Alesha: The ‘bright and bubbly little girl’ who was always smiling

0 Flowers were laid at the house where Alesha was staying Family and teachers have remembered a happy sixyear-old girl, who loved school and had just completed primary two.

Headteacher Wendy Davie, from Chapelside Primary in Airdrie, said Alesha Macphail enjoyed reading and was a perfectionist when it came to writing.

Ms Davie said: “Alesha was a very considerate child who loved being part of a group and

EMMA GIBSON she was popular with all the other children and was a smiley and happy young girl.”

Alesha’s class teacher Emma Gibson described the girl as having an infectious personality.

Ms Gibson said: “Alesha was a bright and bubbly little girl, she always came into class with that big beautiful smile of hers.”

Alesha was to spend the first half of her summer holidays with her grandparents, her father Robert Macphail, 26, and his girlfriend Toni Mclachlan, 18. They all lived in a three-bedroom flat on Ardbegroadinrothesay. Alesha had her own room in the attic of the property.

There was plenty to keep her occupied and the schoolgirl loved to go to the swimming pool and for walks in the countryside.

Her father told the trial jury: “We were never in. We were always doing something.”

Her uncle, Calum Macphail, said Alesha had a “great amount of love for absolutely everyone” and was “the bright-

0 Alesha Macphail was said to like going swimming, and loved being part of a group at school

est thing”. Alesha’s grandparents Calum Macphail and Angela King often took Alesha to the idyllic beach on Ettrick Bay.

During the trial, Calum recalled: “She was in the water and having a great time.”

The first major highlight of the holiday was Gala Day. Calum said Alesha went on the children’s train and enjoyed donkey rides.

During the trial, Ms King said her granddaughter was a “beautiful, beautiful, happy girl”.

“Alesha was a bright and bubbly little girl, she always came into class with that big beautiful smile of hers”