A PHONE belonging to a teenager accused of the abduction, rape and murder of a six-year-old girl was used to google “how do police find DNA”, a court has heard.
Cyber crime team leader Peter Benson told the Alesha MacPhail murder trial he helped compile a report of relevant information following a forensic investigation of the 16-year-old boy’s phone.
From the device’s internet history, two items were deemed relevant for inclusion including a Google search for the term “how do police find DNA” at 12.32am on July 3, the day after Alesha’s body was found in woods on the Isle of Bute.
A minute later the internet history shows a page on collecting DNA evidence, which Benson said indicates “the person using the phone has gone to one of the hits”.
The former policeman was also asked about any communication on Instagram between the accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and the person who the teenager blames for Alesha’s death.
The 16-year-old has lodged a special defence of incrimination, blaming Toni McLachlan – the girlfriend of Alesha’s father Robert MacPhail – for the killing.
Advocate Depute Iain McSporran QC asked if there was Instagram communication between the accused and McLachlan.
Benson replied: “I can say there was no indication of that at all.”
The court also heard from Detective Constable Ian Wilson on the sixth day of the trial, who said the accused gave a “no comment” response when charged by police, which he said was not unusual and within the teenager’s rights.
The teenager denies abducting, raping and murdering Alesha, and attempting to hide evidence.
The trial, before judge Lord Matthews, continues.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here