UK - Alesha MacPhail, 6, raped & murdered, Ardbeg, Isle of Bute, Scotland, 2 Jul 2018 -*arrest* #3

[Junothecat]

Lord Matthews.

Worth noting he is the judge who slapped the worlds end murderer Angus Sinclair to a minimum of 37 years behind bars - the longest sentence ever to be given in a Scottish court. (I know this may have already been mentioned, just a friendly reminder).

The judge's directions to the jury may be quite important - how much emphasis he places on 'reasonable doubt' versus 'balance of probability' etc.

 

[DanceCard]

I'll be interested to read the judge's summing up this morning.

I agree with Alyce and Mrazda and others about what it's like when we're here waiting for a verdict. For me there can be no other outcome in this case than guilty, but I can see how some jurors may struggle reaching a guilty verdict.

 

[JamesK]

What concerns me is that watching YouTube videos of the accused (if it is indeed him), he comes across very well. Not the ‘monster’ that many would expect him to be. I can see why they let him take the stand. I hope the jury were not fooled however. The forensic and circumstantial evidence is overwhelming.

 

[sunshine2019]

I'm a new sign up and was on the island the weekend poor alesha was taken. It will be forever engrained in my memory because it was such a lovely weekend with the sun shining and the gala day on.

IMO it's entirely possible that someone could creep into a house very slowly, in the dead of night, and not wake anyone up. Perhaps he has going to steal weed, or maybe he was just seeing what else he could access. Also IMO because he reportedly felt suicidal, it is possible that the accused snapped, and suppressed tendencies were no longer suppressable.

Personally my heart goes out to Alesha's families, who have shown great strength and dignity. It's unbearable what they have been through.

 

[Taskforce88]

The gran testified that she left the key in the outside of the door. That tells me that the door was getting locked. They may have left doors open normally but not when Alesha was staying. Unless the key story was false.

 

[sunshine2019]

They were probably relatively lax about door security IMO . Most people on the island are, or were.

 

[JosieJo]

And then fibers jumped onto Alesha from the Sea ?

There was no way of knowing if the exact joggers

 

[Sp45westie]

Hello yet another lurker here I have been following the case closely and I Think the accused is guilty and should be found so on the dna evidence specifically the dna on ankles , wrists , underarms etc.. one thing Im having trouble confirming is where the accused sperm was found in reports it’s saying ON the private area not inside as many on here are saying I think could possibly be an issue for some on the jury if any believe that tm had any involvement in planting it ? Maybe I’ve just missed it ?

 

[Alyce]

Hi everyone i am an occasional lurker on this site but have read every page of the trial threads.

To restore my faith in humanity, i am hoping that you are all privvy to some special, extra info not contained herein (e.g. a history of appalling violence, rape or molestation). As it stands, all i see is a witch hunt of an innocent boy based on, literally, nothing. The name calling is shameful and the logic applied by many is not only flawed but worryingly biased.

I have no doubt that, even if found not guilty, the majority on here will consider him guilty regardless. It is scary to think that, assuming mostly adults post on this thread, any one of you could be considered for jury service.

I'm positive that many of you would relish referring to this boy as a "psycho 16 year old lying pedophile freak" as opposed to 'the accused' in line with what the above poster suggested. Unfortunately that says more about you than it does him.

I'm sorry my first post is somewhat confrontational but it seems any discussion (which you are all sure is calm, considered and appreciative of all viewpoints) that doesn't denote bloodboiling from the accused's 'arrogent', 'narcissistic', 'cold', 'psychopathic', 'immature' 'goading' behaviour is not entertained.

I usually enjoy lurking here when an interesting case arises but the twisted logic applied to the circumstances and the determination in condemning the defendant has left a bad taste in my mouth. Very odd indeed.

Good Morning Eezer and welcome to the thread.

I have highlighted some of your post - click expand to see the BIBs.
BIB one - It is not unusual, with any case on this board, for there to be local people participating.
Therefore, yes, I would expect there are some posters who have more in depth knowledge than others.

BIB two The vast majority of us, myself included, refer to the person on trial as the accused - and we will do so until a verdict is reached, after which time he will either be the guilty party or the person who has been found not guilty/not proven.

BIB three This is the third thread on this case and we have thousands of posts in the discussion.
If you have actually read every post, since day one, then I am surprised you would form this opinion. There has been much rational, considered debate on the issue, which is a very emotive one. The extreme comments that you have highlighted form a very small part of the whole.

BIB four - As you clearly have an interest in the subject, why not join in on a thread next time and add your comments and insight to the discussion. New input always welcomed.

 

[Taskforce88]

They were probably relatively lax about door security IMO . Most people on the island are, or were.

Perhaps, but then why the key left in the door. Lots of people with CCTV in ardbeg too. It's not as open a place as people think. This isn't a remote Hebridean island.

 

[Keeneye]

After the verdict will more information come out about the accused ? I’m wandering maybe he’s had past incidents maybe for prowling about at night, anyways I think there will be a verdict tomorrow? But hey you never know could be coming today .

 

[DanceCard]

They were probably relatively lax about door security IMO . Most people on the island are, or were.

Where I live we're also relatively lax about door security too. I get a reality check when I hear of cases like this, we tighten our security for a while but tend to slip back into old lax ways within a short time. We don't have any children in the house but Alesha's case has been what's pushed me to make sure we keep our security tight permanently from now on.

 

[Pooksthebear]

What concerns me is that watching YouTube videos of the accused (if it is indeed him), he comes across very well. Not the ‘monster’ that many would expect him to be. I can see why they let him take the stand. I hope the jury were not fooled however. The forensic and circumstantial evidence is overwhelming.

I think Ted Bundy came across well too...

