Get email updates with the day's biggest stories Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice With the school holidays stretched out before her, little Alesha MacPhail settled down in bed with a Peppa Pig DVD at her father's home. A big fan of the cartoon, the six-year-old was tucked in by dad Robert MacPhail, who told her he'd "see her in the morning" as he left her room. But tragically, Mr MacPhail wouldn't see his daughter alive again. Snatched from her bed by a 16-year-old boy during the night, Alesha was carried out of the property before being raped and murdered. She suffered 117 injuries in the brutal attack. Mr MacPhail awoke to find the "smiley" youngster missing from the house, which he shared with his parents on the Isle of Bute, Scotland. A desperate search was launched, with Alesha's gran pleading on Facebook: "Alesha has gone missing from our house please help look for her". (Image: Facebook) (Image: Daily Record) (Image: PA) The little girl's mum, Georgina Lochrane, living in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, also begged for information after seeing the online appeal. “Someone tell me what’s happened. That’s my daughter," Georgina posted. But at around 9am, in an area of woodland, Alesha's body was found. The youngster, who was just 3ft, 9ins tall, was discovered face down and naked on the grounds of the island's former Kyles Hydropathic Hotel. A post-mortem found she died from "pressure to neck and face". A court heard graphic details of her injuries, with a pathologist telling jurors: "It's extremely difficult to give an accurate time of death." When asked if the injuries observed "were something he had witnessed before" in his years of forensic experience, Dr John Williams replied: "No". (Image: Twitter) (Image: PA) (Image: PA) Shorts, pants and a vest were recovered a short distance from Alesha's body. The killing - which sparked a police probe that saw officers record details of ferry passengers travelling to and from the island - took place last July. And today, seven months on, justice was finally served as the youngster's teenager killer was found guilty of her abduction, rape and murder. Another charge against the boy - defeating the ends of justice - had been dropped by the prosecution on the eighth day of proceedings. The jury had heard DNA matching the suspect was "pretty well all over" Alesha's body and clothes, and that he had told police "a pack of lies". They were also told he had 'chipped in' with rumours and speculation about what may have happened to Alesha on a Snapchat group chat. He even sent a video of himself to pals on the group and said: "Found the guy who's done it" - something a friend thought was a "bad joke". (Image: Facebook) (Image: PA) The court heard that Mr MacPhail knew the accused. The father said during the case: "I used to sell him cannabis. He was never in my house, maybe at the front door, but never in the house." The teenager - who cannot be named due to his age - was found guilty at Glasgow's High Court, where he himself had given evidence. Taking to the witness stand on Tuesday, the boy told the jury he'd "never do something like that" and that he "never met Alesha MacPhail in person". Asked if he "brutalised" the girl, he said: "It's not me, absolutely not. I would never do something like that." The teenager denied abducting, raping and murdering Alesha, who was visiting her dad and grandparents for a three-week summer break. He lodged a special defence of incrimination, claiming that Mr MacPhail's girlfriend, Toni Louise McLachlan, committed the crime. During his evidence, the boy told the court he and Ms McLachlan had met up and had sex early on July 2, the day Alesha went missing. However, he claimed he did not want to tell police this as he feared it would get back to Mr MacPhail and he would "hurt" Ms McLachlan. But addressing the jury on Wednesday, advocate depute Iain McSporran QC, prosecuting, said the teenager was telling "a pack of lies then [to the police] and a pack of lies in the witness box". During his closing speech, Mr McSporran put it to jurors that they had heard no evidence implicating Ms McLachlan in the crime but a "mountain of evidence" linking the accused to it. He also said a claim by the boy - that Ms McLachlan had taken the condom the two allegedly used on July 2, gone back to the house where she had been staying with her partner, Alesha and the girl's grandparents, abducted the schoolgirl, carried her to the woods, smothered her to death and then planted the accused's semen inside her - was a "preposterous story". (Image: Getty Images) (Image: Daily Record) However, the teenager's defence lawyer, Brian McConnachie QC, urged the jury to acquit his client, questioning why he would abduct, rape and murder the youngster having "never met her in his life". A "loving girl" who adored music and baking cakes, Alesha had arrived at her dad and grandparents' Rothesay home shortly before she vanished. She was reported missing "from her bed" by her family at 6.25am, with Police Scotland launching a large-scale search