THE girlfriend of Alesha MacPhail’s father told the court she "had a bad feeling" when the accused had phoned on the morning of Alesha’s disappearance - and told a friend of her concerns.
The Evening Times has already reported how Toni-Louise McLachlan, 18, sobbed as she told a murder trial “I loved her to pieces” - and denied having anything to do with the little girl’s murder.
Ms McLachlan was called as a witness at the trial of a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who has blamed her for murdering Alesha.
Alesha, aged six, was found naked lying face down in woodland near an abandoned hotel on the Isle of Bute on July 2, hours after being reported missing from her grandparents’ house.
The teen accused of murder, rape, child abduction and defeating the ends of justice denies all the charges against him at the High Court in Glasgow.
Under cross-examination by defence brief Brian McConnachie, Ms McLachlan said she received messages all morning from people claiming the accused was responsible.
Toni McLachlan partner of Robert MacPhail, father of Alesha MacPhail, outside the High Court in Glasgow
Ms McLachlan said: “Yes, I did, but I didn’t think anything after he said he didn’t think she would have gone far.”
READ MORE: Alesha MacPhail’s dad admits to selling cannabis to teen accused of killing his daughter
She agreed that she told a friend, Lindsay Calderwood, “I’ve got a bad feeling.”
And she denied she had been the victim of domestic abuse from Alesha’s dad Robert MacPhail, saying: “He’s never raised a hand or I’ve felt I’m in danger.”
Ms McLachlan said she did not tell police about the couple’s drug dealing as she did not think it was relevant.
She admitted the couple bought an ounce of cannabis for £200 - using her college bursary money, Mr MacPhail’s benefit money and money occasionally provided to the two by each of their parents for living costs.
Asked about supplying cannabis to the accused via his younger sister, Mr McConnachie said: “Instead of supplying to him you supplied it to his wee sister, who is 14.”
Ms McLachlan replied: “Yes.”
READ MORE: Alesha MacPhail - Teen accused of rape and murder blames woman during trial
But she claimed she did not know the girl was 14.
Ms McLachlan claimed she originally didn’t suspect anything because they had not sold cannabis to the accused is months.
She said: “We didn’t normally give him weed or anything at that time in the morning.”
Ms McLachlan denied being jealous of Alesha due to the time and attention she got from Mr MacPhail and denied saying the child's death was "for the best”.
She cried in the witness box when cross-examination ended.
The trial continues.
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