A 16-year-old boy has denied murdering six-year-old Alesha MacPhail, whose body was found in a wooded area on the Isle of Bute in July last year. The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, told the High Court in Glasgow: 'I have never met Alesha MacPhail.'
The accused has lodged a special defence claiming the crime was committed by 18-year-old Toni McLachlan, the girlfriend of Alesha's father. He alleged he had sex with Ms McLachlan, who then planted his DNA at the scene using a used condom. Ms McLachlan has denied any involvement in Alesha's death.
The court heard the boy and Ms McLachlan had a 'friends with benefits' relationship from October 2017, which ended when he reunited with a former girlfriend. On the morning of 2 July, he said they met for a cigarette and had sex in a garage. He initially lied to police about the encounter out of concern for Ms McLachlan.
Prosecutor Iain McSporran QC suggested it was 'extraordinarily wicked' to falsely accuse Ms McLachlan, to which the accused replied that he was telling the truth. The trial continues.