to find her. Giving evidence in court, Mr MacPhail, who is separated from Alesha's mum, recalled how he had put his daughter to bed with the Peppa Pig DVD. "I told her I would see her in the morning and that was the last time I saw her," the father told jurors. (Image: PA) He also said he saw the youngster every second weekend and during the holidays - and that she "loved" the visits. "We were always doing something," he said. Shocked neighbours on the island were woken up by officers searching for Alesha. It later emerged the girl's body had been found. Speaking at the time, one neighbour said: “We were woken up at 7am by police saying a young girl was missing and asking us to check our back gardens and sheds, then we heard the sad news." Another local said: “We heard the choppers circulating from around 8am. "They were flying really low, obviously searching for something. It stopped about an hour later. I was so upset when I heard what had happened. (Image: PA) (Image: Getty Images) "It’s such a close community so to think of a wee girl coming to harm so close to you and no one could help her is just heartbreaking.” Alesha, a student at Chapelside Primary School in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, was found dead by a member of the public. Her cousin Lisamarie later said: "She was a lovely girl." Lisamarie's partner, Alan McGuire, added: “Alesha would go to Bute quite often to visit her gran and this was just a regular visit. We are devastated about what has happened because she was a lovely wee girl." Specially-trained officers supported Alesha's loved ones after her death. And within a matter of days, her killer had been arrested and charged. Now, the teenager is facing a lengthy prison term for murder. In coming days, months and years, his victim will be remembered as the friendly little girl who welcomed classmates to breakfast club each morning. (Image: Daily Record) In a statement last year, Alesha's school head Wendy Davie said: "She loved being at school and enjoyed all aspects of literacy, in particular writing. She was such a perfectionist in her handwriting and was very proud of her work. "Alesha was very friendly and she welcomed everyone first thing in the morning at breakfast club. She was a very considerate child who loved being part of a group and she was popular with all the other children, and was a smiley and happy young girl." The youngster's funeral in Coatbridge on July 21 also shone a light on her remarkable personality and her love towards others.<doc-sep>ALESHA Macphail's stepmum was "jealous" of the six-year-old and said she was "in a better place" after she was found raped and murdered, a court heard today. Toni McLachlan, who is in a relationship with Alesha's dad Robert, was also said to be "threatened" by the attention shown to the youngster. 6 Alesha MacPhail was found dead in woodland in July last year on the Isle of Bute, Scotland Credit: Social Media The six-year-old was discovered in woodland on July 2 on the Isle of Bute where she had been spending a summer break with her dad and grandparents. A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be legally named has denied murdering and raping Alesha and has lodged a special defence blaming Toni for her death. Lynsey Calderwood, 20, today told jurors she was friends with Ms McLachlan when the youngster first vanished and met with her after Alesha's body was found. She said: "Toni said something along the lines of 'she's in a better place'." The witness told the court Toni "got on really well" with Alesha and "they both liked each other" but she was also "jealous and threatened" by the child. 'DOMESTIC ABUSE' CLAIMS Jurors also heard from a neighbour who reported hearing domestic abuse between Toni and Robert around a year before Alesha was killed. Avil Lax, 67, said she could hear Toni getting "beaten up" over a "good few months" - and claimed she once heard her screaming "help, someone help". She told the court she reported the abuse to Alesha's grandparents, but alleges they told her they "didn't hear anything". Ms Lax added: "They didn't want to blacken Robert's name, there was a court case coming up over custody of Alesha." Another witness, Laura Crawford, 38, told the court that she "thought" she had seen the couple the night before Alesha disappeared and it "looked like they had fallen out". 'FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS' Alesha's dad Robert yesterday stormed out of the courtoom after the teen defendant claimed to jurors he had a "friends with benefits" relationship with Ms McLachlan. The teen said he was having sexual relations with Ms McLachlan "once or twice a week" near the end of 2017 and claimed on the night Alesha vanished, the pair had sex in a garage. He said: "Toni and me began seeing each other, not in a going out sort of way but more a friends with benefits. "One day I went to buy weed and I offered if she wanted to smoke with me, because we were both drunk. "It was a fairly frequent thing - once or twice a week. "She complained about her relationship to me - Rab was abusing her verbally and physically." On the night Alesha is said to have been abducted from her bed, the teen told jurors he romped with Ms McLachlan, who he claims "chucked" the used condom on the floor. He said he gave her a hoodie "because she was feeling cold" then went home and had a shower before leaving the house again because he thought he'd lost his phone. The boy has previously claimed Ms McLachlan used the contents of the condom to plant evidence on Alesha, which she denies. 