UK - Alesha MacPhail, 6, raped & murdered, Ardbeg, Isle of Bute, Scotland, 2 Jul 2018 -*arrest* #5

[kyndigs]

There is levels when dealing drugs to be honest, people like RM are probably the type who buy an ounce from a dealer, sell a bit for a profit, but generally use it on their own, people especially youngsters all know who the dealers are and where to get cannabis in their area, from my experience growing up anyway! People remember the incident in cranhill in the 90s? The young boy who accidentally got heroin from a dealer and died.

A very British tragedy

I remember hearing the police literally asked kids to show them where the dealers were and raided there houses there and then... Might be a bit dramatic but... Drugs are very accessible to youngsters in Glasgow and Bute is not so far away.

I have great sympathy for RM losing his child, but if anything were to come out of it for him it should be the motivation to clean up his act, selling cannabis to a 14 year old is not acceptable.

 

[Alyce]

I thought those charges were dropped because it couldn't be shown to be a lie?

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It just means the prosecution couldn't prove beyond reasonable doubt that AC attempted to defeat the ends of justice by showering and disposing of clothing.

BIB AC didn't hide or conceal the joggers. It is assumed ( as no one was there at the time ) that he threw them into the water - at high tide - no doubt with the expectation that they would be washed away.
But he or his Defence could reasonably argue that he lost them in the sea and no one could prove otherwise.

So no reasonable doubt and better to remove the charge rather than have the Jury deliberate too long on this smaller detail.

 

[Ardoch]

To me, he appears composed until the time he is running out with the torch.

Perhaps. I was considering the different way he enters his garden and whether it was random or planned?
I wondered also as to why he took the High Rd back after the crime and not the more secluded Gortans Rd but then he didn't have a torch which could indicate that there wasn't any exacting planning. IMO

 

[Alyce]

I would have thought the cops would have technology to track it either way. They can triangulate pre paid burners. I am very surprised it was left out - it could have potentially told the story in itself.

This was discussed on a previous thread and general consensus was that they couldnt get good tracking information. There were several posters who tried to find the masts and I dont believe they were successful, so the small area he was moving within on that night could possibly have all been covered by the same mast.
I did mention the 100 yard technology, but I don't believe it has yet been used too extensively.

 

[Ciana]

I put (I think) because if it was a man or her and her husband other posters would argue that i can't even remember who gave evidence..etc..etc...etc. I come on line in the evening and am reading through tons of posts to catch up and don't have time to check for irrelevant details. Yes she is elderly and had recently lost her husband, thanks for reminding me.

I've shown the lady respect by:
1. Believing her.
2. Pointing out how brave she was to raise concerns with RM's dad about his behaviour and having the guts to testify to this in court as well as flagging up the fact that he was lying about his whereabouts.

I can't imagine how she must have felt hearing TM get the xxxx beaten out of her, especially if she was alone at the time.

Do you think other posters have shown her respect by dismissing her evidence?

I agree, this lady is a brave one. Not many people on an island, part of a small community, would have come forth with this evidence. I do not think for a second that Rab had anything to do with this, or other members of his family, they were clearly panic-stricken when they found wee Alesha gone. This lady has gone out on a limb, and I can imagine that several people will not be including the soul on their Christmas card list now. She did the right thing. Well done, Mrs.

 

[sunshine2019]

I agree, this lady is a brave one. Not many people on an island, part of a small community, would have come forth with this evidence. I do not think for a second that Rab had anything to do with this, or other members of his family, they were clearly panic-stricken when they found wee Alesha gone. This lady has gone out on a limb, and I can imagine that several people will not be including the soul on their Christmas card list now. She did the right thing. Well done, Mrs.

I'm guessing that she had no choice in testifying if she was called as a witness?

 

[mrazda71]

There are always 3 sides to a story, there's Janettes, Ms Stewart's & somewhere in the middle is the truth & Janette has not given her side of this story.

Also do we all believe what we read in the gutter press? I certainly don't.

I agree. The truth is always somewhere in between the 2 stories.

I'm anticipating a front page expose of a neighbour claiming that he once saw Aaron dropping litter in the street in 2013!

The reporting on Aaron's parents has been VERY one sided.

Where are the photos of Aaron's Dad door stepped by a tabloid 'journalist? Where are the comments about Dads appearance? Or questions on his parenting or lack of?

 

[jaci68]

You are perhaps not helping yourself when, you have yet to write a post which doesn't contain an error when discussing errors in articles.

I am nursing a new born baby at the moment so apologies for any typos.

 

[Kikixxxx]

Alesha MacPhail killer's sick Facebook boast after murdering the six-year-old

I wonder where they’ve got that photo from that he’s liked it? His Facebook was deleted ages ago so it wouldn’t still show that he liked it ?

 

[Ciana]

In the article Ms Stewart details that it was Janette who escalated the situation by texting her accusing her of attacking her son. Janette has now risen to become my candidate as AC's primary enabler. She would take his word as a ten year old over that of a trusted neighbor. Janette caused her friend to be thrown in jail and subject to a court proceeding. That's a pretty remarkable story.

