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April Jones trial: Mark Bridger 'propositioned three women' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The man accused of murdering missing April Jones in a sexually motivated attack propositioned three women on Facebook on the day the five-year-old went missing, a court has heard. | |
Mark Bridger, 47, from Ceinws, Powys, denies abducting and murdering April, who disappeared near her home in Machynlleth on 1 October 2012. | |
He sent the Facebook messages after breaking up with a girlfriend. | |
Mold Crown Court also heard text messages to his ex sent on 1 October. | |
He texted: "You were my life babe." | |
The case is due to last six weeks. | |
Mr Bridger also denies intending to pervert the course of justice. | Mr Bridger also denies intending to pervert the course of justice. |
On Wednesday morning, the court was told Mr Bridger texted his employer on 1 October last year, the day April disappeared, to say he was not going to be in. | |
He said he wanted to "get my head round things". | |
Just before midday, he was on Facebook and sent a message to a female asking if she fancied meeting up, "no strings attached". | |
He had also earlier exchanged texts with ex-girlfriend Vicky Fenner. | |
'You were my life' | |
At 07:38 BST, Ms Fenner texted him: "Couldn't leave it without saying goodbye... maybe see you around okay." | |
Mr Bridger replied: "You were my life babe, my everything... for what it's worth I'm still in love with you." | |
Then at 07:52 BST, Ms Fenner texted: "I do love you, just can't do it sorry. I don't want anything from the house okay." | |
Mr Bridger replied: "You don't have to change your number. I won't be hassling you." | |
Later that day he sent a text: "Well didn't take you long to tell everyone and move on." | |
The jury then heard how he had sent messages to three other women via Facebook asking to meet up. | |
The public gallery at the court was earlier cleared to allow the jury to continue viewing images from Mr Bridger's computer. | |
They are being shown images viewed by him on 30 September. | They are being shown images viewed by him on 30 September. |
Mr Bridger, wearing a short-sleeved blue shirt, tie and grey trousers, wore headphones to hear everything said in court. | |
April disappeared while playing near her home in Machynlleth and has never been found. | |
On Tuesday, Elwen Evans QC began the opening of the prosecution's case against Mr Bridger. | On Tuesday, Elwen Evans QC began the opening of the prosecution's case against Mr Bridger. |
Bone fragments | |
She told the jury that Mr Bridger had gone to enormous lengths to conceal what he had done. | She told the jury that Mr Bridger had gone to enormous lengths to conceal what he had done. |
An extensive clean-up had been carried out by the defendant at his home, she said, but bone fragments consistent with those of a juvenile human skull and a concentration of blood was found near his wood burner. | An extensive clean-up had been carried out by the defendant at his home, she said, but bone fragments consistent with those of a juvenile human skull and a concentration of blood was found near his wood burner. |
The jury was shown images depicting sex abuse against children which were found on Mr Bridger's computer. | The jury was shown images depicting sex abuse against children which were found on Mr Bridger's computer. |
Photos of the Soham murder victims Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were also found. | Photos of the Soham murder victims Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were also found. |