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

[Taskforce88]

You learn something new every day as the saying goes! I knew that was the case in some places but I didn't think Bute would be far enough North for that to be the case there.

Bute is not in the north of Scotland. Its in line with where I live.

 

[embro68]

Doesn't it seem most likely that he took Alesha to the beach straight from her bed? Did the deed there and subsequently moved the body to the location where she was found. If he was seen carrying a body or unconscious child on his back at 2:26 away from the beach heading north to where the body would be later found. He went back and forth so quickly looking to clean up the area where he molested and killed her on the beach. So the short distance alive to the beach, the longer distance dead or unconscious. Where is the police station skip where he disposed of clothing?

“You can see the legs hanging down and moving” she (2nd cctv witness) says.
I believe the tide would have been in at this time as well.

The police station is the opposite direction in the main town.

 

[neteditor]

Bute is not in the north of Scotland. Its in line with where I live.

You're right I confused myself with Skye in my minds eye. But still it's parallel with Central Belt which is where I would be familiar with the light nights of midsummer. Bo'ness is the furthest north I have lived and I used to go up Cairnpapple Hill by Bathgate to enjoy the all night twilight and a bit of a smoke

 

[Taskforce88]

I was about to say the same. For somewhere described earlier as a "leave your doors open" type place there seems to be an awful lot of home CCTV.

I personally don't class Bute in the same list as other islands like Tiree, Mull or Skye. It's too similar to places on the mainland. I wouldn't leave my door open on Bute put it that way.

 

[Taskforce88]

You're right I confused myself with Skye in my minds eye. But still it's parallel with Central Belt which is where I would be familiar with the light nights of midsummer. Bo'ness is the furthest north I have lived and I used to go up Cairnpapple Hill by Bathgate to enjoy the all night twilight and a bit of a smoke

Yup, still gets dark but not for that long.

 

[Alyce]

Doesn't it seem most likely that he took Alesha to the beach straight from her bed? Did the deed there and subsequently moved the body to the location where she was found. If he was seen carrying a body or unconscious child on his back at 2:26 away from the beach heading north to where the body would be later found. He went back and forth so quickly looking to clean up the area where he molested and killed her on the beach. So the short distance alive to the beach, the longer distance dead or unconscious. Where is the police station skip where he disposed of clothing?

Sounds feasible but didnt the autopsy results say Alesha was attacked at the place she was found ?

 

[HayLouise]

Fraser Knight‏ @Fraser_Knight

Lord Matthews adjourned the court for the night. The 16-year-old accused continues to deny abducting, raping and murdering 6-year-old Alesha MacPhail, before trying to hide the evidence. The trial will continue at the High Court in Glasgow tomorrow.

 

[molly67]

So Alex McLachan is Toni's father .... have I missed something ... ...

 

[Edinlass]

Well that was some read and yes it appears there is loads of CCTV in the area, makes you wonder about the ‘leaving doors open because it’s a safe place’ theory!

The evidence is overwhelming tbh, i’ll reiterate my previous statement that his defence is totally crazy.

With regards to his mum seemingly not viewing the third time he left with a flashlight, well I find that entirely hard to believe. She was looking through footage to seemingly try and eliminate her son from the polices enquiries even though her son wasn’t suspected at the time she viewed the footage, aye ok.

The CCTV from the neighbour 2 doors down from Mr McLachlan stated that the legs were ‘moving’ this could be from the movement of him walking rather than Alesha kicking IMO. In a sort of dangling fashion. It seems she may have been unconscious rather than dead at this point given that the pathologist said she was more than likely alive when what happened happened.

This is going down for a very very very long time, forever and ever. I think we will all be disappointed though in his sentence, I hope I’m way wrong!

 

[molly67]

Well that was some read and yes it appears there is loads of CCTV in the area, makes you wonder about the ‘leaving doors open because it’s a safe place’ theory!

The evidence is overwhelming tbh, i’ll reiterate my previous statement that his defence is totally crazy.

With regards to his mum seemingly not viewing the third time he left with a flashlight, well I find that entirely hard to believe. She was looking through footage to seemingly try and eliminate her son from the polices enquiries even though her son wasn’t suspected at the time she viewed the footage, aye ok.

