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

[JosieJo]

At the minute the prosecution seems to have nothing concrete apart from him leaving the house ...which could be explained...presumably his body fluids at the crime scene will be the nail in the coffin

 

[Siriusly]

Tried to link comment but not sure I'm doing it right

I suppose there could be as it was also stated that the accused and mum were heard having an argument on CCTV. I only read 2 cameras so I suppose one inside and one outside, but surely not in bathroom.
I was just wondering on explanations.

One theory I had was she heard him in shower and got up but didn't actually know he had gone out until she checked the cameras.

 

[TaylorCallum]

I know his sister left the house that night at 12:30 am, has it been reported anywhere in the mainstream media approximately what time she returned home? I was just wondering if she was already home when he was seen going in and out of the house on CCTV or if she was home when he used her FB account to try and contact TM.

I think someone before mentioned about how he could have maybe used a defence saying he was out looking for his sister, but obviously, it's too late for him to change his story now, but I was just wondering how the timeline added up.

 

[octagonsunrise]

Disagree. In that case, the search would be what is DNA, not how do police find DNA and collecting DNA. This is not beyond all doubt--it's beyond a reasonable doubt

I don't think that constitutes beyond reasonable doubt.

 

[charlotte123456]

I don't think that constitutes beyond reasonable doubt.

Agreed. Also, he could easily argue that he was taking a general interest in DNA as (in addition to the conversation he had with his mother - pertaining to DNA) the whole island would have been discussing the case. It does not necessarily imply guilt.

 

[Neko Luna Moon]

Disagree. In that case, the search would be what is DNA, not how do police find DNA and collecting DNA. This is not beyond all doubt--it's beyond a reasonable doubt

His mother testified that he asked her what DNA was so presumably she told him. Maybe he felt he had enough of a grasp on what it was to go ahead and search how police collect it.

 

[Kikixxxx]

Hi, started at beginning of other thread yesterday so only just caught up so apologies about the jump backwards but something's bugging me about the CCTV from his house.

His mum says he returned and had a shower leaving his clothes 'at his backside' how does she know this if he subsequently went back out and disposed of said clothes?
is the CCTV inside the house? The bathroom?


I haven't seen anything mentioning this (although I was up stupidly late reading so could have)
It may be a minor thing but it jumped out at me straight away as confusing

What does at his backside mean? Can anyone translate. Is it a Scottish term?

 

[Gardenista]

I don't think that constitutes beyond reasonable doubt.

Like I said, we have yet to hear the defense, but taking all of what we've heard so far into consideration from the prosecution, it meets beyond a reasonable doubt to me.

 

[Edinlass]

What does at his backside mean? Can anyone translate. Is it a Scottish term?

It means to leave items behind you, not picking up and tidying up after oneself

 

[Neko Luna Moon]

What does at his backside mean? Can anyone translate. Is it a Scottish term?

Basically just means he left the clothes on the floor and didn't tidy up after himself.

 

[neteditor]

I thought tracing his movements via his iphone would have been done as standard practice?

I understand that accurate cellphone location tracking requires "triangulation" from several cell towers. I can't find out how many cell towers are on Bute though or whether the terrain would prevent phones from logging with more than one tower. Also the area in question is very small, so probably his phone wouldn't ping more than one tower?

Cell Phone Triangulation and Cell Tower Triangulation

 

[charlotte123456]

Like I said, we have yet to hear the defense, but taking all of what we've heard so far into consideration from the prosecution, it meets beyond a reasonable doubt to me.

Not even close for me.
Edited to add - far too much evidence that can be explained away as circumstantial for me at this point in time. I would not be happy giving a guilty verdict based on what we have seen so far. It just does not objectively meet the criteria for me. Emotionally, I say he’s guilty as sin. The evidence is just not there for me though.

 

[Edinlass]

N

Not even close for me.

Well I’m glad your in your house and not on the jury

 

[Siriusly]

What does at his backside mean? Can anyone translate. Is it a Scottish term?

just left where he took them off I believe
(I had to read a few comments to work it out)

 

[Alyce]

Hi, started at beginning of other thread yesterday so only just caught up so apologies about the jump backwards but something's bugging me about the CCTV from his house.

His mum says he returned and had a shower leaving his clothes 'at his backside' how does she know this if he subsequently went back out and disposed of said clothes?
is the CCTV inside the house? The bathroom?


I haven't seen anything mentioning this (although I was up stupidly late reading so could have)
It may be a minor thing but it jumped out at me straight away as confusing

Good point. Far as we know, the clothing found on the beach was jogging bottoms and shorts, both inside out as they might be if taken off in a hurry - so am not sure what his mother was referring to, as surely no other clothing was left in the bathroom

cctv, I think they said it was front and back of the house - hence how she saw him return and jump over the back garden wall.
May also be more inside the house - as mrazda said, to assist because of the person with dementia who was living there.

 

[Edinlass]

Good point. Far as we know, the clothing found on the beach was jogging bottoms and shorts, both inside out as they might be if taken off in a hurry - so am not sure what his mother was referring to, as surely no other clothing was left in the bathroom

cctv, I think they said it was front and back of the house - hence how she saw him return and jump over the back garden wall.
May also be more inside the house - as mrazda said, to assist because of the person with dementia who was living there.

She may have meant left towels at his backside?

 

[mrazda71]

Guys, lets play nicely!

And remember ... we are only getting a small snapshot of the evidence that the jury sees in court.

 

[bfin1995]

His mother testified that he asked her what DNA was so presumably she told him. Maybe he felt he had enough of a grasp on what it was to go ahead and search how police collect it.

His mother testified she told him, not that he asked, as far as I'm aware.

The mother of a 16-year-old boy accused of raping and killing Alesha MacPhail said in court she told her son "whoever had done this to this little girl, their DNA would be all over her" - and refused to watch his trial continue.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was quizzed about why she discussed DNA with him.

Giving evidence, the mother said she believed it was appropriate to talk about it along with his uncle and a friend before they sent him to bed. Daily Record

 

[Gardenista]

Not even close for me.
Edited to add - far too much evidence that can be explained away as circumstantial for me at this point in time. I would not be happy giving a guilty verdict based on what we have seen so far. It just does not objectively meet the criteria for me. Emotionally, I say he’s guilty as sin. The evidence is just not there for me though.

Circumstantial evidence is awesome. DNA is circumstantial evidence.

 

[charlotte123456]

Well I’m glad your in your house and not on the jury

The point is, we can only base things on the concrete evidence. There is not enough for me yet. I do think he is guilty, but you cannot base your opinions on gut instinct, only facts. If I feel this way, then I am sure that others on the jury do as well.