A 16-year-old boy has been found guilty of abducting, raping and murdering six-year-old Alesha MacPhail.
A jury at the High Court in Glasgow took three hours to find the teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, guilty unanimously, following a nine-day trial.
Alesha’s body 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, where the schoolgirl was staying for part of the school holidays.
Judge Lord Matthews told the boy he had committed some of the “wickedest, most evil crimes this court has ever heard”, as he deferred sentence until March 21.
READ MORE: Jury rejected ‘pack of lies’ from Alesha MacPhail's killer
When the accused was led downstairs a man in the public gallery shouted “evil” and another said “f***ing scumbag”.
In a statement issued by Police Scotland following the verdict, Alesha’s family said: “We can’t believe that we will never see our wee angel Alesha again. We miss her so much. We hope that the boy who took her from us is jailed for a long time because of what he has done to our family.
“Alesha may be gone from our lives but she will always be in our hearts.”
Her mother, Georgina Lochrane, said: “Words cannot express just how devastated I am to have lost my beautiful, happy, smiley wee girl. I am glad that the boy who did this has finally been brought to justice and that he will not be able to inflict the pain on another family that he has done to mine.
“Alesha, I love you so much, my wee pal. I will miss you forever.”
Members of the jury were offered a counselling service and were told they did not have to sit on a case again in future if they did not wish to.
Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston, senior investigating officer in the case for Police Scotland, said: “I welcome today’s verdict and hope that it will bring some comfort to the family and friends of little Alesha MacPhail who have been through the most horrific ordeal.
“Throughout the police investigation and this trial, Alesha’s family have shown incredible bravery in the face of the most appalling circumstances.
“Alesha’s senseless and barbaric murder shocked the small community on Bute and people across Scotland. The effects of her death are still being felt today.”
Lord Matthews told the teenager: “I have no idea what made you do this but I do know that the evidence you did it was overwhelming.”
The judge will on Friday consider an application from media outlets to lift a ban on identifying the boy.
Lochrane, who sobbed in court as the verdict was announced, did not comment as she left the building.
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