16yr-old on rape & murder charges over Alesha

TRAGIC Alesha MacPhail, 6 A YOUTH of 16 has appeared in court charged with raping and murdering Alesha MacPhail, six.

The male teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, made no plea at a private court appearance yesterday. Alesha was found dead in nearby woodland, two-and-a-half hours after going missing early on Monday from her gran’s house on the Isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde.

The teenager was arrested two days later. At Greenock Sheriff Court he was remanded in custody for an appearance later this month.

Earlier police praised “incredible bravery” by Alesha’s family in an “unimaginable ordeal”.

Det Supt Stuart Houston said: “Officers have been in a difficult and challenging investigation to bring us to where we are.”

A fundraising page for the family beat its £5,000 target in two days. One donor wrote: “You were such a delight. Miss your happy wee smile.”