'ONE IN A BILLION MATCH' Jurors heard today how DNA 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 odds of the samples belonging to anyone else were more than a billion to one. Mr Bailey said “traces of semen attributable to the accused were found” on the six-year-old’s body after investigations. But the defendant told the court he "never met Alesha MacPhail in person", adding: "I didn’t even know her name until everything that happened." GOOGLE SEARCHES Jurors heard yesterday how an iPhone belonging to the teen was used to Google "how do police find DNA" the day after Alesha was discovered dead. The court was also told the phone was used to call Alesha's dad Robert at 1.40am on the day she died and a message was sent to Ms McLachlan. Alesha had 117 injuries on her body and died from "forceful pressure to her neck and face", jurors have been told previously. Her feet were uninjured - suggesting she'd been carried to the scene - and she was was alive for part of the time while being sexually assaulted, it is said. Court documents allege the suspect, who can't be named for legal reasons, was armed with a knife when he snatched Alesha from her bed on July 2. He is accused of carrying her to a former hotel site nearby before removing her clothes and shaking her "violently". MOST READ IN NEWS 'GOBSMACKED' Queen 'gave Harry OK for Oprah series after misleading pitch about soldiers' ROD LIDDLE Ousting right-on National Trust boss is a victory against wokery DRUMMER DEAD School Of Rock star dies at 32 after being hit by car as Jack Black mourns HOUSE ABOUT IT You won't believe what this ordinary London home looks like on the inside Exclusive TOM'S LEGACY Captain Tom Moore — who raised £39m for charity — left family £73k in will JABS HOPE Scientists 'crack cause of blood clots linked to Covid jabs & know how to fix it' It is claimed the suspect applied pressure after covering the youngster's nose, mouth and neck with his hands. He is also accused of trying to cover up the crime on the shore at Rothesay and another address in the town by dumping clothes and a blade. The trial continues. 6 Tragic Alesha MacPhail pictured with dad Robert and his girlfriend Toni McLachlan - who is accused of having sex with the little girl's alleged killer 6 Toni McLachlan has been accused by the teen of taking the condom the pair used to implicate him Credit: Getty Images - Getty 6 Alesha's dad Robert stormed out of court Credit: PA:Press Association 6 Alesha's mum, Georgina Lochrane, arriving at Glasgow High Court Credit: PA:Press Association<doc-sep>Alesha MacPhail was found naked lying face down in woodland near an abandoned hotel Lawyers are urging a judge to name and shame the 16-year-old boy today found guilty of raping and murdering Alesha MacPhail - as her mother calls for the killer to be handed a long jail sentence. Six-year-old Alesha's body was discovered with 117 injuries in woods on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, last July, just hours after she was reported missing from the house her father shared with his parents on the island. A jury took just three hours to find a teenager, who cannot currently be named for legal reasons, unanimously guilty of her rape, murder and abduction. And now lawyers want the judge at Glasgow High Court to remove the automatic anonymity the child gets under the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995. According to Scottish law children under 18 have anonymity - with the age limit having been raised from 16 in 2015. The law can be lifted at any time should a judge consider it in the public interest to do so - with several Scottish media outlets now calling on the anonymity to be removed. Should it not be lifted it would be a crime under the Act to name the teenager, with those found responsible of doing so facing an unlimited fine or up to two years imprisonment. The court will tomorrow discuss whether to lift the boy's anonymity. Judge Lord Matthews told the boy he had committed some of the 'wickedest, most evil crimes this court has ever heard', as he deferred sentence for the 'barbaric' rape and murder until March 21. The boy faces a sentence of unlimited detention. As he was led downstairs, one man in the public gallery shouted 'evil' and Mr MacPhail said 'f***ing scumbag'. He had denied rape, murder and abduction at Glasgow High Court. And blamed the horrific crime on Toni McLachlan, 18, the girlfriend of Alesha's father Robert MacPhail, 26. Alesha's emotional mother Georgina Lochrane (left) and father Robert MacPhail (right) outside Glasgow High Court today. Miss Lochrane said she