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| April Jones trial: Mark Bridger 'couldn't recall' what he'd done with her body | April Jones trial: Mark Bridger 'couldn't recall' what he'd done with her body |
| (4 months later) | |
| The man accused of abducting and murdering five-year-old April Jones told police he wished he could remember what he had done with her body and said he would have to apologise to her parents, a jury has heard. | The man accused of abducting and murdering five-year-old April Jones told police he wished he could remember what he had done with her body and said he would have to apologise to her parents, a jury has heard. |
| Mark Bridger claimed he had knocked April over, panicked and driven her away from the spot where she had been playing on her bicycle with a friend. He said he had searched for her but could not remember where he put her body. | Mark Bridger claimed he had knocked April over, panicked and driven her away from the spot where she had been playing on her bicycle with a friend. He said he had searched for her but could not remember where he put her body. |
| The prosecution alleges that Bridger, who it claims had an interest in child pornography and notorious child murder cases, abducted and murdered April in October last year before disposing of or concealing her body. It claims his motive was a sexual one. | The prosecution alleges that Bridger, who it claims had an interest in child pornography and notorious child murder cases, abducted and murdered April in October last year before disposing of or concealing her body. It claims his motive was a sexual one. |
| Bridger, a 47-year-old former slaughterman and labourer, denies all the charges. | Bridger, a 47-year-old former slaughterman and labourer, denies all the charges. |
| On the second day of the prosecution opening, Elwen Evans QC told the jury of nine women and three men what Bridger said to police when he was arrested the afternoon after April went missing from an estate in Machynlleth in mid-Wales. | On the second day of the prosecution opening, Elwen Evans QC told the jury of nine women and three men what Bridger said to police when he was arrested the afternoon after April went missing from an estate in Machynlleth in mid-Wales. |
| She said he told officers: "I know what it's all about." Asked: "Where is she?", he replied: "It was an accident. I crushed her in the car. I don't know where she is." He claimed two girls on bikes "came across me". Bridger said he got out and a girl was lying under his car. "I don't know where she is," he insisted. | She said he told officers: "I know what it's all about." Asked: "Where is she?", he replied: "It was an accident. I crushed her in the car. I don't know where she is." He claimed two girls on bikes "came across me". Bridger said he got out and a girl was lying under his car. "I don't know where she is," he insisted. |
| As he was driven to a police station, Evans said that Bridger claimed: "I have been looking for her all night and today. I didn't abduct her. I did my best to revive her. | As he was driven to a police station, Evans said that Bridger claimed: "I have been looking for her all night and today. I didn't abduct her. I did my best to revive her. |
| I panicked. The more I drove through the night the more I got pissed. My son and daughter play at their house. I didn't even know until this morning who it was until I saw the television. | I panicked. The more I drove through the night the more I got pissed. My son and daughter play at their house. I didn't even know until this morning who it was until I saw the television. |
| "I just wish I knew what I've done with her, where I've put her. I need to say sorry to her family. I can't believe I didn't just call an ambulance or the police. I tried to revive her." | "I just wish I knew what I've done with her, where I've put her. I need to say sorry to her family. I can't believe I didn't just call an ambulance or the police. I tried to revive her." |
| Evans said that Bridger claimed he did not take her to his house. He said: "I looked in all the rooms in my house. I wouldn't have dumped her. She's a human being. | Evans said that Bridger claimed he did not take her to his house. He said: "I looked in all the rooms in my house. I wouldn't have dumped her. She's a human being. |
| "I wouldn't have done that. I really don't know where she is. I just want to know what I have done." | "I wouldn't have done that. I really don't know where she is. I just want to know what I have done." |
| Bridger said that after he hit April in his car she went a "funny colour", adding: "She was only a little thing." He said: "I went numb. I didn't know what I was doing." | Bridger said that after he hit April in his car she went a "funny colour", adding: "She was only a little thing." He said: "I went numb. I didn't know what I was doing." |
| But Evans told the court that there was no evidence that Bridger's Land Rover had been involved in a collision. There was no sign of April's blood in his car. | But Evans told the court that there was no evidence that Bridger's Land Rover had been involved in a collision. There was no sign of April's blood in his car. |