 

[bronzepurple]

What concerns me is that watching YouTube videos of the accused (if it is indeed him), he comes across very well. Not the ‘monster’ that many would expect him to be. I can see why they let him take the stand. I hope the jury were not fooled however. The forensic and circumstantial evidence is overwhelming.

Yes I feel the same, it's disturbing. In my head I have been trying to connect the boy in the videos with the crime committed because it was horrific and like you say this boy seems so normal. I feel sure he did it but it's still hard to get your head around it.

 

[Kikixxxx]

There was no way of knowing if the exact joggers

No your right, but what are the chances the person that killed alesha was wearing the same style joggers and same boxer shorts that the accused had lost in the sea a few days before. Remember the fibres on those joggers and one fibre from the boxers were matched on her clothes. Someone earlier posted it perfectly, this boy was either framed by a criminal mastermind or is undoubtedly the most unlucky person in the world.

 

[gc105]

I will be shocked if anything other than a guilty verdict comes back.

IMO, there is too much evidence that can’t be justified (sensibly anyway!)

The accuseds semen for starters. Why would TM plant the semen of someone she was apparently having an affair with and confiding to about her relationship problems. I find it HIGHLY unlikely his semen has been ‘planted’ (unless she is a criminal mastermind and has everyone played like fools). Surely her DNA would also have been found around Alesha’s private area if this were the case.

DNA evidence. All over her body. 14 areas. Not just one! Including her face, neck and private areas. How does somebody who has NEVER met Alesha then end up with his DNA all over the poor little girl? DNA attributable to the accused was also found on Alesha’s clothing. I’m no forensic expert so please correct me if I’m wrong, but surely DNA traces cannot be easily ‘transferred/planted’.

The defence about the clothing in the sea to me is just so farcical and far fetched. How did he travel home that afternoon with no joggers/boxers without somebody noticing - is certainly notice if somebody was walking home starkers! Also, the forensic scientist called up as a witness said that fibres from the joggers were found on Alesha’s clothing and will have been a result of direct transfer.

I know the argument could be made ‘it could have been a similar pair of joggers’. He would have to be THE UNLUCKIEST person in the world if all this was just a number of unfortunate coincidences - from the joggers, CCTV, kitchen knife, semen, DNA...

His defence has been based on a number of witnesses, no actual forensics/evidence etc. One of the witnesses claimed to have seen TM and RM arguing, but then admitted it may not have even been them as she didn’t get a good look - how can it be credible?

His defence story to me is just so ludicrous. I can’t get my head around his claims. On one hand he is saying TM confided in him regarding domestic violence by RM, but on the other hand he’s saying she brutally raped and murdered RMs daughter and then deliberately framed the guy she was using for comfort/support?! It’s nonsensical if you ask me, clutching at straws IMO.

I am absolutely convinced there is a lot more to this story than we (the public) are being told. Probably due to the anonymity order. But it just feels like there is more to this - everyone seems to know everyone (e.g. TMs aunt and the accuseds mum are good friends?).

As I said before, I 100% believe this has been something he has thought/fantasised about (doesn’t bare thinking about!) for a while. I think it’s been premeditated, maybe not for that particular night, but certainly something he has wanted to do. As I said previously, you don’t go from a petty criminal (house breaking for drugs or kicks) to a child abducting rapist and murdered with no hesitation.

The person I feel most for through all of this horrendous ordeal is Alesha’s poor mum. She seems to have been almost ‘forgotten about’ (I hope you understand what I mean by that) as she was staying with her dad and his family when this happened. From the way she learned of her daughters disappearance to all of the events that have taken place over the past 2 weeks in court, I feel so much sadness for her. The poor girl looks absolutely destroyed.

 

[Owlpellet]

The gran testified that she left the key in the outside of the door. That tells me that the door was getting locked. They may have left doors open normally but not when Alesha was staying. Unless the key story was false.

It’s a yale lock that closes when the door is pulled to. It was left in the lock because she was hanging out washing, but her husband said it was often left in the lock and that many people left their doors unlocked on Rothesay. So the accused, having been to the door before was qite possibly aware that there was a chance that it would be possible to access the house easily. He also brought a knife. I wonder if that may also have been a housebreaking tool as well as a weapon. I think he went out “on the prowl” hoping to find some dope and came across the little girl who was already out of bed, maybe out on the stairwell playing or possibly sleepwalking as she had been known to do.

 

[Sp45westie]

I think Ted Bundy came across well too...

You can’t comapre him to ted bundy based on a couple of short YouTube videos no one really knows how this boy comes across unless you personally know him in the videos he is polite yes but that’s it they dont give you any Indication of his character at all , the cctv from his home has him swearing and arguing with his mother the jury will have seen this

 

[Kikixxxx]

Hello yet another lurker here I have been following the case closely and I Think the accused is guilty and should be found so on the dna evidence specifically the dna on ankles , wrists , underarms etc.. one thing Im having trouble confirming is where the accused sperm was found in reports it’s saying ON the private area not inside as many on here are saying I think could possibly be an issue for some on the jury if any believe that tm had any involvement in planting it ? Maybe I’ve just missed it ?

Was deffinitley inside, but some people find it difficult writing that, myself included, it’s less painful to write “on” IMO but In court it was deffinitley described as being “in”

 

[JosieJo]

No your right, but what are the chances the person that killed alesha was wearing the same style joggers and same boxer shorts that the accused had lost in the sea a few days before. Remember the fibres on those joggers and one fibre from the boxers were matched on her clothes. Someone earlier posted it perfectly, this boy was either framed by a criminal mastermind or is undoubtedly the most unlucky person in the world.

The boxers I agree ..but wouldn't be suprised if almost every household in the street has a pair of grey joggers