SIX-year-old Alesha MacPhail went missing from her home on the Isle of Bute and was found dead hours later in woodland on July 2, 2018. Aaron Campbell, 16, was found guilty of the little girl's kidnapping, rape and murder in February 2019 but he has now been granted an appeal. 2 Alesha's body was discovered on the site of the abandoned Kyles of Bute Hydropathic Hotel Credit: Facebook What happened to Alesha MacPhail? Alesha MacPhail was reported missing from her home in Rothesay, Isle of Bute, at 6.25pm on Monday, July 2, 2018. She was discovered dead in woodland about three hours after being reported missing. Little Alesha had been staying with her dad and grandparents on the island when she feel asleep watching a Peppa Pig DVD. The boy - drunk from a house party - stole a knife from his mum's kitchen and swiped Alesha from her bed. A "shadowy figure" was later captured on CCTV carrying a mystery object - believed to be Alesha - across the shoreline at Rothesay on the night she vanished. Once at the site of former Kyles of Bute Hotel, the twisted killer removed the girl's clothes and shook her "violently" as he covered her nose, mouth and neck with his hands. Alesha suffered 117 injuries on her little body and died from "forceful pressure to her neck and face". Horrifically, she suffered “catastrophic” sexual injuries both before and after her death. "Billion-to-one" DNA samples matching the boy were found on 14 different parts of Alesha’s body - including intimate areas and her neck, face and ankles. DNA was also discovered on Alesha’s shorts, pants and vest, with forensic scientist Stuart Bailey saying “traces of semen attributable to the accused" were present. Her mutilated body was found in woods on the Isle of Bute hours after her devastated family woke up to find she was missing. 2 Alesha MacPhail was staying with her dad and grandparents when she vanished Credit: Facebook Was Aaron Campbell jailed over Alesha's death? On March 21, 2019, Aaron Campbell was jailed for life with a minimum of 27 years behind bars. He finally admitted to kidnapping, raping and murdering the little girl telling a psychologist "all I thought about was killing her" when he walked in on Alesha sleeping after breaking into her home. The 16-year-old gamer, who has been described as a serial killer in the making, carried out the depraved and senseless crime in July 2018. He callously tried pinning the brutal murder on Toni McLachlan - the girlfriend of Alesha's dad Robert. Campbell fed jurors a "pack of lies" during his trial - including that Toni had framed him by "planting" his DNA on the youngster using a condom discarded after they apparently had sex. But the panel saw through him and the teenager was convicted, after just four hours at Glasgow's High Court, of abducting, raping and murdering Alesha on July 2, 2018. It emerged during the trial that the teen was obsessed with the internet meme Slender Man, and may have even carried out the murder in a manner based upon the creepy online idol. Former friends of the killer have revealed how he was obsessed with violent video games and even killed and skinned cats. It has also emerged he allegedly sexually abused a teenage girl and showed off explicit pictures to his friends before the murder. The sicko is understood to have tortured two cats on Bute three years ago before burying them in his back garden. Locals also claim he held another little girl's head under the water at a local swimming pool so long she feared she would drown. Insiders close to the case said the lad has no remorse for his depraved crime. The Sun revealed how the lad had a twisted fascination with Slender Man, a faceless film monster that abducts kids. His defence lawyer said that Campbell had a history of self harm, depression and anxiety. Campbell was granted an appeal against his life sentence on May 14. His hearing was set for August 7 at Edinburgh's High Court. On September 10, top judges slashed his sentence by three years. But his lawyers claimed that the sentence was "excessive" - with an appeal against the jail term heard at a court in Edinburgh last month. Top judges have now ruled that the minimum term the killer will serve before being considered for parole will be reduced to 24 years. What has Alesha MacPhail's mum said? The Daily Record today reported the mum penned a heartbreaking message to her daughter online, writing: "We had the hardest two weeks of our lives, being dragged through a trial, having to listen to what was said. "But you stayed in mummy’s heart and we did it, my lassie. “That boy will never hurt anyone ever again or have the chance to inflict what he did to you on any other child. "You’re mummy’s strong, beautiful, bubbly little princess. "I made you a promise that I won’t give up until you see justice done and I hope we did it right, angel. You