Aaron Campbell

[LordPickle]

I am glad that this monster has been named publicly. The idea that he would have been protected after murdering Alesha MacPhail made me sick. His picture is all over the news now.

www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=undefined&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwin88SFvM_gAhUMxoUKHQJvC0kQzPwBCAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.sky.com%2Fstory%2Falesha-macphails-killer-named-as-aaron-campbell-after-judge-lifts-banning-order-11644559&psig=AOvVaw1ipS3vbW3vpSOIkghyKYpV&ust=1550929309077202

It’s for situations like this I really wish this country still had the death penalty.

Even if we did, the last version of the death penalty we had in force wouldn't have applied to 16 year olds.

I'm so glad we don't. The death penalty would put us on a level lower than the condemned.

* If we had a 👍 like button, @sarahjconnor* would get mine.

This is an absolute tragedy with 3 female victims, the dead child, the mother whose child is dead and the mother who gave birth to a psychopath who is now lost to her and the families life ruined.
*
We need to talk about Kevin is a brilliant study of the suffering of a mother whose son is a monster. Reading between the lines his mother saw wrong intent in him many times and maybe her moving to the island was to reduce the trouble he could get in. She reported him. She provided the CCTV. Now she will grieve whilst everyone wonders what she did to create such a monster.

It's such a terrible terrible tragedy, all the females are losers.

I hope that young 18 year old step mother leaves that violent man and his tragedy and can find happiness.*

Messed up the bold but you get my drift.

You are, by law, an adult at 18

Thanks for pointing that out.

Funny though if you look at any of the MN threads about “adult” (18 yr old) children paying housekeeping the view differs somewhat.

Ahhh good old MN.

Sorry, but saying 'most people are not adults at 18' is just daft.

IMO.

Most 18 year olds these days are not emotionally mature “adults”.

What age are most people adults then @PooleySpooley

Do enlighten me.

Most 18 year olds these days are not emotionally mature “adults”.

Ah ha, you moved the goalposts, you little tinker!

midsomermurderess, yes, true, there's no suggestion that his lawyers put forward a defence of insanity or an option of being found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Although I have to say, being deemed fit to plead and to stand trial doesn't automatically, in all cases, mean no possibility of a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict. I recently did jury service and in one case we had the option of choosing that verdict. He'd been deemed fit to stand and attend his trial, but the case hinged on whether he'd been sane or insane at the time of the actual offence.

Anyway, derail.

I'm only messin'. I know what you're saying. Some 18 y.o. are quite immature. Some 20-25 y.o. are too!

Others are very grown up at 18-19. Everyone is different.

Just watched the footage of him on the STV news.
Just seems like a normal 15/16 year old boy.
I just can't fathom how he did what he did.
Heart goes out to all involved.
I have a daughter just a little younger and a son a good bit younger but who loves making YouTube videos and jumping on his trampoline.
It's just so incredibly grim.

Course they had to name him. He will be out in a few short years. Even if he gets a "life" sentence. It's disgusting but true. I'd be surprised if he's not walking the streets by 30. Free to do it again. At least he's been named now. Maybe if we had proper sentences, bloody hanging for scum like this then this wouldn't happen.

My friend got murdered brutally, unrecognisable she was. Her murderer was 40 and had been inside for attempted murder and two very serious stabbing. All separate incidents. So 3 separate prison terms. Every time he got released he managed a year or two and did another. And still out by 40 to do that. No doubt he will be out again to hurt someone else all too soon.

Awful we have to live alongside proven to be dangerous people.
Too bloody right they should be named. I hope someone in prison does to him what he did to that little girl.

With social media it is impossible to keep a lid on an identity such as in this case.

My friend got murdered brutally, unrecognisable she was. Her murderer was 40 and had been inside for attempted murder and two very serious stabbing. All separate incidents. So 3 separate prison terms. Every time he got released he managed a year or two and did another. And still out by 40 to do that. No doubt he will be out again to hurt someone else all too soon.

That's horrendous. I'm so sorry.

If someone murdered my child I'd want the world to know who they are.
If it brings a crumb of comfort to the mother, I'm all for it.

