The six-year-old girl’s family are set to have their pain and anguish in the search of justice prolonged after the teenager found guilty of horrifically killing launched an appeal against his prison sentence. Last month, Aaron Campbell, 16, was sentenced to spend a minimum of 27 years in jail for the murder of the young girl while she was on a family holiday on July 2 last year. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service confirmed Campbell has lodged a notice of appeal against his sentence.

During his trial, Campbell pleaded not guilty and claimed he had never met Alesha MacPhail.

But a jury unanimously found him guilty following a nine-day trial.

However, ahead of his sentencing, he admitted to the crimes in a psychological report.

Lord Matthews, who presided over the case, said the report “had painted a clear picture of a cold, callous, calculating, remorseless and dangerous individual”.

He said Campbell had shown a “staggering lack of remorse” and told the teenager: “Not once did I detect a flicker of emotion from you.”

Earlier this week, one of the psychologists who assessed Campbell, Dr John Marshall, called for children to be screened for psychopathic behaviour in the wake of the murder.

Campbell took Alesha from her bed as she slept and inflicted horrific injuries before dumping her body in nearby woodland.

Pathologist John Williams told the court in February that Alesha had 117 separate injuries, and a post-mortem examination indicated she had died from “significant and forceful pressure to her neck and face”.

A victim impact statement read before Campbell’s sentencing on behalf of Alesha’s grandparents Callum and Angela said: “We are utterly devastated. Alesha was a beautiful, smart, funny and kind girl. We are traumatised.

“We do not see how we can live a normal life. Her future was taken and so was ours.”

The original court case fo convict Campbell of the sickening crime cost thousands of pounds for UK taxpayers.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Evening Times to the Crown Office revealed prosecutors spent just £1,300 convicting Alesha MacPhail’s evil killer and rapist, but the teenager submitted Legal Aid bills of more than £14,000.

A spokesman for Legal Aid Scotland said: “Legal aid is paid directly to lawyers to represent people accused of serious crimes, including those viewed as being of an abhorrent nature, to help ensure a jury can reach an appropriate verdict in a timely manner.”

Source: Read Full Article