UK - Alesha MacPhail, 6, raped & murdered, Ardbeg, Isle of Bute, Scotland, 2 Jul 2018 -*arrest* #4

[TaylorCallum]

This kid was playing some seriously age inappropriate games, even 4 years ago. No excuse, but I don’t think this will have helped an already damaged mind.

I do understand people's concerns but honestly, I was playing violent video games at that age and I don't think it has as much of an effect as people might think. Perhaps if you're mentally unstable it might, but if you're able to discern reality from fiction, even at a young age, it shouldn't leave that much of an impression on you. Maybe you could argue it in this case though.

I think the media always love to spin a "violent video game" story though.
As a little side note, that Slenderman video was uploaded exactly 4 years ago today. Just random but I noticed it.

 

[404_notfound]

I've had one online friend for years who lives in Scotland. Her son is clearly disturbed. She is not mentally well herself and desperately needs help. Everyone knows this. She has basically done nothing but try and get help for him for years with little to show for it.

Most out of control and mentally ill children don't turn around and rape and kill someone. And authorities act in that manner. They take the easy and especially cheaper route in most countries. Dump as much as possible on the parents and go out of their way to avoid offering the care the law will even say they are required to offer. It takes smart, educated, dedicated parents to fight to access what kids like this need and even then they don't always get it.

This is so true. We are in the best position to get help (white, middle class, very well educated and with medical knowledge - i don't LIKE that all this helps, i'm just stating that it does) and we still both ended up on antidepressants in the years of fighting it took to get both our kids who need it the help and support required. Fortunately in a much better place now but it is so hard to keep fighting and the vast majority of families i am close with have had to fight harder and/or longer simply because they couldn't tick a few of those boxes.

Sorry this is going back a bit, I am catching up.

As an ex national press reporter I can confirm that is absolutely how things operate. The story is the one the editor wants, regardless of anything else (including facts sometimes). A very large part of my reason for being an ex!

I'd be surprised if she was paid anything at all for the story, that's not as common as people think. And if she did get paid it wouldn't be a lot. Especially if it was a press agency who got the interview. She might have got a hundred or two to agree to an exclusive if the Sun got to her first.

Ha @neteditor i was a bit worried you'd tell me off, just my own experience of these things led me to my conclusion. A bit depressing to be so correct though.

I've been out and missed the drama of the ban being lifted, but i'd expected it from this judge in these circumstances. Hopefully now he is named the circus will have it's day then leave town. I'm sure Alesha's family and his would prefer a bit of peace to try to come to terms with it all a little and try to move forward somehow.

To reiterate myself, what a sorry, evil state of affairs for all involved to be in. For Alesha to have her life taken from her so young, and in such a cruel and horrifying way. And for Aaron Campbell, who has thrown his life and future away in the most hideous circumstances.

The ADHD was mentioned because people with that condition (and several others) have executive control lag, meaning they act before they think. However as the parent of a child with ADHD comorbid to other conditions i would say that explanation expires after he had Alesha. He might have taken her before he'd really thought about it, but he certainly had time for his executive function to catch up in the c. 40 minutes the attack took.

 

[L White]

I do understand people's concerns but honestly, I was playing violent video games at that age and I don't think it has as much of an effect as people might think. Perhaps if you're mentally unstable it might, but if you're able to discern reality from fiction, even at a young age, it shouldn't leave that much of an impression on you. Maybe you could argue it in this case though.

I think the media always love to spin a "violent video game" story though.
As a little side note, that Slenderman video was uploaded exactly 4 years ago today. Just random but I noticed it.

Agree, I played all manner of games when I was far too young. Somehow managed not to murder people

 

[Keeneye]

I got a 15 yr old and and 8 yr old I’m on both their internet history so I can keep an eye . Honestly there does come a time when parents need to take responsibility

 

[neteditor]

snip...

Ha @neteditor i was a bit worried you'd tell me off, just my own experience of these things led me to my conclusion. A bit depressing to be so correct though.

Oooh no did it come across like a telling off? I apologise, not intended at all.

 

[Taskforce88]

Agree, I played all manner of games when I was far too young. Somehow managed not to murder people

As did I and many others, but is it possible it affected him personally in some way?

 

[Keeneye]

Arrest photo of Aaron Campbell, killer of 6 year-old #Alesha MacPhail @SkyNews

wow just look at his neck , this dude is big and strong . Scary !

 

[TaylorCallum]

Did he ever have Twitter as far as anyone is aware? I've never seen that mentioned?

 

[Cinque]

The Crown Office has released CCTV, shown in court, from the home of Aaron Campbell on the Isle of Bute.

WestFMNews on Twitter

 

[JosieJo]

So the lane that leads round to the crime scene is next to his house is that correct?

 

[Cinque]

So the lane that leads round to the crime scene is next to his house is that correct?

Correct.

 

[Taskforce88]

So the lane that leads round to the crime scene is next to his house is that correct?

Yep, Gortans road will take you up to the crime scene

 

[bronzepurple]

I would like to see some of the cctv footage of him and his mum arguing, with audio. I want to see what sort of a mood he was in that night.

 

[bfin1995]

The Crown Office has released CCTV, shown in court, from the home of Aaron Campbell on the Isle of Bute.

WestFMNews on Twitter

Chilling, especially with sound.

 

[TaylorCallum]

The Crown Office has released CCTV, shown in court, from the home of Aaron Campbell on the Isle of Bute.

WestFMNews on Twitter

And since it appears he was running he obviously could have made the distance between his house and the crime scene fairly quickly, quicker than even the 7 minutes or so it was speculated during the trial.

 

[Gardenista]

The Crown Office has released CCTV, shown in court, from the home of Aaron Campbell on the Isle of Bute.

WestFMNews on Twitter

Wow, that is clear video

 

[Ciana]

If you search his gamer name you should find his videos:

poison3dappl3

He looks like a very, very young boy in these videos. I find it all immensely sad. His accent is politer, also, than the older version of him on his trampoline.

 

[Taskforce88]

And since it appears he was running he obviously could have made the distance between his house and the crime scene fairly quickly, quicker than even the 7 minutes or so it was speculated during the trial.

Yep. I assumed that he took Gortans Road and not the main road, so he wasn't obviously spotted. I believe he was returning to the crime scene in those quick trips.

 

[Bluedaisy100]

Amazingly clear video. So he clearly was going back and forth to the crime scene which is incredibly close to his house. He had ample opportunity to conceal her body. But thank heavens he didn't! The urge to boast and display must have been too strong. Am I missing something here? Did he think he could expose her body like that and get rid of evidence too?

 

[Taskforce88]

Amazingly clear video. So he clearly was going back and forth to the crime scene which is incredibly close to his house. He had ample opportunity to conceal her body. But thank heavens he didn't! The urge to boast and display must have been too strong. Am I missing something here? Did he think he could expose her body like that and get rid of evidence too?

He could easily have moved the body further away. Possible that he wanted Alesha to be found, possible he planned to move her again at some point later the next day.