UK - Alesha MacPhail, 6, raped & murdered, Ardbeg, Isle of Bute, Scotland, 2 Jul 2018 -teen arrested

[Caroclaud]

Is anyone able to confirm the purpose of the knife in relation to the crime, I have seen quite a few references to it, but without wanting to be graphic wondered if it featured in the actual crime? Or is there no information about this?
Also was the 16 year old tested for drugs during his arrest do we know?

 

[molly67]

Do we know if accused parents are at the court?

 

[Alyce]

Do we know if accused parents are at the court?

Fairly sure the journos will not be reporting this information, because to do so would be a way of indentifying the accused.

 

[53J29]

Is the reason for the special defence that he had/has a mental disorder and also him naming someone else to have committed the crime just for him to get away with the crime, clothes would have dna, same with the rape dna, but why name the person he has named I don’t understand.

 

[Alyce]

Is anyone able to confirm the purpose of the knife in relation to the crime, I have seen quite a few references to it, but without wanting to be graphic wondered if it featured in the actual crime? Or is there no information about this?
Also was the 16 year old tested for drugs during his arrest do we know?

It hasn't been made clear what the knife was used for.
Likewise, with the drugs test, nothing has been made public - so far.

 

[molly67]

Fairly sure the journos will not be reporting this information, because to do so would be a way of indentifying the accused.

Thanks ... I just wondered if they had mentioned if there was any parents with him .... I know in the case of Anastasia Kregel here in Ireland when the underaged boys arrived in court the journo stated they sat with parents or grandparents .... that said it wasn't the trial

 

[Alyce]

Is the reason for the special defence that he had/has a mental disorder and also him naming someone else to have committed the crime just for him to get away with the crime, clothes would have dna, same with the rape dna, but why name the person he has named I don’t understand.

Hi and welcome to WS

We just don't know, right now, why he has submitted that defence statement.
From what I read yesterday - if I have understood it correctly - the accused/ his defence counsel, are under no obligation to provide a reason for this defence.
I would expect ( hope ) that some explanation will be given when the defence present their case, but who knows.

 

[Alyce]

Thanks ... I just wondered if they had mentioned if there was any parents with him .... I know in the case of Anastasia Kregel here in Ireland when the underaged boys arrived in court the journo stated they sat with parents or grandparents .... that said it wasn't the trial

I just had a quick read back through yesterday's testimony and can't see any report that states exactly where the accused is sitting within the court - which we would normally get with a trial.
Best guess is that the reporters are being restricted in what they can say - due to the anonymity order he has been granted.
We still have not been told ( unless I have missed it ) whether he is being tried as an adult or a child. Scottish law allows for both options for a person age 16 or 17.

 

[HayLouise]

What time is the trial continuing today?

 

[Taskforce88]

just catching up and I have to say I'm kind of lost for words. Why is he accusing this woman and not the multiple men that were in Alesha's life? Why are the courts allowing this? And why is her name being made public when she hasn't been charged with anything? Her reputation is now tarnished, which I'm sure is the accused's intention.

Yep that its a good point. He could easily have blamed someone else. Perhaps there is something deeper between them?

 

[HayLouise]

If anyone wants a quick catch up - Alesha MacPhail's dad 'watched on night murdered daughter disappeared'

 

[HayLouise]

Connor Gillies‏Verified account @ConnorGillies
Toni Louise McLachlan is giving evidence behind a screen here at the high court. She is the woman the 16 year old accused is blaming for the crimes against 6 year old Alesha MacPhail.

 

[Alyce]

What time is the trial continuing today?

Looks like it's started now

Radio Clyde News‏Verified account @RadioClydeNews




It's the second day of evidence at the High Court in #Glasgow in the trial of the 16 year old boy accused of raping & murdering 6 year Alesha MacPhail on the Isle of Bute. He's pleaded not guilty & has lodged a special defence, claiming a young woman committed the crime.

10:26 AM - 13 Feb 2019 from Glasgow, Scotland


Radio Clyde News‏Verified account @RadioClydeNews 53s53 seconds ago

The girlfriend of Alesha's dad, Toni McLachlan is the first witness to be called to give evidence this morning.

 

[Taskforce88]

Where did the quotes "it's for the best" and "she's in a better place now" attributed to the partner come from?

 

[HayLouise]

James Matthews‏Verified account @jamesmatthewsky
Day’s Evidence begins in trial of 16 year-old accused of murdering #alesha MacPhail. He denies it. Toni Louise McLachlan, partner of Alesha’s dad Robert, says they had on off relationship. Of Alesha, she says “I loved her to pieces”

 

[HayLouise]

Radio Clyde News‏Verified account @RadioClydeNews

Georgina Lochrane, the mum of Alesha MacPhail is being supported by relatives outside the High Court in #Glasgow. More evidence will be heard today in the trial of a 16 y/o boy accused of abducting, raping & murdering the 6 y/o in #Bute last year.


Radio Clyde News on Twitter

(Video at link)

 

[Alyce]

I must have missed this, but the phone call from TM to the accused was at 6.29am on the morning that Alesha was missing - see the newspaper clip attached to this tweet

Annie Butterworth‏ @anniethejourno 20m20 minutes ago




Day three of the Alesha MacPhail murder trial will begin shortly, read the coverage so far in today's Scottish Daily Mail

 

[HayLouise]

Connor Gillies‏Verified account @ConnorGillies
Toni Louise McLachlan says she “loved her to pieces” when asked what her relationship was like with Alesha. Toni “gave her a kiss and cuddle” before the 6 year old went to sleep.

Fraser Knight‏ @Fraser_Knight
The girlfriend of Alesha MacPhail’s dad - Toni-Louise McLachlan - is giving evidence behind a screen. “I loved her to pieces. I went through and gave her a kiss and a cuddle before she went to sleep” The accused boy is blaming Toni for the 6-year-old’s rape and murder.

 

[Alyce]

newspaper clip

 

[HayLouise]

Peter A Smith‏Verified account @PeterAdamSmith
Trial of 16 yr-old male accused of murdering 6 yr-old Alesha MacPhail continues today in Glasgow - he denies charges. Alesha’s father’s girlfriend now giving evidence. Says she remembers going into Alesha’s bedroom to switch off a DVD during the night she went missing. @itvnews