating himself with the crime. From the evidence I have seen he bragged about the crime in subtle ways which would lead me to believe he is definitely a narcissist who enjoyed the attention.

His response: Dear (name removed), Thank you for your e mail and for your kind comments. Psychopathy is a personality disorder and is a complex one at that. Too often I see that label applied too carelessly but it can only be clinically applied after careful consideration. I did not feel that I knew enough about AC to be able to label him as such, but others – who might have been able to do the PCL-R on him might be able to with more certainty than me. With my best wishes, Professor David Wilson

Could you go back and ask him whether a different test is used for children/teens please?

here is the checklist for PCL-R
Hare Psychopathy Checklist - define, person, people, used, personality, score, traits, Definition, Purpose

 

[Ciana]

I’ve been looking into other cases in Scotland to try and gauge the sentencing.

This one came to my attention as it happened in Glasgow in the early 90s, a case if you are local that you will be familiar with but didn’t quite get the same national media attention as Jamie Bulger.

It appears the killer has now went on to be rehabilitated and live a normal life. So much so that when his fb profile was discovered recently, the media chose not to publish his recent picture.

Boy who killed child goes free

Scotland's youngest killer found on Facebook by toddler victim's shocked family

Horrendous. That poor child and his loved ones. I can totally understand their feelings. Especially dreadful when you read of the earlier tragedy re his mother.

 

[Nikynoo]

some more research in diagnosis in children and teens. BBM:
Seagrave and Grisso (2002)
point out the similarity between how the teenager handles
this stage of development and the characteristics of
psychopathy. With regard to the interpersonal/affective
factor of psychopathy, these authors note that grandiosity,
lack of empathy and remorse, and failure to accept
responsibility for their wrongdoings, which are typical of
the psychopath, also occur in adolescents.
https://www.researchgate.net/public...olescent_psychopathy_Assessment_and_treatment

 

[Ardoch]

Hi, new here but been following this case.
I do think they've got the right person. Some things bother me about the case, namely the lack of any DNA or fibre evidence inside the McPhail flat. I'm just not sure about the whole snatching Alesha from her bed part. Maybe she was sleep walking, but we'll probably never know.

The case reminds me a bit of the Luke Mitchell trial 15 years ago. He's constantly proclaimed his innocence and it's been in the press constantly over the years due to doubts over DNA evidence. I think we'll still be going over this case in many many years time.

The other thing that really bothers me is AC's father. Now, if your son had been implicated in this horrific crime and you had even the smallest shred of doubt in your head that he was capable of such despicable things, surely you would turn up and give him moral support in court and even try to paint a picture of him as a decent human being in the press? That says a lot to me.

What stayed in my mind re AC's father is AC's mother's quote on her husband (and son);

"He was working away at the time. He came back and he was devastated.
"He blamed me, and my son blamed me because I was the one who phoned the police. But I told them I would have just been waiting for the police to come to my door.”

I don't think we can put too much emphasis on what AC's mother has said over the last while nor to the father's immediate reaction due to shock, however it's a statement that I've read in a few articles and it's interesting as it's the only thing I've seen regarding AC's fathers reaction. IMO

Maybe official statements from both of them will be released after sentencing.

Chilling moment Alesha MacPhail’s killer returns to shower after murder

 

[TaylorCallum]

Horrendous. That poor child and his loved ones. I can totally understand their feelings. Especially dreadful when you read of the earlier tragedy re his mother.

This is the first I've ever heard of this. I don't know how I hadn't heard of it sooner. That poor child and that poor family having to deal with so much tragedy. Life is cruel.

 

[mrazda71]

What stayed in my mind re AC's father is AC's mother's quote on her husband (and son);

"He was working away at the time. He came back and he was devastated.
"He blamed me, and my son blamed me because I was the one who phoned the police. But I told them I would have just been waiting for the police to come to my door.”

I don't think we can put too much emphasis on what AC's mother has said over the last while nor to the father's immediate reaction due to shock, however it's a statement that I've read in a few articles and it's interesting as it's the only thing I've seen regarding AC's fathers reaction. IMO

Maybe official statements from both of them will be released after sentencing.

Chilling moment Alesha MacPhail’s killer returns to shower after murder

I've seen that quote previously ...

BBM

"He blamed me, and my son blamed me because I was the one who phoned the police. But I told them I would have just been waiting for the police to come to my door.”

Reading between the lines of that bolder sentence ... she knew, she was waiting for the police to knock on her door because in her worst nightmares, she knew that it could be true.

Who here would want to think that their child had done just about the worst thing you could ever do? But she did ... and she could have destroyed that CCTV (even though I think the outcome would be the same ultimately) and I know there are many parents who would have.

