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| April Jones trial: Mark Bridger weeps as court hears his account of girl's death | April Jones trial: Mark Bridger weeps as court hears his account of girl's death |
| (12 days later) | |
| The man accused of abducting and murdering April Jones broke down in tears in the dock as the account he gave of what he says happened at the time of the schoolgirl's disappearance was read out to a jury. | The man accused of abducting and murdering April Jones broke down in tears in the dock as the account he gave of what he says happened at the time of the schoolgirl's disappearance was read out to a jury. |
| Mark Bridger wept openly when PC Phil Saunders, the officer who arrested him, read out the defendant's claims that he accidentally crushed April with his Land Rover, put her in his car and desperately tried to revive her. | Mark Bridger wept openly when PC Phil Saunders, the officer who arrested him, read out the defendant's claims that he accidentally crushed April with his Land Rover, put her in his car and desperately tried to revive her. |
| April's mother, Coral, left the public gallery at Mold crown court as Bridger's story – including his insistence that he did not know what he had done with the girl's body – was set out. | April's mother, Coral, left the public gallery at Mold crown court as Bridger's story – including his insistence that he did not know what he had done with the girl's body – was set out. |
| The prosecution claims that Bridger, a 47-year-old former slaughterman and lifeguard, abducted April, murdered her and then concealed, disposed of or destroyed her body. It claims his motive was sexual. One of April's friends has told the court the five-year-old got into the car with a "happy face". | The prosecution claims that Bridger, a 47-year-old former slaughterman and lifeguard, abducted April, murdered her and then concealed, disposed of or destroyed her body. It claims his motive was sexual. One of April's friends has told the court the five-year-old got into the car with a "happy face". |
| But the court heard that Bridger gave a very different account when he was arrested by Saunders at 3.32pm on 2 October, the day after April went missing while out playing out on her bicycle near her home in the mid-Wales town of Machynlleth. | But the court heard that Bridger gave a very different account when he was arrested by Saunders at 3.32pm on 2 October, the day after April went missing while out playing out on her bicycle near her home in the mid-Wales town of Machynlleth. |
| Saunders said he spotted Bridger on a main road not far from the town centre. He stopped his police car and the man confirmed he was Bridger. The officer arrested him on suspicion of abduction. | Saunders said he spotted Bridger on a main road not far from the town centre. He stopped his police car and the man confirmed he was Bridger. The officer arrested him on suspicion of abduction. |
| Saunders told the jury that Bridger said: "I know what it's all about." | Saunders told the jury that Bridger said: "I know what it's all about." |
| Saunders asked: "Where is she?" | Saunders asked: "Where is she?" |
| Bridger – who denies all the offences – allegedly said: "It was an accident. I crushed her with the car. I don't know where she is. As I was going to drive away two girls on a bike came across me. I got out and saw one of the girls lying under my car. I don't know where she is. I picked her up and put her in my car, which is a left-hand drive and put her on the front seat." | Bridger – who denies all the offences – allegedly said: "It was an accident. I crushed her with the car. I don't know where she is. As I was going to drive away two girls on a bike came across me. I got out and saw one of the girls lying under my car. I don't know where she is. I picked her up and put her in my car, which is a left-hand drive and put her on the front seat." |
| The officer found a lock knife on Bridger. He told him he should not say anything else until he reached a police station. But Bridger told him: "I need to talk." | The officer found a lock knife on Bridger. He told him he should not say anything else until he reached a police station. But Bridger told him: "I need to talk." |
| He said: "I didn't abduct her. I tried my best to revive her. I panicked. The more I drove through the night the more I got pissed. | He said: "I didn't abduct her. I tried my best to revive her. I panicked. The more I drove through the night the more I got pissed. |
| "My son and daughter played at their house. I didn't even know until this morning who it was, until I saw the TV. I just wish I knew what I had done with her, where I put her. I need to say sorry to her family." | "My son and daughter played at their house. I didn't even know until this morning who it was, until I saw the TV. I just wish I knew what I had done with her, where I put her. I need to say sorry to her family." |
| Saunders told the court that Bridger was crying, describing him as an "emotional wreck". | Saunders told the court that Bridger was crying, describing him as an "emotional wreck". |
