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

[wtiger]

...wtiger shuffles away muttering to himself!

 

[bos]

Cue special defence of “that’s not my client’s real name” or some such

 

[Alyce]

Not happening today!

Decision today I think, but if yes to lifting the anonymity, then the reveal will be challenged for sure by the Defence - so likely the reveal will be on sentencing day

 

[LittleMystery]

James Shaw‏ @JGBS 18s19 seconds ago




Arguing that the teenager who raped and murdered Alesha MacPhail should not be named, his lawyer says there has been credible intelligence of a threat to his client.

That’s what happens when you end up in jail for killing little children. Unfortunately for him, he is going to be a target as people inside will want the notoriety that will come with getting to him first.

But nothing is secret in there. They will probably already know more about him than we do.

 

[Bluedaisy100]

I can't help but think that his over confidence and boastful nature, which is what sunk him in the end, is from having a history of talking his way out of trouble. Getting in trouble officially at home and school is what marks that a person needs to be watched. This lack of publicly known history protects him. It's in the public interest for him to be named as he will be in the near future anyway.

 

[neteditor]

TBF it's the editorial team i'd look to. I know people who've been interviewed by the Sun and they write the article they want, not what you thought you'd said nor the article they assured you they'd be writing.

As to whether she was paid, on first reading it did NOT mention that she wasn't paid, which implies she was, but i can't get it to load now (probably due to traffic, the editor will be rubbing his greasy palms together in glee) and it's not unknown for them to "accidentally on purpose" leave that info off for a few hours either. If it's in print tomorrow they're more likely to state if she wasn't paid on the actual paper.

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.

 

[TaylorCallum]

Can I ask why it takes 4 weeks to pass a sentence? Does the judge really need that long to decide?

 

[Taskforce88]

Can I ask why it takes 4 weeks to pass a sentence? Does the judge really need that long to decide?

I mentioned 4 weeks because that will be the time whenhe gets sentenced, so it would fit in with him getting named too.

 

[TaylorCallum]

I mentioned 4 weeks because that will be the time whenhe gets sentenced, so it would fit in with him getting named too.

Oh yes sorry, that's what I mean. I'm talking about his overall sentencing. I'm not sure why it takes a month.

 

[Alyce]

Can I ask why it takes 4 weeks to pass a sentence? Does the judge really need that long to decide?

Have seen it before in Scotland. Seems to be the normal time frame for them. No idea why.

 

[Bustia]

Oh yes sorry, that's what I mean. I'm talking about his overall sentencing. I'm not sure why it takes a month.

It’s for background reports on the accused.

 

[Bustia]

It’s for background reports on the accused.

Sorry guilty party, force of habit.

 

[Taskforce88]

Oh yes sorry, that's what I mean. I'm talking about his overall sentencing. I'm not sure why it takes a month.

In this case its to allow for background checks, some of which may take a while to come in.

 

[TaylorCallum]

It’s for background reports on the accused.

The Sun seemed to have found them out in about a day. Maybe the court should get their advice.

Obviously just joking but yeah I understand, just seems a little long.

 

[Taskforce88]

The Sun seemed to have found them out in about a day.

Very true lol

 

[Meeky]

ADHD doesn't make teens go out and rape and murder! It's irrelevant to his case here I feel. As for the self harming, who is to know whether he got a "kick" out of this since he seems to have done with his horrific crime and the alleged incidents with defenceless animals.

 

[Alyce]

The Sun seemed to have found them out in about a day. Maybe the court should get their advice.

Obviously just joking but yeah I understand, just seems a little long.

 

[bos]

Can I ask why it takes 4 weeks to pass a sentence? Does the judge really need that long to decide?

The chances are that the judge has other cases to sit on, there are background reports to wait for (psychological/social work etc);mitigating factors to be entered by defence;aggravating factors to be entered by the prosecution alongside statute books of previous rulings for similar crimes. The judge wants to minimise appeals for sentence being unduly harsh so will have to make things as watertight as possible

 

[Bustia]

The Sun seemed to have found them out in about a day.

Those aren’t confirmed as fact, it’s also about gauging risk of reoffending. They use social workers etc they will look into his past plus interview him and try and get a clear picture before sentencing. Hopefully in this case it will help get an extremely long sentence.

 

[stephaniejanes]

Those aren’t confirmed as fact, it’s also about gauging risk of reoffending. They use social workers etc they will look into his past plus interview him and try and get a clear picture before sentencing. Hopefully in this case it will help get an extremely long sentence.

Correct. Social workers will assess risk of reoffending and risk of harm. The defence will submit mitigating factors, and the crown aggravating factors. The judge will then refer to past precedent and come to an informed decision.