Alesha MacPhail: DNA matching teenage boy found on body of six-year-old girl raped and murdered, court hears

Forensic scientist says genetic material billion times more likely to belong to 16-year-old than someone unrelated

DNA matching a teenage boy accused of raping and murdering schoolgirl Alesha MacPhail was found on her body and clothes, a court has heard.

A forensic scientist said DNA found on the six-year-old's neck, genitals, shorts and vest is more than a billion times more likely to be from the accused than someone unrelated to him.

Giving evidence at the High Court in Glasgow, Stuart Bailey said DNA traces likely to be from the accused were also found on Alesha's thighs, wrists, right hand, ankles, face, underarms and areas of bruising, as well as her pants.

This could be explained by the 16-year-old coming into contact with these areas of her body and clothes, he said.

Mr Bailey also said semen from the accused was found inside Alesha.

He said an explanation for this was intercourse but the defence suggestion that the accused's semen was "planted" there was scientifically possible.

Questioned if the accused's DNA could have been found on Alesha through secondary transfer from a third party, Mr Bailey said: "I can't rule it out but I find it highly unlikely given the amount of DNA attributed to [the accused]."

The schoolgirl had been staying in the house her father shared with her grandparents on the Isle of Bute when she was reported missing shortly after 6am on 2 July last year.

Her body was found hours later in a wooded area on the island.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies abducting, raping and murdering Alesha, and attempting to hide evidence.

He has lodged a special defence of incrimination, blaming Toni McLachlan - the girlfriend of Alesha's father Robert MacPhail - for the killing.

The trial, before judge Lord Matthews, continues.

Additional reporting by PA