GUILTY UK - Alesha MacPhail, 6, raped & murdered, Ardbeg, Isle of Bute, Scotland, 2 Jul 2018 -*arrest* #7

[Kikixxxx]

In some ways I feel bad for the QC. He can only act on his clients instruction so I assume AC really must have pushed for this even if it’s not strongly in his favour. But mostly all my feelings are towards the poor family that have to go through this.

After watching his QC in an interview after the verdict I don’t feel bad for him at all. He has to lack empathy himself to do the job he does and he showed zero empathy for toni or aleshas family. It really wouldn’t of hurt him to show some sympathy for them and what they went through at trial with his defence etc. For him it’s a money thing, it really wouldn’t surprise me if it was him advising Aaron to appeal... just my opinion though

 

[Kiranerys]

In some ways I feel bad for the QC. He can only act on his clients instruction so I assume AC really must have pushed for this even if it’s not strongly in his favour. But mostly all my feelings are towards the poor family that have to go through this.

I'm not so sure,its no skin off the QC's nose really,and it wont have been a bad payday for them!. I'm a bit sceptical that a 17 year old boy is knowledgable of the law enough to be the driving force here,but I could just be very cynical.

 

[Deano saunders]

It’s his job at the end of the day - what he’s paid to do , he takes instruction from his client

 

[Yenriac]

I'm not so sure,its no skin off the QC's nose really,and it wont have been a bad payday for them!. I'm a bit sceptical that a 17 year old boy is knowledgable of the law enough to be the driving force here,but I could just be very cynical.

Yep. I think the legal team told him he could appeal and he did. The legal team prepared the appeal. AC just played computer games while they did the work.
QC would have made a fair we bit from this aswell as the publicity for him.

 

[AnnesCuthberts]

I'm not so sure,its no skin off the QC's nose really,and it wont have been a bad payday for them!. I'm a bit sceptical that a 17 year old boy is knowledgable of the law enough to be the driving force here,but I could just be very cynical.

Oh no, I definitely agree it’s £££ for the lawyer and the arguments are from the lawyer himself, but ultimately (from what I’m aware of having previously worked in a Scots law firm, albeit I am not a lawyer) if the client/AC wants to go ahead with the appeal, the lawyer has to act on the clients wishes. Even if the wishes are really silly or in this instance the case not too strong. Then again, it was solicitors I worked with - not QC’s! Appeals often seemed standard place as well. Advising the option is there and so on.

 

[Gardenista]

In some ways I feel bad for the QC. He can only act on his clients instruction so I assume AC really must have pushed for this even if it’s not strongly in his favour. But mostly all my feelings are towards the poor family that have to go through this.

In the US some appeals are automatic. Is it different in the UK?

 

[Yenriac]

In the US some appeals are automatic. Is it different in the UK?

A request for an appeal has to be made in Scotland.

 

[TaylorCallum]

maybe @TaylorCallum decided to attend after all?

I did! Sorry, I'm on the train I can reply a bit better when I get in haha.

 

[bronzepurple]

I did! Sorry, I'm on the train I can reply a bit better when I get in haha.

Yay!

 

[LittleMystery]

I’m finding the appeal distressing so I cannot imagine how Alesha’s family must be feeling.

So much focus on him being 43. 43 is still young enough to inflict pain and torment on to other innocent families. I hope he is locked up forever. I feel like this appeal process will just be entertainment for his disturbed mind.

 

[TaylorCallum]

Oh okay, so that was interesting.

Yes, Genie was there with her family as was already posted. Rab, Angela and Calum were there too with people. Toni wasn't.
He was still and quiet on the video-link but honestly, that's what he's supposed to be? He's not supposed to say anything so I don't think much can really be said about that. The only interaction he had was when they asked if he could see the room and then to say that was the appeal over with. It wasn't actually that busy, there was still quite a bit of room left for people to sit.

I don't think it went very well for him to be honest, the judges didn't seem to like the defence very much but maybe that's just the way appeals usually are? They'll obviously take a while to deliberate and decide. I don't think Brian McConnachie's "miscarriage of justice" line went down very well.

 

[TaylorCallum]

The new psychology report was supposed to help I think, the defence seemed to feel that it was more optimistic, but the judges said it was pretty much the same as the original and also that it wasn't done correctly, it was completed more in the style of a "risk assessment" which apparently wasn't very helpful to the court. They also brought up his "lack of parenting", "lack of boundaries" and "dysfunctional family" a few times as mitigating factors but I don't think those are very strong.

 

[Yenriac]

Oh okay, so that was interesting.

Yes, Genie was there with her family as was already posted. Rab, Angela and Calum were there too with people. Toni wasn't.
He was still and quiet on the video-link but honestly, that's what he's supposed to be? He's not supposed to say anything so I don't think much can really be said about that. The only interaction he had was when they asked if he could see the room and then to say that was the appeal over with. It wasn't actually that busy, there was still quite a bit of room left for people to sit.

I don't think it went very well for him to be honest, the judges didn't seem to like the defence very much but maybe that's just the way appeals usually are? They'll obviously take a while to deliberate and decide. I don't think Brian McConnachie's "miscarriage of justice" line went down very well.

Thank you @TaylorCallum

 

[TaylorCallum]

The judge also said the most recent psychologist had spoken to his mum but she was a "slanted source" (as in the information may not be entirely accurate from her) as she maybe didn't fully understand some of the medical terms/conditions used. Or so they said. Not really sure what to make of that.

 

[bronzepurple]

@TaylorCallum hmm interesting, thanks for the extra details. Yeah it didn't sound like the judges were impressed from the few comments that were reported online.

 

[bronzepurple]

The judge also said the most recent psychologist had spoken to his mum but she was a "slanted source" (as in the information may not be entirely accurate from her) as she maybe didn't fully understand some of the medical terms/conditions used. Or so they said. Not really sure what to make of that.

I'm surprised she agreed to be part of it, as she would have been told that this new psychologist was hired by A.C's defense. I'm guessing this may cause more bad feeling from the Macphail side towards his mother..

 

[Yenriac]

The judge also said the most recent psychologist had spoken to his mum but she was a "slanted source" (as in the information may not be entirely accurate from her) as she maybe didn't fully understand some of the medical terms/conditions used. Or so they said. Not really sure what to make of that.

Or maybe bias towards her son too?

 

[TaylorCallum]

I'm surprised she agreed to be part of it, as she would have been told that this new psychologist was hired by A.C's defense. I'm guessing this may cause more bad feeling from the Macphail side towards his mother..

Yeah, it might actually! Especially now that they've heard that. Hopefully not though, I hope there are no more problems on Bute (I'm sure you do as well haha!), it's been difficult for both of them.

Or maybe bias towards her son too?

Maybe yeah but I don't know? I feel like she might have been pretty honest about everything, just maybe didn't use the right medical terms or whatever according to the judge?

 

[Yenriac]

I hope his mum doesn't suffer any repercussions of this.

 

[TaylorCallum]

I hope his mum doesn't suffer any repercussions of this.

Yeah, same! They still didn't catch anyone for smashing her windows I'm sure? So I hope nothing like that happens again.