are unconditionally loved and missed Alesha and now you can be at peace my girl." Upon hearing Campbell will repeal his sentence, Georgina Lochrane said he shouldn't be allowed to appeal. Speaking with Good Morning Britain on May 30, she said: "I'm disgusted by it - it's not fair. "He gets to appeal, where does Alesha fit in? "She didn't get to appeal against being murdered." The 24-year-old mum added: "They shouldn't be allowed to do it. "They're allowed to cause more pain, and that's not fair." What has Aaron Campbell's family said? Alesha MacPhail’s murderer has been disowned by his sickened family as he rots behind bars for raping and murdering the six-year-old. Aaron Campbell’s dad Chris, 41, shunned the monster after his arrest and mum Janette, 54, is now too scared to visit him at Polmont prison in Falkirk, Scotland. Campbell, 16, is serving at least 27 years for the horrific attack in Rothesay, Bute, in July, 2018. A source said: "He’ll have no visitors at all now."<doc-sep>The playground around the corner from Alesha MacPhail’s grandparent’s house on the Isle of Bute would normally be filled with children on a weekday after school. But, despite the heat wave temperatures on Wednesday afternoon, the park was empty. Late on Tuesday, Scottish police confirmed that six-year-old Alesha had been murdered and that, as a precaution, told islanders to "look out for each other and please look out for your families and the security and safety of your homes." On Wednesday night, police announced that they had arrested a male youth on suspicion of Alesha's murder. The teenage boy faces further police questioning after his arrest while police repeated a call for information as officers continue their investigation. "Anyone who has CCTV at their home or business, or indeed any motorists with dashcam footage which might help with our investigation, are also urged to get in touch," Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston said. Alesha's grandparents Angela King, 46, and Calum MacPhail, 49, live in the Victorian seaside resort Rothesay, in a house that overlooks the Firth of Clyde and out towards the mainland.<doc-sep>A 16-year-old boy charged in connection with the murder of six-year-old Alesha MacPhail was known to the family, it has emerged. The teenager was arrested late on Wednesday night on suspicion of murder. Police confirmed that he had been charged in connection with the death Thursday afternoon. He is in custody and will appear at Greenock Sheriff Court on Friday. A dozen police were on Thursday combing the length of the beach opposite MacPhail’s grandparent’s house, where the school girl had been staying. Their house, which is believed to be divided into three flats, one of which was used as a holiday home, has been searched by police, and today a cordon was erected around a second house.<doc-sep>"I would like to speak to anyone who was involved in that search who has not yet been spoken to by the police. This is to ensure that everyone that was in the vicinity of Ardbeg Road at the time is traced as they may have critical information which could assist with the investigation."<doc-sep>
A picture among tributes near a house on Ardbeg Road on the Isle of Bute in Scotland, after the body of Alesha MacPhail was found in woodland on the site of a former hotel by a member of the public Photo: John Linton/PA Wire A funeral is to take place later for schoolgirl Alesha MacPhail, who was killed on the Isle of Bute. The six-year-old was staying with relatives on the island, in the Firth of Clyde, at the start of the summer break when she was found dead. A 16-year-old boy was charged with rape and murder following the discovery of Alesha's body in woodland on July 2. Family and friends will gather for a service at Coats Funeral Home in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, on Saturday morning. Alesha was a pupil at Chapelside Primary School in nearby Airdrie. MacGregor Family Funeral Directors said in a statement on Facebook: "With great sadness and heavy hearts we respectfully announce the funeral arrangements for little Alesha MacPhail. "Following this, Alesha will be taken to her final resting place in Coltswood Cemetery. "Alesha's family would welcome and be comforted by the attendance of anyone affected by this tragedy who wish to pay their final respects. "We ask that the community show their support and help the family through this tragedy and through this very difficult day in their lives. "Mum and Dad have requested that everyone wears something pink. "Now in the arms of the Angels." A candlelit vigil was held in Rothesay on Bute earlier this month and an online fundraiser set up to support relatives reached almost £13,000. Alesha's mother Georgina Lochrane previously thanked those who have helped the family following the youngster's death. PA Media