| Bridger allegedly continued: "I can't believe I didn't just call an ambulance or the police. My intention was to head towards the hospital. There was no life in her, no pulse, no breathing. No response in her eyes. She was just on the seat. I tried to revive her using mouth to nose. When my hand went on her chest I knew she there was a lot more to it. | Bridger allegedly continued: "I can't believe I didn't just call an ambulance or the police. My intention was to head towards the hospital. There was no life in her, no pulse, no breathing. No response in her eyes. She was just on the seat. I tried to revive her using mouth to nose. When my hand went on her chest I knew she there was a lot more to it. |
| "I don't remember having her in the car when I went back [home]. I looked in all my rooms in my house. I wouldn't have dumped her. She's a human being. I wouldn't have done that. | "I don't remember having her in the car when I went back [home]. I looked in all my 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've done. I remember looking through my rear window. I saw a girl, dark haired. I then felt the car rise up and down. My car was making a hell of a noise. When I looked there was a little girl under the car. She had gone a funny colour. She was only a little thing. I don't know what I was doing." | "I really don't know where she is. I just want to know what I've done. I remember looking through my rear window. I saw a girl, dark haired. I then felt the car rise up and down. My car was making a hell of a noise. When I looked there was a little girl under the car. She had gone a funny colour. She was only a little thing. I don't know what I was doing." |
| Earlier the jury heard a statement from a receptionist, Sophy Zlajic, at a garage where Bridger took his Land Rover the morning after the alleged abduction as the search for April intensified. | Earlier the jury heard a statement from a receptionist, Sophy Zlajic, at a garage where Bridger took his Land Rover the morning after the alleged abduction as the search for April intensified. |
| She said he seemed on the verge of crying – which she found "odd". He told Zlajic his children used to play with her [she took this to mean April]. He said it was a bad time for his car to have broken down. A mechanic at the garage, John Rowlands, described Bridger as appearing "nervous and edgy". "He seemed to be always looking around him," Rowlands said. | She said he seemed on the verge of crying – which she found "odd". He told Zlajic his children used to play with her [she took this to mean April]. He said it was a bad time for his car to have broken down. A mechanic at the garage, John Rowlands, described Bridger as appearing "nervous and edgy". "He seemed to be always looking around him," Rowlands said. |
| Also giving evidence on Friday was Detective Constable Sarah Totterdale, who was told at 2.45pm on 2 October to go to Bridger's house, search for April and arrest him if he was there. | Also giving evidence on Friday was Detective Constable Sarah Totterdale, who was told at 2.45pm on 2 October to go to Bridger's house, search for April and arrest him if he was there. |
| She told the jury she and other officers arrived at Bridger's house, Mount Pleasant in Ceinws, at 3.03pm and forced their way in. There was no sign of the suspect or April. | She told the jury she and other officers arrived at Bridger's house, Mount Pleasant in Ceinws, at 3.03pm and forced their way in. There was no sign of the suspect or April. |
| But she told the jury she was struck by how hot the living room was. Though it was a muggy day, the log stove was burning. "The fire had been burning for some time … it was uncomfortably hot," she said. | But she told the jury she was struck by how hot the living room was. Though it was a muggy day, the log stove was burning. "The fire had been burning for some time … it was uncomfortably hot," she said. |
| She also noticed a "strong smell of washed clothes" and another officer remarked on an "unpleasant" smell of "detergent and air freshener". | She also noticed a "strong smell of washed clothes" and another officer remarked on an "unpleasant" smell of "detergent and air freshener". |
| The prosecution claims Bridger undertook a clean-up of the house following April's alleged murder. It also alleges that burnt fragments found in the ash of the wood burner could be from the skull of a human juvenile. | The prosecution claims Bridger undertook a clean-up of the house following April's alleged murder. It also alleges that burnt fragments found in the ash of the wood burner could be from the skull of a human juvenile. |
| Bridger denies abduction, murder and concealing, disposing of or destroying April's body, which has never been found. The trial continues on Monday. | Bridger denies abduction, murder and concealing, disposing of or destroying April's body, which has never been found. The trial continues on Monday. |
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