Boy, 16, charged over Alesha McPhail’s murder on Scottish island is a friend of her family

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Boy, 16, charged over Alesha McPhail’s murder on Scottish island is a friend of her family

 

A teenage boy is due in court today after he was charged in connection with the murder of a six-year-old girl on a Scottish island.

The 16 year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, was a friend of victim Alesha MacPhail’s family, it is understood.

The little girl’s body was found in woodland in the grounds of an abandoned hotel on Monday.

The teenager was arrested on suspicion of murder before being charged yesterday.

He is due to appear at Greenock Sheriff Court this morning after being kept in custody overnight.

Alesha MacPhail went missing from a flat in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute on Monday morning, sparking a frantic search.A 16-year-old has now been charged over her death
Alesha MacPhail went missing from a flat in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute on Monday morning, sparking a frantic search.A 16-year-old has now been charged over her death

Yesterday, Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston paid tribute to Alesha’s family and thanked the community of Bute for their assistance with the ‘challenging’ inquiry.

‘I’d like to take this opportunity to personally thank Alesha’s family who have shown incredible bravery through what has been an unimaginable ordeal during these past few days,’ he said.

 

‘I’d also like to thank local people for all their support and assistance during this major investigation on the island.

‘The response to our appeals was significant both from those living here and the wider community of Scotland.’

Police are carrying out detailed searches of the shoreline not far from where Alesha was found
Police are carrying out detailed searches of the shoreline not far from where Alesha was found
The grieving mother of Alesha MacPhail was seen visiting the shrine to her six-year-old daughter on Tuesday with her partner George Horn 
The grieving mother of Alesha MacPhail was seen visiting the shrine to her six-year-old daughter on Tuesday with her partner George Horn 
Alesha MacPhail's father and his girlfriend  look at flowers that were laid on the Isle of Bute
Alesha MacPhail’s father and his girlfriend look at flowers that were laid on the Isle of Bute

Alesha’s body was found by a member of the public at 9am on Monday morning. She had been reported missing just hours earlier when her family found she was not in her bed at 6.25am.

Alesha had been staying with her paternal grandparents Calum MacPhail, 49, and Angela King, 46, and father Robert MacPhail, 25, at a seafront flat near Rothesay on the Isle of Bute.

The six-year-old lived in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, with her mother, who is estranged from Mr MacPhail, but spent holidays and weekends with her father on Bute.

Her murder has rocked the community, which is home to just 6,500 people. It is the biggest investigation ever undertaken by police on the island, which is 15 miles long and three miles wide.

Police investigating the murder today carried out a thorough search of the beach near her grandparents' home
Police investigating the murder today carried out a thorough search of the beach near her grandparents’ home

Investigations continued at the seafront flat yesterday, and on the beach in front the property, where officers could be seen combing the sand with sticks.

Det Supt Houston added: ‘Officers and staff from across Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority have been involved in what has been a difficult and challenging investigation during which they have worked tirelessly to bring us to where we are today.

‘Incidents such as this are extremely rare and, while the police investigation will continue, I hope that today’s announcement brings some reassurance to everyone in the local community.

‘Recent events will have shocked communities across Scotland, no more so than on Bute and in Airdrie. Argyll and Bute and North Lanarkshire councils have services available for those who may have been affected.’

Police on the Isle of Bute confirm Alesha MacPhail was murdered

A body was found in the search for Alesha around a 20 minute walk from the grandparents home
A body was found in the search for Alesha around a 20 minute walk from the grandparents home
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