THE family of a murdered six-year-old girl left court today as the jury was shown heartbreaking pictures of her body lying in woods.
Alesha MacPhail was found dead near the house where she was staying on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, last summer.
A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, denies raping and murdering her on July 2.
Several people left the public gallery at the High Court in Glasgow when prosecutors said pictures from the scene where Alesha’s body was found would be shown.
They included images of a knife block holding two knives in the accused’s kitchen and another picture of a knife on a beach in Bute.
Advocate depute Iain McSporran said “it does appear” to be similar to the ones in the accused’s home.
Crime scene examiner, David Ferguson, described to the court how he took photographs of jogging bottoms and boxer shorts on a beach in Bute on July 5, after they were discovered by a member of the public.
The court was told the items of clothing appear to have been removed at the same time as they appear together and inside out.
He also said that a hooded item of clothing was found in a grey skip behind Rothesay Police Station.
The jury heard previously that shorts, pants and a vest were recovered a short distance from her.
Scene examiner Edward Brown, 50, said Alesha’s body was found in a wooded area off a path near the house where she was staying and to the home of the accused.
Images were also shown to the court of the attic flat where she was staying with her grandparents and dad, including Alesha’s bedroom.
‘STRONG EMOTIONS’
The judge yesterday warned jurors the evidence was likely to spark “strong emotions”.
Lord Matthews urged the panel of eight women and seven men to show “professional detachment” on the first day of a hearing expected to last two weeks.
Her mum Georgina Lochrane, 24, of Airdrie, was supported by relatives in the public gallery as Lord Matthews addressed the jury at the High Court in Glasgow.
Prosecutor Iain McSporran QC told how Alesha’s naked body had been discovered in woods at the former Kyles Hydropathic Hotel at Port Bannatyne just before 8.54am on July 2.
At 9.23am, a paramedic confirmed she had lost her life before a post mortem identified the cause of death as “pressure” to her neck and face.
Mr McSporran added: “She had been murdered.”
He also told the jury Alesha’s gran Angela King had reported her missing at 6.23am in a recorded 999 call and cops launched a search for her.
Jorge Williams then alerted emergency services he had discovered the girl’s body in a call two and half hours later.
SPECIAL DEFENCE
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 earlier that morning.
He is accused of carrying her to the former hotel site nearby before removing her clothes and shaking her “violently”.
It is claimed the suspect applied pressure after covering the youngster’s nose, mouth and neck with his hands.
It is also alleged he raped and murdered the schoolgirl.
A second charge claims he tried to cover up the crime on the shore at Rothesay and another address in the town by dumping clothes and a blade.
He is also accused of showering blood off his body.
The suspect’s legal team yesterday lodged a special defence of incrimination, blaming a woman for the death.
The trial continues.
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