THE 16-year-old boy who murdered six-year-old Alesha MacPhail has been locked up for at least 27 years.
Alesha’s body was found in woods on the Isle of Bute on July 2 last year, hours after she was reported missing from the house her father shared with his parents and partner on the island.
Aaron Campbell was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow last month, where a jury found him guilty unanimously following a nine-day trial.
He was sentenced him to life imprisonment and ordered him to spend at least 27 years behind bars when he appeared at the court yesterday.
During the hearing, it emerged that Campbell now admits the crimes.
Alesha’s mother Georgina Lochrane and other family members were in court for the sentencing.
Judge Lord Matthews described Campbell as a cold and calculated individual who had shown “not a flicker of remorse”. He said: “You went into the house and then her bedroom, you removed her from there and took her to a secluded spot where you raped and murdered her in the most brutal fashion.
“It’s difficult to imagine the distress her family must have suffered.”
He warned the killer he may never be released from custody.
The judge said social work and psychologist reports “painted a clear picture of a cold, callous, calculating, remorseless and dangerous individual”.
Matthews said no sentence he could pass would alleviate the anguish of Alesha’s family.
Campbell could not be identified during the trial due to his age but following his conviction judge Matthews lifted a ban on revealing his identity.
Matthews said that, according to reports, on the night of the murder Campbell had been at a party drinking and went into MacPhail’s house looking for cannabis, and entered her bedroom.
“When you saw Alesha your reaction was ‘a moment of opportunity,’” he said. “You said ‘all I thought about was killing her when I saw her’.
“You said that Alesha was drowsy and became a bit more awake when you went out.
He added: “At one point she asked who you were and where you were going. You said you were a friend of her father and that you were taking her home.”
The judge said that in the days after the murder, Campbell was unconcerned about what had happened and slightly amused that the police had not caught him.
The court heard that the teenager had said he was “quite satisfied by the murder”.
Commenting, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: It’s impossible for any of us to comprehend the pain and anguish of Alesha’s family.
“I just hope that in time they can draw some comfort from knowing so many are thinking of them – and cherish the memories of the beautiful wee girl who graced their lives.”
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