will forever miss her 'wee pal' A pair of jogging bottoms found on Rothesay beach by police during the search for Alesha MacPhail. DNA matching the murderer was recovered from the waistband A knife found on Rothesay beach by police during the search for Alesha last July Following the guilty verdicts, Police Scotland described it as a 'barbaric murder', while Alesha's mother Georgina Lochrane, 24, said she will forever miss her 'wee pal'. Lord Matthews told the teenager: 'I have no idea what made you do this but I do know that the evidence you did it was overwhelming.' A police source has also revealed to The Sun that the teenager had become obsessed by the internet horror character Slender Man in the months leading up to the killing. They said: 'Slender Man searches were found and it chilled seasoned investigators to the bone.' The character started out as an internet meme, and has been interpreted online as a tall, thin, faceless man who kidnaps and kills children. It is believed to be the inspiration behind the shocking stabbing of a girl in Wisconsin in 2014 - when two teenagers lured their friend into the woods before attacking her. After the Alesha MacPhail hearing today, Miss Lochrane said: 'Words cannot express just how devastated I am to have lost my beautiful, happy, smiley wee girl. 'I am glad that the boy who did this has finally been brought to justice and that he will not be able to inflict the pain on another family that he has done to mine. Alesha, I love you so much, my wee pal. I will miss you forever.' The MacPhail family said in a statement: 'We can't believe that we will never see our wee angel Alesha again. We miss her so much. 'We hope that the boy who took her from us is jailed for a long time because of what he has done to our family. Alesha may be gone from our lives but she will always be in our hearts.' Alesha (left) with Mr MacPhail (centre) and his girlfriend Toni Louise McLachlan (shown right) Alesha's grandparents Angela King and Calum MacPhail arrive at Glasgow High Court today Pathologist John Williams told the court Alesha had 117 separate injuries, and a post-mortem examination he conducted indicated she had died from 'significant and forceful pressure to her neck and face'. He agreed the injuries to her private parts were 'catastrophic' - more severe than any he had ever seen before - and were at least partially inflicted while she was still alive. 'I will miss you forever': Alesha's heartbroken mother pays tribute to her 'smiley wee girl' 'Words cannot express just how devastated I am to have lost my beautiful, happy, smiley wee girl. 'I am glad that the boy who did this has finally been brought to justice and that he will not be able to inflict the pain on another family that he has done to mine. 'Alesha, I love you so much, my wee pal. I will miss you forever.' Advertisement Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston, senior investigating officer, said today: 'I welcome today's verdict and hope that it will bring some comfort to the family and friends of little Alesha McPhail who have been through the most horrific ordeal. 'Throughout the police investigation and this trial, Alesha's family have shown incredible bravery in the face of the most appalling circumstances. 'Alesha's senseless and barbaric murder shocked the small community on Bute and people across Scotland. The effects of her death are still being felt today.' Giving evidence, the accused said he had 'never met Alesha MacPhail in person' and denied abducting, raping and murdering her. Asked if he 'brutalised' her, he said: 'It's not me, absolutely not. I would never do something like that.' Questioned if his 'DNA is all over her' because he murdered and raped her, he said: 'No.' A forensic scientist told the court DNA matching the accused was found on Alesha's body and clothes, with some samples at odds of a billion to one of being his. The teenager had lodged a special defence of incrimination, blaming Toni McLachlan, the partner of Alesha's father Robert, or Rab, MacPhail for Alesha's death. The court heard the couple used to sell cannabis to the accused. Giving evidence earlier, Ms McLachlan denied being responsible for the schoolgirl's death, saying she 'loved' her. Killer moaned he was too exhausted for trial and complained about sore back The 16-year-old boy found guilty of raping and murdering six-year-old Alesha MacPhail complained about his 14 hour days during the trial, it has emerged. He moaned about not being able to concentrate, claiming he was too exhausted as a result of travel difficulties. His QC Brian McConnachie said he was leaving for court at around 6.30am, and not returning to custody until 8.30pm - due to the availability of transport. Mr McConnachie said: 'The length of the day is causing him some difficulty for the concentration that is required for a case of this nature.' The boy had also complained while giving evidence this week of his back being sore. Advertisement Directing the jury earlier today, judge Lord Matthews said that the burden of proof rests with the Crown. He said: 'Sympathy for the accused, Alesha, members of the family or anyone else must play no part in your deliberations nor any preconceptions about the crime.' Giving evidence last Wednesday, Miss McLachlan denied being responsible for Alesha's death, saying she 'loved' the schoolgirl. She also denied suggestions by the defence that she had sex with the accused, then planted his semen on Alesha, before 'attacking', 'brutalising' and murdering her. Before sending out the jury today, Lord Matthews said: 'As you know we've heard all of the evidence. Before we retire to consider your verdict there's a number of things I must say to you, namely you and I have completely different functions. 