Talk:Murder of Alesha MacPhail/GA1

GA Review

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Reviewer: Mujinga (talk · contribs) 12:08, 18 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Initial comments

I will take on this article for review Mujinga (talk) 12:08, 18 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Reading into the sources I see what a terrible crime this was Mujinga (talk) 12:52, 18 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you very much for the detailed review, I appreciate it. It was indeed an awful crime so I know it's not easy to read about, but the article was incredibly thin and I felt it deserved better. I've replied to all of your points. Myth House (talk) 22:23, 20 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Lead

first para can be made from combining the first two current paragraphs. Better to start something like this: Alesha MacPhail (22 October 2011 - 2 July 2018) was abducted from her bed and murdered by 16-year-old Aaron Campbell. MacPhail from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire was six years old. She was staying with her grandparents on the Isle of Bute when Campbell entered their unlocked home at approximately 2:00 am.

I'm not crazy about this to be honest. I know the one-sentence opener isn't ideal, but it was the best approach I could come up with when tinkering with the lead.

I'm fine with you not liking my suugestion but I do think it is important to get this right since it's a good article criteria to conform to MOS:LEAD. The article is just above 30k, so according to MOS:LEADLENGTH should have 3 or 4 paragraphs, but this first sentence isn't a paragraph. The advice for the first sentence includes If possible, the page title should be the subject of the first sentence. However, if the article title is merely descriptive—such as Electrical characteristics of dynamic loudspeakers—the title does not need to appear verbatim in the main text. Maybe you'd consider a fresh edit? Mujinga (talk) 13:40, 22 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

per MOS:TIME 6:23am and other times throughout the article should be in the form 6:23 am

In that case I prefer the 24-hour clock, which is also allowed, so I've switched the article to that fotmat.

two and a half hours later - better at 8:45 am

Done

second paragraph: there's no explicit reference to trace evidence in the article so it's best to either add a mention or delete it here

I changed this explictly to "fibres from his clothing".

second paragraph: I don't think the ref is necessary but keep it if you want.
third paragraph: well-written, no need for ref

Both refs are there for the quotes, as it feels necessary to directly source quotations.

Background

Alesha MacPhail

The Sun (and Scottish Sun) is seen as a potentially unreliable source so I'd rather have a different citation here, which hopefully would be easy to find.

This was the only source I could find from 2018 that gave the age of Alesha's mother and sister, which I think is interesting for context. Since it's an uncontroversial statement it would be great to keep it if possible, but it can go if it must!

if there were other unreliable sources i wouldn't like it, but i see your reasoning here, so I'm ok with it being used, thanks for the reply Mujinga (talk) 13:26, 22 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Primary Two links to Education in Scotland but that page does not explain what Primary Two is. Actually the BBC ref on the following sentence would cover that, minus the wikilink.

I've fixed the link to the direct section explaining the school years (it was linied there before, but the subheading must have changed).

Rothesay, the Isle of Bute, maybe make this Rothesay, the principal town on the Isle of Bute so people like me know it's a settlement

Done

Aaron Campbell

Campbell's upbringing was described as "less than ideal", with elements of physical and emotional abuse, and he often argued with his alcoholic mother. He was tested for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and had a history of self harming and depression. - this needs some work. We should know his barristers described his upbringing as "less than ideal" and that the appeal court judges perceived a "degree of physical and emotional abuse”. Also better to make it attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) since the acronym is so well known.

Readers know that Campbell is a criminal, but it still feels weird (IMO) to start mentioing the trial before the narrative of the article has reached that point. I've taken out "less than ideal", but the abuse was described in the pre-sentencing psychological reports. Iam sure the people preparing those reports spoke with Campbell and his family extensively, so I think it is safe to state it as fact.

"well liked" and "addicted" don't need quotation marks

Reworded

When he was aged 15, Campbell began to consider "doing something excessive" such as rape. - better something like In court, Campbell admitted he had begun to consider "doing something excessive" such as rape

This was also from the psychological reports.

He was entered into a rehabilitation programme when he was caught starting fires. Since Times is paywalled, another source would be great

Unfortunately it's the only decent source that mentions this tidbit.

claims better claimed at trial
- As above,I'm not keen on mentioning the trial if it's okay.

Abduction and murder

Intending to demand cannabis maybe better something like Intending to obtain the cannabis by force from MacPhail

I've changed this to "steal", which is much more accurate and I don't know why I didn't write that all along

no need for drowsy to have quotation marks

Done

He returned to his house in the early hours of the morning, took a shower, then went back to the murder site to retrieve his phone and dump his clothes. - the refs cover the preceding sentences but not this one

This was taken from the sentencing video within the article, but I've linked the full sentencing text which is much better.

