Alesha's killer named: Aaron Thomas Campbell
Last updated 22nd Feb 2019
The 16-year-old boy who raped and murdered Alesha MacPhail can be identified as Aaron Thomas Campbell after a judge allowed his name to be reported.
The body of the six-year-old was found in woods on the Isle of Bute on July 2 last year, hours after she was reported missing from the house her father shared with his parents and partner on the island.
A jury at the High Court in Glasgow took three hours to find the teenager guilty unanimously on Thursday, following a nine-day trial.
He could not previously be identified because he is under 18 but judge Lord Matthews on Friday ruled he can be named after considering an application from media outlets, due to the "exceptional" nature of the case.
But, Campbell's lawyer insisted the ban should stay in place claiming threats had already been made to the killer and that there was a “price on his head”.
Lord Matthews allowed Campbell to be identified following a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.
He said: “I cannot think of a crime in recent times that attracted such revulsion.
“I intend to grant the application. The press may now name the accused and publish information about him.”
Campbell's QC Brian McConnachie was asked if he intended to appeal the decision.
But, he told the judge: “I am instructed not to appeal.”
Alesha's family including her mum Georgina Lochrane and dad Robert MacPhail were in court to hear the decision.
Campbell was back in the dock 24 hours after being convicted of the abduction, rape and murder of six year-old Alesha on the Isle of Bute last July.
He was not able to be named throughout the nine day trial as, under Scots Law, an accused under 18 cannot be identified.
Campbell had simply been called “AC” whenever the trial was called over the court tannoy.
Jurors heard how he lived just a short distance from the home in Bute where Alesha was living with her dad Robert MacPhail and her grandparents.
Tony Graham QC, acting on behalf of the media, said it would be in the “public interest” for Campbell to be finally uncovered.
He stated Campbell's name was already “in the public domain” on Facebook, Twitter and “anyone making an enquiry on Google”.
He added it would also be “naive to assume” that the people of Bute or inmates in Polmont – where Campbell is locked up – would not know what he had done.
Mr Graham told the judge: “It is a case that has attracted more media attention than any trial in this court certainly in the last decade.
“One of the most evil and wicked cases that my lord has encountered – that is not over stating the position.”
The QC cited the example of young killer Will Cornick, who was 15 when he stabbed his teacher Ann Maguire to death in Leeds in 2014.
A judge at that time also lifted a reporting ban not to name Cornick.
Mr Graham said this “attracted similar publicity” as the Alesha trial.
The QC added Campbell's special defence was also “striking”.
The teenager blamed Toni McLachlan – the innocent girlfriend of Alesha's dad.
Mr Graham: “This was an 18 year-old woman who was not only accused of murder by him in what could only have been pre-meditated conduct.”
The QC said Campbell's name had not featured in trial reports, but that Toni had “not enjoyed the same anonymity”.
He went on: “A wrongly accused person can be identified quite propertly and the dishonest accuser enjoys protection unless the court dispenses with it.
“The protection intended by parliament is to protect those who are vulnerable.”
Mr Graham said the current restrictions were not “lifelong” and that Campbell turned 18 in 15 months time.
The hearing was also of a “particular risk” to Campbell following an apparent threat made to him on Thursday before the verdict.
But, prosecutor Iain McSporran QC said: “I have the benefit of observations by the senior investigating officer in this case.
“There does not appear to be any obvious reason for this allegation to have any substance at all.”
Mr McConnachie explained more about the alleged threat on Campbell.
The QC said: “He had yesterday received information, warning or something about there effectively being a price on his head.
“The word yesterday was that it was credible, but it now seems to be a different situation.”
Mr McConnachie said it would be “difficult to imagine” the public being less keen on the case because Campbell could not be named.
He added: “A balance can be struck by maintaining the prohibition and not granting the application.”
Campbell again showed no emotion as he was lead back to the cells.
He will be sentenced next month.