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

[Cherryplum]

Given that the evidence that has been publically reported to date has mostly been circumstantial (or at least far from conclusive), i have found myself going over everything looking for any smaller bits of information regarding the case which seem to pop out as being more significant than first thought.

One specific area that stands out to me is the actions of the accused's mother. I think the point that was previously made with regards to her contacting the police regarding her own CCTV footage is significant. On top of this, she also asked the accused no less than twice if he 'knew anything' about Alesha's disappearance (strange in itself, unless the mother had a specific reason or had experienced something previously to think to ask). Finally, she raised the DNA discussion with the accused but significantly had both his Uncle and a friend present (clearly a potential indicator of an unpredictable or perhaps aggressive response in a one-on-one situation).

In my opinion if you look at these specific details collectively, you are looking at the conscientious actions of a woman who may well have significant suspicions about her own son.

IMO the reason the uncle & friend we're at the house was because the mother of the accused saw the CCTV footage & probably had her suspicions raised from that, but she needed someone else's thoughts & input, she'd already had an argument with the accused, so yes she probably did need back up as well.

I think the reason she'd asked him whether he knew anything about Alesha's disappearance was because he'd been in & out during the early hours & may have seen something, but also like you say the mother may have experienced something previously as well that led her to ask this question, I'm hoping that we will eventually get all the information on this case

 

[AM12]

No doubt the prosecution will finish off showing the accused dna found on the victim but they will have done little to refute the defence's version of events so McConnachie should have a relatively easy time creating reasonable doubt...for example, he will suggest how do we know this shadowy figure was not TMc and wasn't she the last person we know to have entered the child's room that night, why didn't the child scream, what was the nature of the she waswwtching and so on...just saying, so far the prosection has been pathetic especially as they are already aware of the defense's version of events[/QUOTE]

Surely TM partner would be a strong alibi for allegation that she left the house for sometime if in same room all evening

 

[TaylorCallum]

Surely TM partner would be a strong alibi for allegation that she left the house for sometime if in same room all evening

It seems like a fairly strong alibi but the defence may refute that by saying if the prosecution think it's believable that a drunk 16 year old can enter a house with 4 sleeping adults and abduct a child without waking them, then it's also possible that someone can leave a room without waking their partner. Not saying I agree though.

 

[Truthseeker777]

High Courts often work short days inside the courtroom. Tbey usually don’t start until 10am. Usually stop just after 12 for
Lunch Back at 2 till
Around 4 so if a new witness is to be called it would be pointless to do this at 3.15. They don’t know how long they will be on stand so it’s not usual for them to finish up
Around this time start with new witness first thing tomorrow

Yes, and I suppose their final witness will be forensics providing evidence which should not be rushed because this will be the most critical evidence for both prosecution and defence

 

[AM12]

Did they ask the people at the party what he was wearing that night?

Yes plus cctv at his house

 

[AM12]

Yep. My thoughts. Exactly those or similar items. There are so many generic items of clothing such as this.

That cannot be ruled out and was acknowledged in court

 

[AM12]

Thinking back to the CCTV and the shadows rather than clear footage. TM is thin going by the pics. The accused isn’t fat as such but he looks to be broad and in good shape. I think both will be easy identifiable in comparison to the other..IMO

Thay had trouble even seeing that he/she was carrying an object so images cannot be clear

 

[TaylorCallum]

Hypothetically speaking, if he isn't guilty, what could he have been doing out those 3 times in the middle of the night? He claims he was going to buy drugs (but he never got any) and then he also claims he was looking for his phone? But what about the other time? And why the change of clothes?

 

[angeldust]

Here’s a thought someone may be able to clarify

Are the bedrooms upstairs in the MacPhail house. Because if so

We have gran admitting she left key in the door to the house the downstairs door probably is never locked. Gran and grandad sleeping upstairs dad n girlfriend sleeping upstairs. Alesha in bed in the living room downstairs. Key in door parents upstairs. Lift kid out and on your way. No one hears a thing.

Been bugging me how he got her out and the clean feet as I was thinking she must have been sleepwalking. Now I’m thinking he thought he would go see if their lights were on for weed even though they didn’t answer phone
He gets to door, keys there, house is silent... opportunity

 

[AM12]

Under cross examination witness agrees black Nike top has “no connection” to Alesha’s garments. Zero traces.

Connor Gillies on Twitter

How is that possible and why wasn't his t=shirt tested

 

[SJ16321]

I'd love to see the CCTV and see just how clear or unclear it is. You must be able to make out the build and maybe height of the shadowy figure by comparing it to any objects in the footage. If you can see what looks like legs hanging down then the outlines of the figures must be reasonably good.

