Teenage boy is arrested on suspicion of murdering six-year-old Alesha MacPhail who went missing from her bed as video emerges of her playing with her uncle just days before her death
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Teenage boy is arrested on suspicion of murdering six-year-old Alesha MacPhail who went missing from her bed as video emerges of her playing with her uncle just days before her death
A teenage boy has been arrested on suspicion of murdering schoolgirl Alesha MacPhail on the Isle of Bute, police said.
Police are questioning a 16-year-old after a day of intense activity at the home where the six-year-old was last seen alive.
Dealso confirmed two cars had been removed from the seafront house in Rothesay, but declined to reveal who they belonged to.
The six-year-old was reported missing at around 6.25am on Monday and her body discovered in a wooded area in Ardbeg Road at around 9am.
It came after a post-mortem lasting almost eight hours established that Alesha had been murdered, but police have yet to reveal her cause of death.
The senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston, said the response to the public appeals from police has been significant so far.
But he has urged anyone who was in the area to contact police.
‘The response to our earlier public appeals has been significant,’ he said.
‘However, despite this evening’s major development, I am still appealing for anyone who was in the Ardbeg Road area of Bute on Sunday night or in the early hours of Monday and who may have information about Alesha’s death to contact us.
‘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.’
Also on Wednesday, Alesha’s grieving uncle has posted an emotional tribute to her on social media along with a haunting last video of them playing together.
In the one-minute long clip, CJ MacPhail jokes with the six-year-old as they sit side by side on a sofa as she plays with some plasticine type material she calls ‘slime’.
He ends up grabbing the youngster and tickling her as she giggles and asks: ‘Do you like slime?’
Alesha wriggles away as she replies ‘yes’ to his question.
McPhail – the older brother of Alesha’s dad Rab – said in a short message accompanying the video that he wanted whoever had killed the six-year-old to see what he had taken away from the family.
He wrote: ‘I am never gonna be able to have this much fun with Alesha again but at least I have this memory of her and I would ask everyone to remember her like this and not just as a headline.’
It is not known when or where the video was shot, but Mr MacPhail posted the video clip to his personal Facebook page.
He also thanked people who have rallied round the family since the discovery of Alesha’s body and police confirming she had been murdered.
Mr MacPhail wrote: ‘Me and my family would like to Thank you for your ongoing support.
‘I would also like to let yous see what sort of lovely wee girl my niece was and also what whoever has done this has taken from us.
‘I am never gonna be able to have this much fun with Alesha again but at least I have this memory of her and I would ask everyone to remember her like this and not just as a headline.
‘There’s alot more I want to say but I just can’t word it at this time.’
‘Rest in peace Alesha i love you so much.’
He ended the post by signing it ‘Love Uncle Calum.’
Mr MacPhail, who lists his job as an Uber food delivery driver, has remained active on social media while other family members have not posted any comments since Alesha went missing.
After the girl’s mother complained that she only found out her daughter was missing from a Facebook post from Alesha’s grandmother, he leapt to her defence.
Mr MacPhail said the family were told not to issue any further statements by police and insisted they had tried to contact her mother, Georgina Lochrane.
He also lashed out an internet trolls who condemned the family for not taking greater care of the young girl.
More than 20 detectives have been drafted in from the mainland as part of the investigation.
A police car transporter also removed a Dacia car from the rear of the house where Alesha was last seen alive.
It’s the second vehicle to be removed by murder squad detectives as part of their investigation
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