To be fair and just here, we are only hearing this woman's side of the story. When I first read the headlines, I was under the impression that the prisoner had attacked a much younger child. However, upon reading further, I discovered that they were the same age. The article did say that his "parents" took his side, I believe, so that would include his father, also. I have no idea why this lady has gone to the newspapers with this. Whatever happened that day, I have no real knowledge, but the person in question clearly held a grudge against the family afterwards. The case was dismissed, but bad feeling persisted from the accused party (the woman who gave the story) and she ended her friendship with Janette. As for her stating that A.C. was like "Damien"....I did truly think that the pic the newspaper included of Damien was a very small and young A.C. at a funeral. These papers do like to sell their wares, for sure.

 

[Taskforce88]

Perhaps. I was considering the different way he enters his garden and whether it was random or planned?
I wondered also as to why he took the High Rd back after the crime and not the more secluded Gortans Rd but then he didn't have a torch which could indicate that there wasn't any exacting planning. IMO

Yeah, I was wondering on him using the High Road, but it could be that he came down from behind the bus depot or had gone to the shore then came back that way. Or perhaps since he would have known there was CCTV, he did come down Gortons Road but then walked up High Road for a bit then turned and came back down the opposite side to make it look as if he had walked up High Road from the alleged meeting with TM at the shelter.

 

[Taskforce88]

To be fair and just here, we are only hearing this woman's side of the story. When I first read the headlines, I was under the impression that the prisoner had attacked a much younger child. However, upon reading further, I discovered that they were the same age. The article did say that his "parents" took his side, I believe, so that would include his father, also. I have no idea why this lady has gone to the newspapers with this. Whatever happened that day, I have no real knowledge, but the person in question clearly held a grudge against the family afterwards. The case was dismissed, but bad feeling persisted from the accused party (the woman who gave the story) and she ended her friendship with Janette. As for her stating that A.C. was like "Damien"....I did truly think that the pic the newspaper included of Damien was a very small and young A.C. at a funeral. These papers do like to sell their wares, for sure.

Well, the lady did end up arrested and in court because of it so it was serious enough at the time. I would have held a grudge too if it was all lies.

 

[Ciana]

How do you know exactly how much he sold and to how many people. He was selling to a 14 year old as was proved by himself so how many other 14 year olds were buying from him ?

I have to agree with Crestnut here. Crestnut and I have no idea who Rab sold drugs to, how many clients he had, and the very fact that a grown man is selling drugs to weans only eight years older than his child is disturbing.

 

[Ardoch]

I agree. The truth is always somewhere in between the 2 stories.

I'm anticipating a front page expose of a neighbour claiming that he once saw Aaron dropping litter in the street in 2013!

The reporting on Aaron's parents has been VERY one sided.

Where are the photos of Aaron's Dad door stepped by a tabloid 'journalist? Where are the comments about Dads appearance? Or questions on his parenting or lack of?

Thought that too. Even if they couldn't get an interview you would have thought that they would have printed something.

 

[Taskforce88]

I doubt the father will be appearing or mentioned in much detail.

 

[Ciana]

I am nursing a new born baby at the moment so apologies for any typos.

mrazda, it's nice to be nice. We are all on here for the same purpose.

 

[Sleuthdolf]

There is levels when dealing drugs to be honest, people like RM are probably the type who buy an ounce from a dealer, sell a bit for a profit, but generally use it on their own, people especially youngsters all know who the dealers are and where to get cannabis in their area, from my experience growing up anyway! People remember the incident in cranhill in the 90s? The young boy who accidentally got heroin from a dealer and died.

A very British tragedy

I remember hearing the police literally asked kids to show them where the dealers were and raided there houses there and then... Might be a bit dramatic but... Drugs are very accessible to youngsters in Glasgow and Bute is not so far away.

I have great sympathy for RM losing his child, but if anything were to come out of it for him it should be the motivation to clean up his act, selling cannabis to a 14 year old is not acceptable.

I agree. Selling drugs attracts attention to your door. All sorts of characters buy weed, some good, some bad. However, in my life (a long time smoking cannabis) there are many who are dangerous and I wouldn't want anywhere near my family or even knowing they exist.

I'm not blaming RM, I feel immensely sorry for him. He will have to live with the what-ifs and guilt for the rest of his life and not get to see his daughter grow up.

 

[Kiranerys]

Wow. Now the local stories start to emerge. Not sure it's accurate about knowing him from two tho

I thought this,sure I read somewhere that he moved there when he was 5 or 6?, I'll be off now to see if I can find the link....

 

[Ciana]

How do you know exactly how much he sold and to how many people. He was selling to a 14 year old as was proved by himself so how many other 14 year olds were buying from him ?

Further to that, mrazda, if the prisoner was deemed by the islanders to be such a strange and odd personage, why on earth would R have previously allowed him to come to his door to buy drugs?

 

[Ardoch]

I doubt the father will be appearing or mentioned in much detail.

Can't blame him. The press (some) did what they normally do and pounced on A's mother when she was in a vulnerable state.