| She took the jury through forensic evidence that she claims suggests April was not harmed when she was picked up by Bridger but at his house, Mount Pleasant in the village of Ceinws, three miles from Machynlleth. | She took the jury through forensic evidence that she claims suggests April was not harmed when she was picked up by Bridger but at his house, Mount Pleasant in the village of Ceinws, three miles from Machynlleth. |
| The jury was shown images of spots of blood that almost certainly came from April in his living room near a wood-burning stove and on a sofa. The panel also viewed magnified images of what the prosecution says are bone fragments of a youngster's skull recovered from ashes in the stove. | The jury was shown images of spots of blood that almost certainly came from April in his living room near a wood-burning stove and on a sofa. The panel also viewed magnified images of what the prosecution says are bone fragments of a youngster's skull recovered from ashes in the stove. |
| Evans said that, when police arrived at Bridger's home just before his arrest to look for April, the cottage was "uncomfortably hot" and there was a strong smell of detergent and clean clothes. The prosecution alleges that Bridger had carried out a thorough clean-up operation. | Evans said that, when police arrived at Bridger's home just before his arrest to look for April, the cottage was "uncomfortably hot" and there was a strong smell of detergent and clean clothes. The prosecution alleges that Bridger had carried out a thorough clean-up operation. |
| Evans described details of Bridger's movements on the day April disappeared, 1 October last year. He had broken up with a girlfriend who texted him early that morning: "I just can't do it. Be happy." He replied: "I'm still in love with you." He did not go into work and shortly after midday was on his computer allegedly looking at a cartoon image of what appeared to be a young girl being forced to have sex while restrained. | Evans described details of Bridger's movements on the day April disappeared, 1 October last year. He had broken up with a girlfriend who texted him early that morning: "I just can't do it. Be happy." He replied: "I'm still in love with you." He did not go into work and shortly after midday was on his computer allegedly looking at a cartoon image of what appeared to be a young girl being forced to have sex while restrained. |
| Later he contacted several women and asked them out on dates. At about 5.30pm he was at his daughter's school for a parents' evening. As he left the school at about 5.45pm he spoke to a friend of his daughter and asked her if she wanted to come for a "sleepover" before driving away. | Later he contacted several women and asked them out on dates. At about 5.30pm he was at his daughter's school for a parents' evening. As he left the school at about 5.45pm he spoke to a friend of his daughter and asked her if she wanted to come for a "sleepover" before driving away. |
| At 7.15pm he was allegedly seen parked near the garages where April was playing on her bicycle. Five minutes later he was seen driving quickly away from Machynlleth. The prosecution alleges that at this point April was in the car with him. | At 7.15pm he was allegedly seen parked near the garages where April was playing on her bicycle. Five minutes later he was seen driving quickly away from Machynlleth. The prosecution alleges that at this point April was in the car with him. |
| Just before midnight he sent a jokey text to a friend signing off with a kiss. Evans asked the jury: "Was that before or after April had died?" | Just before midnight he sent a jokey text to a friend signing off with a kiss. Evans asked the jury: "Was that before or after April had died?" |
| She said that the next day Bridger was seen before 9am with a black bin bag on a small road near the river Dyfi. When someone later told him he had been spotted he said he had stopped "for a wee". The court heard he subsequently claimed that if April's DNA was found on his penis it might be because of this "wee". The court heard April's DNA was not found on his penis but an expert had not been able to rule out that her DNA was present in a sample taken from the crotch of his tracksuit trousers when he was arrested. | She said that the next day Bridger was seen before 9am with a black bin bag on a small road near the river Dyfi. When someone later told him he had been spotted he said he had stopped "for a wee". The court heard he subsequently claimed that if April's DNA was found on his penis it might be because of this "wee". The court heard April's DNA was not found on his penis but an expert had not been able to rule out that her DNA was present in a sample taken from the crotch of his tracksuit trousers when he was arrested. |
| Also shown to the jury was CCTV footage of April shortly before she disappeared. Taken from cameras at a leisure centre where April had gone to swim, Evans said these were the last images of April. In the images an older girl is seen swinging the little girl. | Also shown to the jury was CCTV footage of April shortly before she disappeared. Taken from cameras at a leisure centre where April had gone to swim, Evans said these were the last images of April. In the images an older girl is seen swinging the little girl. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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