In my personal opinion, his murderous act was not primarily motivated by mental illness. He may have suffered from depression and/or anxiety, but these factors alone seldom impel someone to commit gratuitous violence. I think his actions, in both the murder and the subsequent trial, suggest that he suffers from psychopathy. The careless indifference he displayed, in both the disposal of evidence and the bare-faced lying to the police and prosecution, is symptomatic of a psychopathic condition, while the crimes he committed indicate the presence of a virulent sadism that could only ever be utilised by someone lacking any empathy. However, having followed the case relatively closely over the past six months, I've seen nothing to indicate that he is suffering from psychosis/schizophrenia, and so I believe that he was fully cognisant of the severity of his actions.I was reading this article again ( ok, it's the Sun) and the bit where, allegedly, AC's mum says;
" ..He (AC's father) blamed me and my son blamed me as 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."
It's another insight into AC's overall reaction to the crime.
As far I have seen and to the best of what I've read, AC carried out the most heinous crime; his strange and numerous excusions back and forth to the crime scene, blamed his mother for calling the police, acted very confident and convincing to the arresting officers, denied his guilt with bizarre explanations, admitted guilt at the final stage and mocked poor A's family and now has an Appeal forthcoming.
Has this kind of pattern of behaviour happened before in cases similar to this?
Can a young adult who committed a horrendous murder, be as mercurial in his reactions?
Does this show a mental illness or an immature mind out of control - or both?
My opinion (and not in the Mental Health profession) favours some kind of mental illness.
IMHO
Alesha MacPhail's twisted teen killer disowned behind bars by sickened family
In my personal opinion, his murderous act was not primarily motivated by mental illness. He may have suffered from depression and/or anxiety, but these factors alone seldom impel someone to commit gratuitous violence. I think his actions, in both the murder and the subsequent trial, suggest that he suffers from psychopathy. The careless indifference he displayed, in both the disposal of evidence and the bare-faced lying to the police and prosecution, is symptomatic of a psychopathic condition, while the crimes he committed indicate the presence of a virulent sadism that could only ever be utilised by someone lacking any empathy. However, having followed the case relatively closely over the past six months, I've seen nothing to indicate that he is suffering from psychosis/schizophrenia, and so I believe that he was fully cognisant of the severity of his actions.
Just watched the Pearce Morgan interview with Paris Bennett, boy who killed his 4 year old sister when he was 13. There’s some similarities with both boys being clever, popular, families wealthy enough to provide a good lifestyle then suddenly committing an atrocious act and showing little remorse in the aftermath.
Sounds interesting
Wish we could rewind a year and create a different story. Sadly life doesn't work like this...
Same! I didn’t think I would feel like this but It really does feel eerie. God knows how her family is feeling if we are like thisHorrible, eerie feeling tonight Must be awful for Alesha’s family.
Yes feeling it myself , can’t sleepHorrible, eerie feeling tonight Must be awful for Alesha’s family.
Yes feeling it myself , can’t sleep
Yes feeling it myself , can’t sleep