She may have been the worst parent in the world (or the best in terrible circumstances for all we know!) but, ultimately she did the right thing the hardest thing but the right thing for Alesha and Aleashas family and I think she deserves some empathy and recognition for that if nothing else.

 

[Ardoch]

I'm wondering when all the "What made AC a killer" stories will appear.
Maybe after the sentencing?

 

[Keeneye]

Hi C ,It’s been implied that they weren’t were they said they were I would go back to quote but haven’t the energy to go through the posts again .

Hello, Keeneye, I spotted in your post that poster/s have mentioned that Alesha was left alone......I have not seen that, I will have a look back on the thread. Apart from everything else, the grandfather and his partner were in the house all during the night as far as I am concerned and the poor man woke up at 6am for work and found the wee soul missing?

 

[mrazda71]

Hi C ,It’s been implied that they weren’t were they said they were I would go back to quote but haven’t the energy to go through the posts again .

Do you mean the witness for the defence who said she saw Rab & Toni out in the street at 11 p.m the night before Alesha was taken (in the early hours of the following calendar day)

I don't feel that witness was particularly strong, she had said that the man was wearing wrap around sunglasses? At 11 p.m? and that she hadn't known that Rab was Toni's boyfriend until the aftermath of Alesha being missing.


Alesha MacPhail murder trial: Neighbour 'overheard abuse at family home'

 

[Ruthbullock]

I've seen that quote previously ...

BBM

"He blamed me, and my son blamed me because I was the one who phoned the police. But I told them I would have just been waiting for the police to come to my door.”

Reading between the lines of that bolder sentence ... she knew, she was waiting for the police to knock on her door because in her worst nightmares, she knew that it could be true.

Who here would want to think that their child had done just about the worst thing you could ever do? But she did ... and she could have destroyed that CCTV (even though I think the outcome would be the same ultimately) and I know there are many parents who would have.

She may have been the worst parent in the world (or the best in terrible circumstances for all we know!) but, ultimately she did the right thing the hardest thing but the right thing for Alesha and Aleashas family and I think she deserves some empathy and recognition for that if nothing else.

Completely agree!

 

[Ruthbullock]

Do you mean the witness for the defence who said she saw Rab & Toni out in the street at 11 p.m the night before Alesha was taken (in the early hours of the following calendar day)

I don't feel that witness was particularly strong, she had said that the man was wearing wrap around sunglasses? At 11 p.m? and that she hadn't known that Rab was Toni's boyfriend until the aftermath of Alesha being missing.


Alesha MacPhail murder trial: Neighbour 'overheard abuse at family home'

Why would she lie, pressurised perhaps- but why would she make an initial false statement to the police. A bit like Toni’s friend who said one thing in her police statement, but by the time it was in court it was watered down.

 

[Ruthbullock]

Why would she lie, pressurised perhaps- but why would she make an initial false statement to the police. A bit like Toni’s friend who said one thing in her police statement, but by the time it was in court it was watered down.

And this is why people are still discussing this case IMO.

 

[mrazda71]

Why would she lie, pressurised perhaps- but why would she make an initial false statement to the police. A bit like Toni’s friend who said one thing in her police statement, but by the time it was in court it was watered down.

I'm not suggesting that the witness 'lied' at either the statement time or the court appearance.

Witness statements are often unreliable.
In court, under cross examination, she just wasn't 100% sure of what she'd seen.

The Trouble with Eyewitness Identification Testimony in Criminal Cases

 

[Keeneye]

Do you mean the witness for the defence who said she saw Rab & Toni out in the street at 11 p.m the night before Alesha was taken (in the early hours of the following calendar day)

I don't feel that witness was particularly strong, she had said that the man was wearing wrap around sunglasses? At 11 p.m? and that she hadn't known that Rab was Toni's boyfriend until the aftermath of Alesha being missing.


Alesha MacPhail murder trial: Neighbour 'overheard abuse at family home'

Yes

 

[Thebutlerdiditagain]

mrazda, I have previously responded to that question via another poster, so I will not repeat it at length. Suffice it to say that I do feel sorry for the father, he is quite obviously heartbroken at losing his beloved child. I have never said, at any time, that he is responsible for what happened. The essence of my previously response is that if I were dealing drugs there is no way that I would allow punters to come to my door when my child frequently stayed there, for a multitude of reasons. Not victim bashing, he does have my sympathy, but drugs and children do not mix.