I'm assuming TM and the accused might be a similar height. In a lot of cases the height of the figure alone would rule out the woman and while that wouldn't prove it was the accused, it would put a big hole in his special defence. Also while I've no doubt that TM could pick Alesha up, could she carry her all that way at speed like the shadowy figure is doing? The clean feet means she was carried all that way and not put down once, for me that makes his special defence even more unlikely.

They don't seem to have that one bit of evidence yet which makes you think "they've got him" (possibly tomorrow, DNA?) so maybe they could rubbish his special defence at least and show how it's made up fantasy.

 

[Kikixxxx]

Hypothetically speaking, if he isn't guilty, what could he have been doing out those 3 times in the middle of the night? He claims he was going to buy drugs (but he never got any) and then he also claims he was looking for his phone? But what about the other time? And why the change of clothes?

Exactly what possible other explanations could there be?
Also the clothes he was known to be wearing the night Alesha was murdered “grey hype jogging pants and a black nike zipper” where are those? IF they aren’t his that were washed up on the beach then where are the clothes he was wearing at his party? “ no comment” I’m sure he answered.

 

[Truthseeker777]

Here’s a thought someone may be able to clarify

Are the bedrooms upstairs in the MacPhail house. Because if so

We have gran admitting she left key in the door to the house the downstairs door probably is never locked. Gran and grandad sleeping upstairs dad n girlfriend sleeping upstairs. Alesha in bed in the living room downstairs. Key in door parents upstairs. Lift kid out and on your way. No one hears a thing.

Been bugging me how he got her out and the clean feet as I was thinking she must have been sleepwalking. Now I’m thinking he thought he would go see if their lights were on for weed even though they didn’t answer phone
He gets to door, keys there, house is silent... opportunity

I read in an article that the grandparents had made her a bedroom in the attic flat...have read so much it would be difficult to find that article but it does exist

 

[angeldust]

I read in an article that the grandparents had made her a bedroom in the attic flat...have read so much it would be difficult to find that article but it does exist

Yeah agree I’m also
Sure I read the grandad said she was in the living room. It’s all very confusing

 

[Truthseeker777]

Yeah agree I’m also
Sure I read the grandad said she was in the living room. It’s all very confusing

I don’t recall the grandad saying that (?) The father said she walked in to the living room and he went and got her and put her back to bed with peppapig dvd

 

[AM12]

What if he removed the top before he abducted her and dropped it on the beach whilst carrying her? Maybe the knife was inside the pocket of the hoody (if it has a front pocket that goes right through the front) and it fell out and this is what he returned to look for, along with his phone?

Maybe he did take it off before abduction. According to Police it was found 1/2 a mile outside search parameter which was one of the reasons it was put in a skip plus he didn't think there was any items outstanding. Not sure of where it was found other than in a rockpool on beach in relation to Aleshas house or where body was found .
Would need to know this before a possible theory as to why it has no fibre transfers.
CCTV of beach is not clear enough to see whether it is a Nike top being worn and Cctv at accused house shows accused was not wearing it when he returned first time and was wearing a hoodie when he left .

 

[AM12]

Here’s a thought someone may be able to clarify

Are the bedrooms upstairs in the MacPhail house. Because if so

We have gran admitting she left key in the door to the house the downstairs door probably is never locked. Gran and grandad sleeping upstairs dad n girlfriend sleeping upstairs. Alesha in bed in the living room downstairs. Key in door parents upstairs. Lift kid out and on your way. No one hears a thing.

Been bugging me how he got her out and the clean feet as I was thinking she must have been sleepwalking. Now I’m thinking he thought he would go see if their lights were on for weed even though they didn’t answer phone
He gets to door, keys there, house is silent... opportunity

Not sure of exact layout of house and have not seen it published anywhere

 

[angeldust]

Yeah I’ve read that but I read something last night I’m away to hunt for it. Not that it matters was just a theory as to how he got in utter nonsense if her room is upstairs as I’m sure they’d have woke and it’s very risky

 

[AM12]

True but I personally find it strange that the first thing she went for was her phone and returning calls. I would have thought she would have been frantically searching for alesha within and around surrounding area of flat So imo within 4 minutes of alarm being raised is very quick to start checking your phone

They noticed Alesha missing before that and searched house before calling Police at said time

 

[AM12]

There has been no mention of the car which was seized last july? I w onder what the reason for seizing it was

At that point they did not have any suspects and usually family and those around victim are first suspects and so the Police would have checked this possibility first