The teen who abducted, raped and murdered six-year-old Alesha MacPhail on the Isle of Bute has been given leave to appeal his sentence.
The youngster’s body was found in woods on the island on July 2 last year, hours after she was reported missing from the house her father shared with his parents and partner.
Aaron Campbell, now 17, was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow in February where a jury unanimously found him guilty following a nine-day trial.
Alesha MacPhail killer launches appeal against prison sentence
He could not be identified during the trial due to his age but following his conviction judge Lord Matthews lifted a ban on revealing his identity.
He was been given a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 27 years behind bars.
As STV reports, The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service confirmed he has been granted leave to appeal the sentence.
A hearing date has been set for Edinburgh on August 7.
Campbell finally admitted his crimes in a psychological report prepared ahead of his sentencing.
Lord Matthews said social work and psychologist reports “had painted a clear picture of a cold, callous, calculating, remorseless and dangerous individual”.
Teenager who raped and killed six-year-old Alesha MacPhail named
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.
