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| April Jones murder trial: jury visit Mark Bridger's house | April Jones murder trial: jury visit Mark Bridger's house |
| (4 months later) | |
| The jury in the April Jones murder trial has visited locations connected to the case including Mark Bridger's living room where, a court has heard, traces of the five-year-old's blood were found and bone fragments said to be from a youngster's skull discovered. | The jury in the April Jones murder trial has visited locations connected to the case including Mark Bridger's living room where, a court has heard, traces of the five-year-old's blood were found and bone fragments said to be from a youngster's skull discovered. |
| Some jury members looked upset as they emerged from Bridger's small and untidy cottage, Mount Pleasant, three miles from where he allegedly abducted the schoolgirl. | Some jury members looked upset as they emerged from Bridger's small and untidy cottage, Mount Pleasant, three miles from where he allegedly abducted the schoolgirl. |
| During the visit, the nine women and three men also examined a layby close to Bridger's former home where the 47-year-old slaughterman was allegedly seen carrying a black bin liner on the day after April vanished. | During the visit, the nine women and three men also examined a layby close to Bridger's former home where the 47-year-old slaughterman was allegedly seen carrying a black bin liner on the day after April vanished. |
| The jury was also taken to April's school in Machynlleth, mid-Wales, and the leisure centre where she went for a swimming lesson shortly before she vanished on 1 October last year. | The jury was also taken to April's school in Machynlleth, mid-Wales, and the leisure centre where she went for a swimming lesson shortly before she vanished on 1 October last year. |
| The first two full days of Bridger's trial at Mold crown court, north Wales, had been taken up with the prosecution's outline of its case. Elwen Evans QC alleged that Bridger's motive when he seized April as she played near her home on her bicycle was sexual. She has suggested April came to harm at Bridger's cottage and that he subsequently concealed, disposed of or destroyed her body, which has never been found. | The first two full days of Bridger's trial at Mold crown court, north Wales, had been taken up with the prosecution's outline of its case. Elwen Evans QC alleged that Bridger's motive when he seized April as she played near her home on her bicycle was sexual. She has suggested April came to harm at Bridger's cottage and that he subsequently concealed, disposed of or destroyed her body, which has never been found. |
| Bridger has claimed he accidentally hit April in a road accident, panicked and bundled her dying body into his Land Rover but had forgotten what he did with her body. | Bridger has claimed he accidentally hit April in a road accident, panicked and bundled her dying body into his Land Rover but had forgotten what he did with her body. |
| On Thursday the jury, judge, barristers and court staff decamped from Mold crown court in north Wales and made the picturesque two-hour journey to the market town of Machynlleth. | On Thursday the jury, judge, barristers and court staff decamped from Mold crown court in north Wales and made the picturesque two-hour journey to the market town of Machynlleth. |
| Before the visit, the jury was told that the court was in effect moving en masse to Machynlleth. Mr Justice Griffith-Williams asked the panel to appoint a foreman or forewoman who would be the contact point with him – and told them to bring sandwiches for their lunch. | Before the visit, the jury was told that the court was in effect moving en masse to Machynlleth. Mr Justice Griffith-Williams asked the panel to appoint a foreman or forewoman who would be the contact point with him – and told them to bring sandwiches for their lunch. |
| Bridger, who denies abduction, murder and intending to pervert the course of justice by disposing of, concealing or destroying April's body, did not attend. | Bridger, who denies abduction, murder and intending to pervert the course of justice by disposing of, concealing or destroying April's body, did not attend. |
| Just before noon the coach, accompanied by police outriders, arrived outside April's primary school, where Bridger attended a parents' evening to hear about the progress of his own daughter shortly before he allegedly abducted April. | Just before noon the coach, accompanied by police outriders, arrived outside April's primary school, where Bridger attended a parents' evening to hear about the progress of his own daughter shortly before he allegedly abducted April. |
| The jury was driven through the nearby Bryn-y-Gog estate and saw the spot where April was playing when she was last seen. It is not known if April's parents, Paul and Coral, were at home on the estate at the time. Next the coach followed the route Bridger is alleged to have taken with April in his car over what he called the "mountain road" to the war memorial in the town centre. | The jury was driven through the nearby Bryn-y-Gog estate and saw the spot where April was playing when she was last seen. It is not known if April's parents, Paul and Coral, were at home on the estate at the time. Next the coach followed the route Bridger is alleged to have taken with April in his car over what he called the "mountain road" to the war memorial in the town centre. |
| On their way to the leisure centre, jurors would have been able to glimpse pink ribbons tied to railings and benches that have come to stand for solidarity with April's parents. They may have seen missing posters asking for help in finding April, which are still posted in some shop windows. | On their way to the leisure centre, jurors would have been able to glimpse pink ribbons tied to railings and benches that have come to stand for solidarity with April's parents. They may have seen missing posters asking for help in finding April, which are still posted in some shop windows. |
