This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22364616
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| April Jones trial: Mark Bridger 'stopped other girls' | April Jones trial: Mark Bridger 'stopped other girls' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The man accused of murdering missing April Jones in a sexually motivated attack invited another girl for a sleepover at his house on the day she disappeared, a court has heard. | The man accused of murdering missing April Jones in a sexually motivated attack invited another girl for a sleepover at his house on the day she disappeared, 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. | Mark Bridger, 47, from Ceinws, Powys, denies abducting and murdering April, who disappeared near her home in Machynlleth on 1 October 2012. |
| He approached two girls aged eight and 10 that day, Mold Crown Court heard. | He approached two girls aged eight and 10 that day, Mold Crown Court heard. |
| One was friendly with his daughter and he invited her for a sleepover. | One was friendly with his daughter and he invited her for a sleepover. |
| The approach was made shortly after he had attended a parents' evening at the same school where April was a pupil. | The approach was made shortly after he had attended a parents' evening at the same school where April was a pupil. |
| Earlier that day, the court heard how Mr Bridger had propositioned three women via Facebook. | Earlier that day, the court heard how Mr Bridger had propositioned three women via Facebook. |
| He sent the messages after breaking up with a girlfriend with whom he exchanged text messages. | He sent the messages after breaking up with a girlfriend with whom he exchanged text messages. |
| The court was told Mr Bridger texted his employer on 1 October to say he was not going to be in. | The court was told Mr Bridger texted his employer on 1 October to say he was not going to be in. |
| He said he wanted to "get my head round things". | He said he wanted to "get my head round things". |
| Just before midday, he was on Facebook and sent a message to a woman asking if she fancied meeting up, "no strings attached". | |
| More than two hours later, he contacted another woman on Facebook saying: "Hadn't realised you were single as I am. | More than two hours later, he contacted another woman on Facebook saying: "Hadn't realised you were single as I am. |
| "Do you fancy a drink... see how you feel and let me know." | "Do you fancy a drink... see how you feel and let me know." |
| He sent another Facebook message to a third woman: "Do you fancy a drink and a chat some time, no strings okay." | |
| He had earlier exchanged texts with ex-girlfriend Vicky Fenner. | He had earlier exchanged texts with ex-girlfriend Vicky Fenner. |
| At 07:38 BST, Ms Fenner texted him: "Couldn't leave it without saying goodbye... maybe see you around okay." | 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." | 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." | 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." | 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." | Later that day he sent a text: "Well didn't take you long to tell everyone and move on." |
| The court was also told about Mr Bridger's movements around Machynlleth that evening. | |
| The prosecution said Mr Bridger's vehicle was parked close to garages on the Bryn-y-Gog estate where April lived at about 19:10 BST. | |
| Evidence suggests "the abduction happened quickly", the court heard. | |
| The jury was told a man saw Mr Bridger drive back in the direction of Ceinws at about 19:20 BST. | |
| He said Bridger seemed to be travelling fast. | |
| Longer hair | |
| Prosecutor Elwen Evans QC said: "Where did he go? Where did he take April? He says he doesn't know." | |
| The jury was told CCTV images show Mr Bridger had longer hair on the day April disappeared, but it was shorter the following day. | |
| The court heard that witnesses will say Mr Bridger's left-hand drive Land Rover Discovery was seen reversing into his drive at about 20:30 BST. | |
| Mr Bridger was next seen shortly before 09:00 BST the following day, 2 October, said Ms Evans. | |
| One person who had joined the search for April and travelled through Ceinws told police she saw Mr Bridger near a layby carrying what looked like a black bin liner in his hand. | |
| "What was Mark Bridger doing at that location? What was in that black bin bag?" said Ms Evans. | |
| "In fact, 90 police officers were involved in clearing and excavating that layby and that bank, and they found nothing." | |
| Ms Evans also told the court Mr Bridger carried out an extensive clean up operation of his home after disposing of April's body. | |
| The following day, in addition to trying to clean the house and dispose of the body, he pretended to know "nothing whatsoever" about April's disappearance. | |
| The jury has also been shown CCTV images of April's movements in the hours before she disappeared - the last known pictures of her. | The jury has also been shown CCTV images of April's movements in the hours before she disappeared - the last known pictures of her. |
| Viewing images | Viewing images |
| She had been to school, went home and eaten. | She had been to school, went home and eaten. |
| April then went for a swimming lesson at the local leisure centre with a friend, shortly after 16:30 BST. | April then went for a swimming lesson at the local leisure centre with a friend, shortly after 16:30 BST. |
| While April went swimming her parents, Coral and Paul, went to a parents' evening at the school "where the defendant was later to go". | While April went swimming her parents, Coral and Paul, went to a parents' evening at the school "where the defendant was later to go". |
| The public gallery at the court was earlier cleared to allow the jury to continue viewing images from Mr Bridger's computer. | The public gallery at the court was earlier cleared to allow the jury to continue viewing images from Mr Bridger's computer. |
| They were 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. | Mr Bridger, wearing a short-sleeved blue shirt, tie and grey trousers, wore headphones to hear everything said in court. |
| April's parents were in court. | |
| April, who had mild cerebral palsy, disappeared while playing near her home in Machynlleth and has never been found. | April, who had mild cerebral palsy, disappeared while playing near her home in Machynlleth and has never been found. |
| Mr Bridger also denies intending to pervert the course of justice. | Mr Bridger also denies intending to pervert the course of justice. |
| On Tuesday, the prosecution 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. | |
| The trial continues. |