I agree normally not don’t send as shocking as this but letting people into your house or in contact with you with child

Well he's hardly going to say 'there's a ring operating on this island (including people far more powerful than myself) and we've used flimsy evidence to convict this boy as he is a convenient scapegoat. I'd further like to add, that it is quite hard to set people up so it was difficult to nail it exactly but people will believe anything these days so no bother'

Yes I’m one of those who will believe anything
DNA
Damming CCTV
his clothing
knife used or not found when looking for evidence and unfortunately his house was missing a similar knife


I don’t know why you keep saying flimsy it is solid evidence and the reason for explaining it away are ridiculous

If he is as you put it a Scapegoat why would so much point to him
This is not just one piece it’s numerous pieces this was an easy case you are just trying to make it look hard

But you have not convinced me with your counter argument and if your going with his defence it is as poor as I’ve seen and most law firms would of advised against it and gone to try and cut a guilty deal

 

[Ardoch]

Adding in Timeline

10 pm – 1030.pm : Alesha in living room area of house - put to bed by RM with dvd

unspecified time : TM goes to bathroom, then goes to Alesha room, closes door fully

12 midnight or just after : grandmother hears Alesha call out for Peppa Pig

12.22 am : Suspect and mother have argument at suspect's home

12.30 am : Suspect's friends leave his house, suspect's 14 yr old sister accompanies them

01.39 am Suspect texts or Facebook call to RM

01.47 am Suspect / or his sister / or suspect using sisters Facebook account - calls TM

01.54 am Suspect leaves his home, wearing jog pants, trainers , hoodie. Walks in direction of Rothesay and goes past Alesha grandparents home

02.26 am cctv ( Mr McLachlan home ) spots figure walking past his house - shore line - with something on their back. When later asked, Mr McL says he presumed it was somebody carrying a child.

02. 26 am - cctv footage from home of Shari Strathie, who lives 2 doors down from Mr McLachlan.Footage shows movement along the shoreline. She says to her, it looks like a figure walking past her house carrying another person.“You can see the legs hanging down and moving” she says.

03.35 am Suspect returns to his home - from a different direction - accesses his house by jumping over back wall. Does not have hoodie with him.

03.35 to 03.44 m. bathroom light is switched on during this time, mother hears sound of boiler switching on, presume suspect is having shower

03.45 am suspect leaves his home, wearing only shorts , no shoes, carrying what appears to be a black tee shirt

03.52 am suspect returns home

03.58 am suspect leaves home, fully clothed, running, with a torch

04.07 am suspect returns home, now walking

Is there proof that AC " goes past Alesha's grandparents home?"

Is it uncertain as to who used AC's sister's FB account to contact TM?
If AC did would he have known his sister's password?
What's the explanation as to the mechanics of this?

No CCTV image of him leaving - either not deemed essential to release or CCTV not switched on?

Is it likely that there are other drug dealers in the area that AC knew of?

 

[Cherwell]

I'm not suggesting that the witness 'lied' at either the statement time or the court appearance.

Witness statements are often unreliable.
In court, under cross examination, she just wasn't 100% sure of what she'd seen.

Yes, I think people can be drawn into these events and subconsciously "want" to have seen something significant - to make some kind of contribution.
But when it reaches the serious stage of testifying under oath, earlier certainties can waver.

 

[Thebutlerdiditagain]

Could he not have called an independent forensics specialist to support the “possibility” that the dna was planted? Did he even try to trace the whereabouts of mobile phones? and so on...

Probably did not call anyone because they would of ridiculed it
I believe they knew they were fighting an impossible case but had to follow the clients wishes

 

[Ruben71]

I think AC will remain a danger for the rest of his life and I just don't agree in the release of these types of people at any point because you're risking someone's life potentially. I'm sure they will try to rehabilitate him but this guy is clearly capable of manipulating people and convincing them he's been rehabilitated when he's not. He not only seems to be a psychopath , but he is also a paedophile and I just don't see how you can ever risk having these people out among society....while I don't agree that killing them is the answer I think they must be kept in jail. It's not much of a life but it's something.

 

[Gardenista]

I think AC will remain a danger for the rest of his life and I just don't agree in the release of these types of people at any point because you're risking someone's life potentially. I'm sure they will try to rehabilitate him but this guy is clearly capable of manipulating people and convincing them he's been rehabilitated when he's not. He not only seems to be a psychopath , but he is also a paedophile and I just don't see how you can ever risk having these people out among society....while I don't agree that killing them is the answer I think they must be kept in jail. It's not much of a life but it's something.

Completely agree. Sexual preferences are biological and it is too risky to children to let these people out of prison thinking they might abstain. I think anyone charged with child *advertiser censored* or any type of sexual assault of a child should receive life in prison.