The CCTV from the neighbour 2 doors down from Mr McLachlan stated that the legs were ‘moving’ this could be from the movement of him walking rather than Alesha kicking IMO. In a sort of dangling fashion. It seems she may have been unconscious rather than dead at this point given that the pathologist said she was more than likely alive when what happened happened.

This is going down for a very very very long time, forever and ever. I think we will all be disappointed though in his sentence, I hope I’m way wrong!

Carstairs is the only place for this animal

 

[Edinlass]

Carstairs is the only place for this animal

Too easy there tho eh.

 

[Bluedaisy100]

Sorry, I missed the bit where the pathologist said that the attack took place where she was found. I still find it puzzling that he appears to have crossed the street from her house to the beach and walked north which accounts for the 2 CCTV sightings by neighbors on Marine Place. It would have been quite a walk carrying a child who could cry out at any time, if she wasn't incapacitated in some way. Very risky. So he came back later to try and dispose of his clothing on the beach later (hoping the high tide would carry it out to sea). Does anyone remember where the hoodie was found?

 

[Edinlass]

Sorry, I missed the bit where the pathologist said that the attack took place where she was found. I still find it puzzling that he appears to have crossed the street from her house to the beach and walked north which accounts for the 2 CCTV sightings by neighbors on Marine Place. It would have been quite a walk carrying a child who could cry out at any time, if she wasn't incapacitated in some way. Very risky. So he came back later to try and dispose of his clothing on the beach later (hoping the high tide would carry it out to sea). Does anyone remember where the hoodie was found?

*Content warning*


Dr Williams tells the jury injuries suggest Alesha was alive for at least part of the time she was being sexually assaulted.

This was reported earlier on in the twitter feed. It was only a suggestion but I don’t think it would have been said due to the high distress it would cause to everyone if he wasn’t sure, idk though.

Appears he did manage to carry her tho, the evidence is there in CCTV images caught. Thank god for all this CCTV, it clears up a lot.

Hoodie was located in a skip near to police station. Writing that it’s as if he wanted to get caught, sure he never but he’s not that intelligent.

 

[mrazda71]

Maybe the Accuseds mum didn't see the CCTV of him leaving for the THIRD time because she couldn't bring herself to view another single second of her sons guilt ...

 

[Edinlass]

Maybe the Accuseds mum didn't see the CCTV of him leaving for the THIRD time because she couldn't bring herself to view another single second of her sons guilt ...

Makes no odds anyway tbh, her footage thankfully incriminated him beyond doubt imo

 

[Bluedaisy100]

So he went to a lot of trouble to separately dispose of the hoodie quite a distance away. He was very busy to be seen leaving his house at 1:54 to next be spotted carrying a child at 2:26 up the beach away from the house. Man with a plan. Not haphazard. Speaks to determination and planning. Wonder if he had already been peeping or worse before this. Seemed to be aware of the household's schedule and how much time he had before daylight. Very dangerous individual. Lucky for the public that he made mistakes in what could have been a longer career.

 

[MrsWatson]

Has there been any information released regarding his internet browsing history or frequently visited sites?

Were this not such a heinous case, his defense would be laughable. It's like an unlikely elaborate plot twist in a third rate crime thriller.

 

[SJ16321]

Carstairs is the only place for this animal

It's a very controversial and emotive subject but I definitely think there's an argument that anyone who could carry out an act like this against a small child is mentally ill in some form or another and should be locked away indefinitely or until treatment is complete (if treatment is possible).

 

[Edinlass]

It's a very controversial and emotive subject but I definitely think there's an argument that anyone who could carry out an act like this against a small child is mentally ill in some form or another and should be locked away indefinitely or until treatment is complete (if treatment is possible).

Unfortunately sane people carry out rotten crimes too. I would imagine he has been evaluated to stand trial, must have passed. He’s cocky, he thinks he could outsmart everyone. Saying things like ‘they won’t find any of my DNA’ is just what I would imagine a charming physcopath to come out with. The only treatment he deserves is the worst kind...

 

[Sarahlou]

I don’t want treatment for him. He doesn’t deserve any, he deserves to rot. Unfortunately sane people carry out rotten crimes.

Agree. This crime is SO horrific. I want him in jail for LIFE. He won't get it though. But he doesn't even deserve to be breathing.