'I'll have to repeat a number of things about the law. Subject to the joint minutes it's up to you which evidence you accept or reject.<doc-sep>
Alesha MacPhail was found naked lying face down in woodland near an abandoned hotel A woman who a teenager accused of murder blames for the death of a six-year-old girl felt 'jealous and threatened' by the child, a court was told today. But Glasgow High Court also heard Toni McLachlan, 18, was said to 'love' Alesha MacPhail and be 'really good' to her. A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies abducting, raping and murdering Alesha. A charge he faced of attempting to hide evidence was dropped by the Crown today. The schoolgirl's body was found in woods on the Isle of Bute on July 2 last year hours after she was reported missing from the home her father shared with his parents on the island. The accused has lodged a special defence of incrimination, blaming Miss McLachlan, the partner of Alesha's father Robert MacPhail. Earlier, the court also from Avil Lax, 67, a neighbour of the MacPhail family, who said she heard 'domestic abuse' between the girl's father and his girlfriend. Witness Lynsey Calderwood, 20, told the court she was good friends with Miss McLachlan when Alesha went missing. Alesha's mother Georgina Lochrane (left) and father Robert MacPhail (right) arrive at Glasgow High Court today Witness Lindsay Calderwood, 20, was visibly upset as she left Glasgow High Court today. She had told the court she was good friends with Miss McLachlan when Alesha went missing Questioned about Miss McLachlan's relationship with the schoolgirl, Ms Calderwood said: 'They were happy, they got on really well. Toni was really good to her and they both liked each other.' A statement she gave to police on July 5 said: 'I always felt Toni was jealous and she felt threatened of the time and attention Rab (Robert MacPhail) gave to Alesha.' Alesha's grandmother Angela King arrives at the High Court in Glasgow this morning The witness told the court Ms McLachlan was a 'wee bit jealous' but not 'really jealous' of Alesha. She also said that the day after Alesha went missing Toni said something to her along the lines of 'she's in a better place', which she thought was odd. Her police statement had Ms McLachlan saying 'something like 'It's for the best''. Ms Calderwood said her friend had definitely said 'she's in a better place'. Giving evidence last Wednesday, Miss McLachlan denied being responsible for Alesha's death, saying she 'loved' the girl. She also denied suggestions by the defence that she had sex with the accused on July 2, then planted his semen on Alesha, before 'attacking and brutalising her' and murdering her. Meanwhile neighbour Ms Lax told the court that she heard Miss McLachlan being 'beaten up over a period of a good few months'. Called as a defence witness, retired voluntary worker Ms Lax claimed she heard Miss McLachlan screaming and 'the sound of hitting' and 'skin slapping'. Alesha (left) with Mr MacPhail (centre) and his girlfriend Toni Louise McLachlan (right) She said she once heard Miss McLachlan screaming 'Help, someone help'. Asked when she heard the abuse, Ms Lax said: 'The year previous to Alesha going missing.' Mrs Lax said she then reported the abuse to Mr MacPhail's parents Angela King and Calum MacPhail, and claimed they told her 'she didn't hear anything'. She said: 'They didn't want to blacken Robert's name, there was a court case coming up over custody of Alesha.' Under cross-examination from advocate depute Iain McSporran QC, she said the sounds of abuse coming from the MacPhail home took place over a three month period. Mrs Lax said: 'It was something unpleasant and I didn't want to take notes. I had just lost my husband and it was very upsetting.' She claimed she 'just signed' the police statement and couldn't remember precise details from her initial statement. Another defence witness, Laura Crawford, 38, told the court that she 'thought' she had seen the couple on July 1 and 'they looked like they had fallen out'. Mrs Crawford got in touch with police on July 3 to report what she had seen. She told the court: 'Robert was pulling on her arm as if she wanted her to talk to him. It looked like they had fallen out.' Asked by defence lawyer Brian McConnachie about Miss McLachlan's 'demeanour' and whether she could tell anything from her body language, she said she couldn't.