@ohcarriemathison

I agree Carrie. I know a dozen boys like him, and one who looks scarily like him. As you say, youtube vids, mates, bouncing on a trampoline.

Caused over 170 separate injuries on this wee lass. Raped her and butchered her, so she was barely recognisable as a human being.

I can't get my head round it. I just can't. What happened in this lad's head that made him want, and need to do this?

I have just one word......

WHY?

@bullyingadvice I am so sorry for your pal.

I lost a friend to a murder (murdered by her partner,) 18 months ago and I still haven't got over it. Don't think I ever will.

I think the judge has made the right decision.

Save in exceptional circumstances the justice system in this country has to be seen to be transparent and fair. Having attempted to drag an innocent woman through the mud by making up outrageous lies for his vile crimes, who has been publicly named and some Facebook idiots still think “must have had something to do with it”, why the bloody hell does he deserve protection?

It doesn’t matter whether we “benefit” from knowing his name or what we would do with the information. It’s about treating him the same as everyone else. Crimes are prosecuted in the public interest. They are not private matters. It’s in the public interest to know who has carried them out. Transparency in the justice system is also what helps protect us from miscarriages of justice.

I feel sorry for his family too but that’s not a reason to retain protection. The rule is there for protection of the offender. The impact on his family wasn’t even mentioned as far as I can see by any of the lawyers today in arguing the case.

It’s of some small mercy that this appalling and wicked act occurred and he was caught so young. It’s hard to imagine this would have been a one off.

On the other hand, the benefit of naming him will be useful to find out his childhood history to see if there were any warning signs or red flags

You mean the press can have a field day ? I am sure the professionals knew his name who have been dealing with him over the months. 🤔

What a daft statement

I think we can assume he was completely fit to stand trial otherwise it would have been adjourned for psychiatric reports, I haven’t seen any evidence that this happened (we can’t be certain, but I am sure it would have been reported

Yes he’ll have been examined by 2 psychiatrists before the trial. The defence and prosecution might have agreed the evidence which is why it maybe wasn’t reported. I imagine there might be more psych exam now to ascertain his mental state prior to sentencing.

@littledoll33
I feel completely the same, I just Sam they my head around what he did. It's just so awful.
I also work in young peoples mental health and have met many young people who are depressed or anxious or self harm or who are being assessed for adhd.
Looking at Aaron, he looks like a young person who could be seen and who could be being seen for low mood.
I wonder was this planned ?
Was it because he couldn't get cannabis from Alisha's dad ?
Was it normal in the McPhail house for there to be comings and going's.

So many thoughts about the how he managed this ? Why he did this ?

I can't imagine how Alesha's mum is getting through this.

Crimes are prosecuted in the public interest. They are not private matters. It’s in the public interest to know who has carried them out.

I think crimes are prosecuted in the public interest only in the broad sense that they remind and reassure us of the rule of law, as well as a kind of generally agreed moral map.

Knowing criminals' individual names seems to me to be largely useful for gossip and vigilantism.

Also, given this is the first time anonymity has been waived, I think we can trust a hugely experienced high court judge who has heard all the arguments to have made the right decision.

I think crimes are prosecuted in the public interest only in the broad sense that they remind and reassure us of the rule of law, as well as a kind of generally agreed moral map.

Well yes, but I think transparency and openness in the justice system also maintains the rule of law and helps prevent abuses and miscarriages of justice.

Press have been 'reporting' that there were red flags.

I've read that he killed and mutilated several cats, took a knife to school, tried to drown a young girl and blackmailed a teen over nude photos and was obsessed with Slender man.

Fuck knows? He needs to be locked up for a very long time regardless.

I can sort of understand why they've named him, if, as a previous poster said, others were being viewed with suspicion because of this.

However, I have to say that in recent times, there seems to be a growing trend towards ignoring the law, or bowing to public pressure. For example John Warboys (who was rightly or wrongly allowed parole), Shamima Begum possibly being made stateless and now this.

I feel that we have a justice system and it should be followed. If that system is not fit for purpose, then it needs to be looked at and changed. But not because the general public are baying for blood.

This post in no way excuses what any of those people mentioned have done; their crimes are abhorrent, but I feel that the law should be followed.