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| April Jones: police officer describes moments after girl went missing | April Jones: police officer describes moments after girl went missing |
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| The first police officer on the scene after the disappearance of April Jones has described the desperate moments after the five-year-old went missing and how she set about interviewing another schoolgirl who witnessed the alleged abduction. | The first police officer on the scene after the disappearance of April Jones has described the desperate moments after the five-year-old went missing and how she set about interviewing another schoolgirl who witnessed the alleged abduction. |
| PC Fiona Evans told the jury she was the only officer in Machynlleth when the 999 call reporting April's disappearance came through at 7.29pm on 1 October last year. | PC Fiona Evans told the jury she was the only officer in Machynlleth when the 999 call reporting April's disappearance came through at 7.29pm on 1 October last year. |
| She was informed the girl had got into a "large grey car" and looked out for such a vehicle as she drove to the scene in the mid-Wales town with darkness falling. | She was informed the girl had got into a "large grey car" and looked out for such a vehicle as she drove to the scene in the mid-Wales town with darkness falling. |
| Evans told the jury she arrived at 7.37pm and was flagged down by April's 10-year-old brother. She said the back door of April's family home was open and she could see her mother, Coral, "clearly distressed". | Evans told the jury she arrived at 7.37pm and was flagged down by April's 10-year-old brother. She said the back door of April's family home was open and she could see her mother, Coral, "clearly distressed". |
| The officer said Coral Jones told her: "She's been taken, she's been taken." Evans established April had been with her seven-year-old friend when she was allegedly abducted. | The officer said Coral Jones told her: "She's been taken, she's been taken." Evans established April had been with her seven-year-old friend when she was allegedly abducted. |
| Evans spoke to the girl and took her to the spot where April had last been seen on the Bryn-Y-Gog estate. She said the girl appeared "nervous". | |
| The officer told her: "We need to find April," the jury heard. "Do you know where she is?" Evans said the girl replied: "She's gone in a van, a grey van." Asked what sort of van, the girl answered: "I don't know." Asked: "Did you know the man?", she said: "I don't know, I think so." | The officer told her: "We need to find April," the jury heard. "Do you know where she is?" Evans said the girl replied: "She's gone in a van, a grey van." Asked what sort of van, the girl answered: "I don't know." Asked: "Did you know the man?", she said: "I don't know, I think so." |
| The jury at Mold crown court has been told that former slaughterman Mark Bridger, 47, abducted and murdered April before disposing of, concealing or destroying her body. The prosecution has claimed his motive was sexual. | The jury at Mold crown court has been told that former slaughterman Mark Bridger, 47, abducted and murdered April before disposing of, concealing or destroying her body. The prosecution has claimed his motive was sexual. |
| Bridger denies the offences and claims he accidentally knocked April over in his Land Rover, panicked, put the body in the vehicle and cannot remember what he did with it. April's body has not been found. | Bridger denies the offences and claims he accidentally knocked April over in his Land Rover, panicked, put the body in the vehicle and cannot remember what he did with it. April's body has not been found. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, a statement from Coral Jones's friend, Val Jones, was read to the court. She was at April's house when the girl went out to play. | |
| She said in the statement she had greeted April with: "Hello princess" and told her to wear a coat as it was cold outside. | She said in the statement she had greeted April with: "Hello princess" and told her to wear a coat as it was cold outside. |
| She described how April's brother was later sent out to find his sister and bring her home but he came running back. "He was upset and crying and struggling to get his words out," Val Jones said. "He eventually said: 'Someone's taken April.'" | She described how April's brother was later sent out to find his sister and bring her home but he came running back. "He was upset and crying and struggling to get his words out," Val Jones said. "He eventually said: 'Someone's taken April.'" |
| Coral Jones's harrowing 999 call was played to the jury for the second time. She told the police operator: "My daughter was out playing with a friend and she's been kidnapped." After a few seconds she passed the phone to Val Jones and later during the call the sound of someone apparently hyperventilating in the background can be heard. | Coral Jones's harrowing 999 call was played to the jury for the second time. She told the police operator: "My daughter was out playing with a friend and she's been kidnapped." After a few seconds she passed the phone to Val Jones and later during the call the sound of someone apparently hyperventilating in the background can be heard. |
| Members of the jury glanced at Bridger as he sat in the dock during the playing of the 999 call and up to the public gallery, where April's family was sitting. | Members of the jury glanced at Bridger as he sat in the dock during the playing of the 999 call and up to the public gallery, where April's family was sitting. |
| Bridger denies abduction, murder and disposing of, concealing or destroying April's body. The trial continues. | Bridger denies abduction, murder and disposing of, concealing or destroying April's body. The trial continues. |
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