| Then it was on to Mount Pleasant, a whitewashed cottage standing on the edge of the village of Ceinws but not in a particularly isolated position. Bunches of flowers and a cuddly toy had been left outside. | Then it was on to Mount Pleasant, a whitewashed cottage standing on the edge of the village of Ceinws but not in a particularly isolated position. Bunches of flowers and a cuddly toy had been left outside. |
| The jurors toured the cottage in groups of four because it was considered too cramped for the entire group. April's blood stains were found in the lounge, hallway and bathroom, the court has heard, while charred fragments of what experts will argue are probably a young human's skull were found in the ash in the wood-burner in the living room. | The jurors toured the cottage in groups of four because it was considered too cramped for the entire group. April's blood stains were found in the lounge, hallway and bathroom, the court has heard, while charred fragments of what experts will argue are probably a young human's skull were found in the ash in the wood-burner in the living room. |
| Evans, prosecuting, has said that when police arrived at the cottage less than 24 hours after April vanished it was "uncomfortably hot". A police helicopter helping the search captured smoke coming from the chimney a few hours before. There was also a strong smell of detergent – evidence of a major clean up, the prosecution said. | Evans, prosecuting, has said that when police arrived at the cottage less than 24 hours after April vanished it was "uncomfortably hot". A police helicopter helping the search captured smoke coming from the chimney a few hours before. There was also a strong smell of detergent – evidence of a major clean up, the prosecution said. |
| The media were not allowed inside the cottage but the court sanctioned the release of images of its interior, taken during the early days of the police investigation. | The media were not allowed inside the cottage but the court sanctioned the release of images of its interior, taken during the early days of the police investigation. |
| The living room was messy and scruffy. Clearly visible is the wood-burner, where the fragments were found. In front of the inglenook, boxes of cider can be seen – Bridger has told police he was an alcoholic and was drinking heavily on the night of April's disappearance. | The living room was messy and scruffy. Clearly visible is the wood-burner, where the fragments were found. In front of the inglenook, boxes of cider can be seen – Bridger has told police he was an alcoholic and was drinking heavily on the night of April's disappearance. |
| A rifle appears to be fixed to the beam above the stove but there is no sign of the knives that police found in the living room, including a boning knife. There is also no sign of Bridger's laptop on which the prosecution says he stored child abuse images, pictures of children involved in notorious murder cases and images of local girls, among them April and her two half-sisters. | A rifle appears to be fixed to the beam above the stove but there is no sign of the knives that police found in the living room, including a boning knife. There is also no sign of Bridger's laptop on which the prosecution says he stored child abuse images, pictures of children involved in notorious murder cases and images of local girls, among them April and her two half-sisters. |
| Behind the sofa and above the CD rack are what appear to be family photographs. Bridger is a father of six. His dog's bed is in front of the stove; he told police he often slept downstairs too. | Behind the sofa and above the CD rack are what appear to be family photographs. Bridger is a father of six. His dog's bed is in front of the stove; he told police he often slept downstairs too. |
| Traces of April's blood were found in "nooks and crannies" where it was not easy to clean, the court has heard. Spots were discovered on the wood burner, on the hearth and beneath carpet, where it had soaked through, the prosecution claims. April's blood was also found on the white sofa visible in the images. | Traces of April's blood were found in "nooks and crannies" where it was not easy to clean, the court has heard. Spots were discovered on the wood burner, on the hearth and beneath carpet, where it had soaked through, the prosecution claims. April's blood was also found on the white sofa visible in the images. |
| Clothes, a training shoe and what appears to be a belt are also scattered over the stairs while in the bathroom green police stickers indicate areas of interest. The court has been told April's blood was found on the shower curtain and inside the washing machine in the bathroom. There was also what might have been a bloody fingerprint on the washing machine, the trial has heard. | Clothes, a training shoe and what appears to be a belt are also scattered over the stairs while in the bathroom green police stickers indicate areas of interest. The court has been told April's blood was found on the shower curtain and inside the washing machine in the bathroom. There was also what might have been a bloody fingerprint on the washing machine, the trial has heard. |
| Finally, the jury visited the spot close to a river where Bridger was allegedly seen with a black bin bag the morning after April disappeared. The trial will resume in Mold on Friday. | Finally, the jury visited the spot close to a river where Bridger was allegedly seen with a black bin bag the morning after April disappeared. The trial will resume in Mold on Friday. |
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