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

[stephaniejanes]

Each piece of circumstantial evidence on its own may not be damning but put ALL of it together and it's pretty convincing.

Agreed - almost all criminal convictions are through a collection of circumstantial evidence. This is particularly apparent in "cold" cases that do eventually get solved. And you're right - DNA itself is circumstantial as unless you have proof of how it got there it do

Yes ... but ... did Toni also delete any alleged messages? If I delete my p.ms then they're no longer on my phone but, they remain on yours

thats true, I know Instagram released option to "unsend" a message, though I think this

13:53

Alesha's dad's phone number among accused's contacts

The court has heard Robert MacPhail and Toni McLachlan’s phone numbers were among the accused’s contacts.

At around 1.40am on July 2, a call was made to Mr MacPhail, before a message was sent to Ms McLachlan at 1.47am, jurors were told.

A return call to the accused from Ms McLachlan’s number is then said to have been made at 6.29am.

Mr Benson said there was no evidence the accused and Ms McLachlan had communicated on Instagram.

The IT expert added: “That did not feature in any of the evidence recovered from Toni-Louise McLachlan’s phone.”

Alesha MacPhail teen suspect's phone 'used to Google "How do police find DNA"'

For defence theory to work, he would have to argue she deleted the messages and so did he - for whatever reason. Seems far fetched in my opinion but I guess they are free to argue that.

 

[Alyce]

Mr McSporran asked Mr Benson did they ( the accused and TM ) appear to be contact via Instagram between the pair.

He replied: “There was no indication of that at all...that did not feature in the communications that I recovered from Toni McLachlan's phone.”

However, Mr Benson did accept that it may be possible to delete messages on Instagram.

He added it appeared the boy was not a “heavy user” of the social media platform.


Alesha MacPhail accused googled “How do police find DNA”, court hears

 

[TaylorCallum]

For defence theory to work, he would have to argue she deleted the messages and so did he - for whatever reason. Seems far fetched in my opinion but I guess they are free to argue that.

I guess he would argue that they both deleted the messages to cover up the affair because they didn't want to get caught. Very far fetched, but it wouldn't surprise me if that was used.

 

[charlotte123456]

Waiting anxiously to hear from the forensic scientist regarding the clothing fibres...

 

[Taskforce88]

I guess he would argue that they both deleted the messages to cover up the affair because they didn't want to get caught. Very far fetched, but it wouldn't surprise me if that was used.

Well if they were seeing each other then deleting the messages would have happened to stop others seeing them and finding out.

 

[Edinlass]

I wonder why only Instagram is being used as a platform in the evidence when we know he also used snapchat, Facebook and YouTube. Oh and he has a mobile phone so text messages and WhatsApp are also options given that we now know both RM and TM were contacts in the phone. Why Instagram? Have I missed something here.

 

[Neko Luna Moon]

Connor Gillies‏Verified account @ConnorGillies 37s38 seconds ago




Witness says there is “strong evidence” that traces from the grey jogging bottoms were also found on Alesha’s garment.

 

[Edinlass]

Connor Gillies - Twitter

Witness says there is “strong evidence” that traces from the grey jogging bottoms were also found on Alesha’s garment

Now discussing Alesha’s pants and shorts and whether there is possibly any link to accused’s clothing.

 

[Alyce]

Waiting anxiously to hear from the forensic scientist regarding the clothing fibres...

Yes, we seem to now have a long silence, just at a crucial point

 

[HayLouise]

Forensic scientist Sarah Jones tells court she found strong evidence that fibres recovered from Alesha’s vest came from jogging bottoms recovered from the shoreline

James Matthews on Twitter

 

[Truthseeker777]

Waiting anxiously to hear from the forensic scientist regarding the clothing fibres...

Strong evidence...finally!

 

[charlotte123456]

I wonder why only Instagram is being used as a platform in the evidence when we know he also used snapchat, Facebook and YouTube. Oh and he has a mobile phone so text messages and WhatsApp are also options given that we now know both RM and TM were contacts in the phone. Why Instagram? Have I missed something here.

Very good point. Such an odd means of communication to focus on when there are so many other, more readily accessible means...

 

[Gardenista]

Forensic scientist Sarah Jones tells court she found strong evidence that fibres recovered from Alesha’s vest came from jogging bottoms recovered from the shoreline

James Matthews on Twitter

How do we know 100% they are his jogging pants? Was his name written in them?

 

[HayLouise]

Now discussing Alesha’s pants and shorts and whether there is possibly any link to accused’s clothing.

Connor Gillies on Twitter

 

[Deufin]

Instagram stores a lot of data on what you do on there, and much of it is easily available via the settings options of the app. For example you can find your entire search history, history of photos you’ve liked, which users have viewed your story etc.

Certainly if they were using Instagram to message each other, I would also expect there to be some indication of contact in this data even if the messages themselves had been deleted.

 

[Alyce]

Connor Gillies‏Verified account @ConnorGillies 37s38 seconds ago




Witness says there is “strong evidence” that traces from the grey jogging bottoms were also found on Alesha’s garment.

FINALLY !

 

[octagonsunrise]

Forensic scientist Sarah Jones tells court she found strong evidence that fibres recovered from Alesha’s vest came from jogging bottoms recovered from the shoreline

James Matthews on Twitter

Turning point.

 

[charlotte123456]

Forensic scientist Sarah Jones tells court she found strong evidence that fibres recovered from Alesha’s vest came from jogging bottoms recovered from the shoreline

James Matthews on Twitter

NOW we’re talking!

 

[TaylorCallum]

How do we know 100% they are his jogging pants? Was his name written in them?

I don't think we do.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Waiting anxiously to hear from the forensic scientist regarding the clothing fibres...

Me too! On a work break so skipping thro all the theories and posts of people catching up. Will read those later. Come on evidence!

 

[HayLouise]

14:40

Fibres on Alesha’s clothes 'linked to jogging bottoms'

A forensic scientist is now giving evidence at the High Court.

Sarah Jones, who specialises in fibres and clothing, examined Alesha’s clothes, jurors are told.

She also looked at a hoodie and jogging bottoms found on Rothesay beach.

She says there was “strong evidence” to suggest some fibres on Alesha’s clothes were linked to the joggers.

It is the sixth day of proceedings in the trial, which is being heard before judge Lord Matthews.

Alesha MacPhail teen suspect's phone 'used to Google "How do police find DNA"'