Great Post, I agree with a lot of these observations and have thought also about the points you raise so I am going to bounce off your post and share what I think/speculate.
DNA....I am a bit confused about what the mom relayed with regard to her conversation with her son , the accused, about DNA being able to determine who the killer/rapist is/was. I think perhaps the Mom was suggesting to her son that he 'fess up or perhaps she was feeling her son out to see what his reaction would be. I do think in her heart of hearts Mom was somewhat scared that her son may have had something to do with Alesha's disappearance and murder. I think she may have been trying to "feel him out" or get a reaction out of him to assess his demeanor. I am only speculating and this is moo. In light of the DNA conversation with his mom, it is interesting to note that the accused subsequently came along with a theory to explain away his DNA at the scene.
I too am inclined to believe that the accused acted impulsively, but I am not sure to what degree - spur of the moment or late in the evening while he seemed to be having "an emotional" moment/time (per his friend that testified about the accused lying on the bed crying about this that and the other). But just because I think accused may have acted impulsively that doesn't mean, in my minds eye, that what he did was not premeditated at some point late that evening/wee early morning, his impulsiveness could have been brewing for just a bit. I have no idea but I am curious about that. I do not think the crime the accused committed was planned for days in advance, I think something snapped that evening/early morn and perhaps the opportunity to take Alesha presented itself and the accused acted on that or perhaps he pre-planned and devised a way to sneak in and take her and brutalize her within a short period of time before doing so. Like maybe when he called Toni and did not get an answer and he could not secure pot.
I believe the young man that asked to have the screen removed was testifying for the prosecution and therefore wanted to face-off or stand up to the accused. Although friends that testified today explained they were friends with the accused they also brought forward questionable information regarding the accused so I do not think their testimony was friendly in any way.
Hopefully, in his own best interest, he will not testify and I am sure his attorneys are mortified over the possibility.
What a sad case. So very senseless. I want to hate the accused because I hate what he did to Alesha but in reality I just feel so very sad for him, his family and who the accused maybe could have been had he not done what he did. I know little about him but I do know I do not have a problem with him being held accountable for what he did. For all any of us know (given I believe he's guilty) this murder and rape was only just the beginning of more of the same acts down the road. I do not like him but, even though earlier I said "hang him and be done with him", I hope someday the accused admits his guilt, truly feels remorse, regrets what he did, develops a conscious etc. .....but sadly statistics do not really support that happening. I do believe he is psychopathic and a sociopath and even though he is only 16 years old I believe it may be best for all of society that he be remanded to a life sentence in prison without the possibility of ever getting out. I would support that sentence given the brutality inflicted upon the victim and the fact that the victim was robbed of her life. He does need to pay, no excuses allowed and no sympathy for him.