Investigation

Search and discovery

McLachlan noticed the missed calls from Campbell and tried phoning him. At 9:01am Campbell responded "Sorry doesn't matter" with a laughing emoji. When asked to look out for Alesha, he wrote, "Oh damn. Am sure she's not went too far x". - only the second ref (independent) is necessary to back this up. No "x" at end of message in source

Both refs are needed to get all of the detail in the three sentences. The BBC source includes the "x".

with a laughing emoji. - better "with two Face with Tears of Joy emojis"

Seems like a more long-winded way of saying the same thing?

okee i'm happy with your edit Mujinga (talk) 13:31, 22 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

[13][17][16] should be [13][16][17]

Done

"catastrophic" & "the result of significant forceful pressure to her neck and face” - would be good to add that the pathologist said this

Done

Enquiries and arrest

Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston made a plea for information from the public, the response to which was "significant" better something like Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston said the response to calls for help had been "significant"

Reworded

When she quizzed him over his whereabouts, he was "adamant that he had nothing to do with [the girl’s death]". Janette was "happy with that explanation",[15] but nevertheless reported the footage to the police to "eliminate [her son] from their enquiries."[21] i would advise something like She stated in court that when she quizzed him over his whereabouts, he was "adamant that he had nothing to do with it [the girl’s death]" and she was "happy with that explanation".[15] Nevertheless she reported the footage to the police to eliminate her son from their enquiries.[21] - the eliminate her son from their enquiries bit was not a full quote in the source

Good catch on the latter. Reworded to avoid quotes.

buying and smoking better trying to buy

I was sure I read that his initial story was that he bought weed, so I went googling and found a different source for this.

wikilink glasgow

Done

without a guilty plea better made no plea - he didn't plead guilty or not guilty at that stage

Done

Trial

Evidence

boxers better boxer shorts for clarity

Done

of his upper body can be removed, it's a bit confusing and not in source

Reworded

Defence

regarding the despicable use of "special defence of incrimination" I would advise adding a sentence or two explaining that because Toni McLachlan was 18, this meant she was named whilst he remained anonymous

Done

Verdict

Fine

I've put "confession" back in the subheading. I think it's important that anyone scanning the article can easily see that the prick eventually admitted his guilt.

OK Mujinga (talk) 13:32, 22 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Appeal

Fine

Reaction and memorials

Hopkins was condemned on social media for "stirring up racial hate by implying Syrian refugees were responsible without any evidence whatsoever" - If you want to add what Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, said i think that would be useful, but the current quote is from the Irish Post journalist, not social media

Reworded

no quotations needed in the quotebox as per Template:Quote box
Done

References

Infoboxes

Alesha infobox is fine
Campbell infobox: Aaron Thomas Campbell[2] 7 May 2002 (age 17) - i would take out the ref and (age 17)

His young age is a big element of what makes the crime so shocking, plus it is the standard to include the age in infoboxes. I moved the ref to the main text but I think it's worth keeping as his full name has not been widely reported and some readers may query it.

Pictures

OK under fair use

Overall

This is a well-written article about a truly horrendous recent crime. I think if the improvements are made by the nominator or someone else it will pass. Overall i have a couple of additional suggestions.

- The judge's sentencing document can be added, perhaps to a further reading section, also the appeal verdict if that is available

Thanks for finding this, it's now included as a reference, as mentioned above

- To have broad coverage i think a quote from the mother should be included about her refusal to forgive the murderer, perhaps from here

Added a line, though I worry it's a little sensationalist?

- I also think it needs to be mentioned that the murderer was diagnosed as a psychopath

He was said to meet several conditions of the psychopathy checklist but I haven't read any official diagnosis of being a psychopath.

I'll put the article on hold and hope to hear back from Myth House or someone else within seven days.

Thanks again, please let me know how you feel about these changes. It seems like you were new to the case, so I'm glad to know (I think?) that it was all clear from the article. Myth House (talk) 22:23, 20 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Myth House, on a quick scan this is looking pretty good with perhaps a few final things to discuss. I'll reply in more detail later today or tomoro. Yes I hadn't heard about this case before, it's awful, reminds me of the Lost Prophets singer in terms of sheer unbelievable harshness for the victims. Mujinga (talk) 09:29, 21 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Hi again Myth House, I've read through your careful edits and made some replies, but the only thing I really want to discuss further is the lead. When we cracked that I'll give the article a last read through. Nearly there now! Mujinga (talk) 13:42, 22 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Just quickly - I'm sorry but I haven't had a chance to look at this. Hopefully tomorrow! Myth House (talk) 19:44, 25 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

sure just let me know when you have the time Mujinga (talk) 14:26, 27 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Hi again, thanks for your patience. I just tried the simple solution of raising up the second paragraph so it starts immediately after the opening sentence. I think it works, and I'm happy with this if you are. Myth House (talk) 11:35, 29 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

That works for me. Congratulations I am passing this as a good article. Mujinga (talk) 17:21, 30 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Great news. Thanks again for your time and help. Myth House (talk) 19:00, 30 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.