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 7 Version 8
April Jones trial: 'Blood DNA match' at accused's home April Jones trial: 'Blood DNA match' at accused's home
(35 minutes later)
Blood found at the home of the man accused of murdering missing April Jones in a sexually motivated attack matched that of the five-year-old, Mold Crown Court heard.Blood found at the home of the man accused of murdering missing April Jones in a sexually motivated attack matched that of the five-year-old, Mold Crown Court 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.
It was a one in a billion chance the blood was not April's, the jury heard.It was a one in a billion chance the blood was not April's, the jury heard.
Earlier, the court heard he had asked a young girl to his home for a sleepover.Earlier, the court heard he had asked a young girl to his home for a sleepover.
The court was earlier told that Mr Bridger had said to police: "I just wish I knew what I'd done with her". Prosecutor Elwen Evans QC said blood stains on a carpet, sofa and near a fireplace at Mr Bridger's house matched April's DNA.
He told police he had crushed her with his car and panicked, the jury heard. Me Evans have said the fire was used to dispose of evidence and Mr Bridger used detergent to clean up.
The jury heard when arrested on the day after April went missing, Mr Bridger said: "I know what it's all about." The jury was shown pictures of clothing he was wearing on arrest which, the prosecution claimed, featured evidence of April's DNA.
The prosecution said Mr Bridger also told police: "It was an accident. I crushed her with the car. I don't know where she is." The court was earlier told that Mr Bridger had said to police he wished he knew what he had done with April.
He told police he had accidentally crushed her with his car and panicked.
The jury heard that when arrested on the day after April went missing, Mr Bridger said: "I know what it's all about."
'I panicked'
He later told police he had been looking for April all night on foot because his car was in the garage.He later told police he had been looking for April all night on foot because his car was in the garage.
"I didn't abduct her. I did my best to revive her," he said."I didn't abduct her. I did my best to revive her," he said.
He went on: "I panicked." He said as he drove through the night, he got more drunk. He went on: "I panicked", saying he got more drunk as he drove through the night.
He added: "I just wish I knew what I'd done with her. I need to say sorry to her family." "I just wish I knew what I'd done with her. I need to say sorry to her family," he told police.
'Uncomfortably hot' "I wouldn't have dumped her. She's a human being."
He also told police: "I wouldn't have dumped her. She's a human being."
Mr Bridger had become a suspect the day after April went missing and police arrived at his home at 15:00 BST to arrest him.Mr Bridger had become a suspect the day after April went missing and police arrived at his home at 15:00 BST to arrest him.
Officers said his home was "uncomfortably hot" and smelled of detergent, Mold Crown Court heard.Officers said his home was "uncomfortably hot" and smelled of detergent, Mold Crown Court heard.
The first officers on the scene said the house was hot and smelled of cleaning products, air freshener and washed clothes.The first officers on the scene said the house was hot and smelled of cleaning products, air freshener and washed clothes.
Prosecutors say the fire was used to dispose of evidence and the detergent to clean up.
The jury has already heard how bone fragments consistent with those of a juvenile human skull and a concentration of blood was found near his wood burner, as well as evidence of an extensive clean up.The jury has already heard how bone fragments consistent with those of a juvenile human skull and a concentration of blood was found near his wood burner, as well as evidence of an extensive clean up.
The court was also shown pictures of three knives found around Mr Bridger's fireplace. One, found on top of the wood burner, was burnt.
Earlier on Wednesday, the court was told that Mr Bridger had approached two girls aged eight and 10 on the day when April went missing.Earlier on Wednesday, the court was told that Mr Bridger had approached two girls aged eight and 10 on the day when April went missing.
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.
Prosecutor Elwen Evans QC said: "Bridger left the school parents' evening at around 5.45pm and shortly after he approached a couple of girls who were playing in the area. Prosecutor Ms Evans said: "Bridger left the school parents' evening at around 5.45pm and shortly after he approached a couple of girls who were playing in the area.
"They were a 10-year-old and an eight-year-old who were riding their bikes."They were a 10-year-old and an eight-year-old who were riding their bikes.
"He invited the older girl to go for a sleepover with his daughter. "He invited the older girl to go for a sleepover with his daughter."
"She hadn't had a sleepover with his daughter agreed - and he drove off from the area." After the girl refused, Mr Bridger drove off.
The court was also told about Mr Bridger's movements around Machynlleth that evening.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.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.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.The jury was told a man saw Mr Bridger drive back in the direction of Ceinws at about 19:20 BST.
He said Mr Bridger seemed to be travelling fast.He said Mr Bridger seemed to be travelling fast.
Longer hairLonger hair
Prosecutor Ms Evans said: "Where did he go? Where did he take April? He says he doesn't know."Prosecutor Ms Evans 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.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.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."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.""In fact, 90 police officers were involved in clearing and excavating that layby and that bank, and they found nothing."
The jury heard how on the day after April went missing, a postman had asked Mr Bridger if he had heard about what had happened. The court also heard how a postman had called at Mr Bridger's home and had spoken about April going missing.
He said he had and appeared affected and shocked, the court was told. The postman said Mr Bridger had appeared affected and shocked during their conversation and asked what vehicle police were looking for.
Mr Bridger asked the postman what sort of vehicle was being sought.
He was told that it was possibly a Land Rover.
The defendant later drove his vehicle to Dyfi Autos in Machynlleth.The defendant later drove his vehicle to Dyfi Autos in Machynlleth.
He spoke to mechanics and said the news was terrible and said he was going to see if he could help.He spoke to mechanics and said the news was terrible and said he was going to see if he could help.
"Lies and tears appear to come easily," said Ms Evans."Lies and tears appear to come easily," said Ms Evans.
The court heard that Mr Bridger, who was not a suspect at this time, was captured on film by police helicopter walking his dog and his appearance was different to the previous day. There was no evidence of blood stains in the vehicle or any large scale clean up, the jury was told.
Smoke was seen coming from the chimney of his home shortly after 10:30 BST. The court heard how a police helicopter searching for April had filmed Mr Bridger, before he was a suspect, walking his dog. His appearance was different from the previous day.
Mr Bridger had received a text from a friend saying: "Have you heard about April being kidnapped? Saw you on the estate... just wondering if you saw anything conspicuous?" Smoke was also seen coming from the chimney of his home shortly after 10:30 BST.
Mr Bridger replies: "Saw nothing strange, trying to rattle my brain." In a text message to a friend after being asked if he had seen anything from the Bryn-Y-Gog estate, the jury heard Mr Bridger's reply was: "Saw nothing strange, trying to rattle my brain."
The court heard DNA which might have come from April was found on Mr Bridger's trousers.
Facebook messagesFacebook messages
Earlier, the court heard how on the morning before April went missing, Mr Bridger had propositioned three women via Facebook. Earlier, the court heard how on the morning before April went missing, Mr Bridger had propositioned three women via Facebook asking two of them to meet up "with no strings attached".
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.
The court was told Mr Bridger texted his employer on 1 October to say he was not going to be in. The jury has also been shown CCTV images of April's movements in the hours before she disappeared - the last known pictures of her.
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.
"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.
The jury was shown CCTV images of April's movements in the hours before she disappeared - the last known pictures of her.
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.
Her parents, Coral and Paul, went to a parents' evening at the school "where the defendant was later to go".Her parents, Coral and Paul, went to a parents' evening at the school "where the defendant was later to go".
Images
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.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'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.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.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.The trial continues.