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-22510575

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
April Jones trial: Defence questions blood test accuracy April Jones trial: 'No evidence of car collision'
(about 2 hours later)
The defence in the trial of the man accused of murdering five-year-old April Jones has questioned the accuracy of tests which found blood at his home. A forensics expert has told the trial of a man accused of murdering five-year-old April Jones there was no evidence the defendant's vehicle collided with a child.
Mold Crown Court has heard April's blood was found in several places at Mark Bridger's house in Ceinws, Powys. Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, Powys, who denies murdering and abducting April, claims he accidentally ran her over.
A crime scene investigator said she was entirely satisfied the tests were consistent with blood being present. But Mold Crown Court was told there was no damage to his Land Rover to support his claims.
Mr Bridger, 47, denies abducting and murdering April who went missing in Machynlleth on 1 October 2012. April disappeared while playing near her Machynlleth home on 1 October 2012.
Her disappearance sparked the largest police search in UK history.Her disappearance sparked the largest police search in UK history.
The prosecution claims Mr Bridger murdered April in a sexually motivated attack.The prosecution claims Mr Bridger murdered April in a sexually motivated attack.
But he told police during interviews he accidentally ran the girl over with his Land Rover, the jury has heard. Mr Bridger told police during interviews he accidentally hit April with his vehicle, the jury has heard.
However, a forensics expert has told the court there was nothing to suggest anyone had been hit or run over by the vehicle. He claims he cannot remember what he did with her body because he was drunk.
The defendant claims he cannot remember what he did with April's body because he was drunk. The jury has previously been told that April's blood was found in several locations around Mr Bridger's home.
On Tuesday, proceedings opened with the jury hearing evidence from Patricia Foley, a senior crime scene investigator with North Wales Police who examined Mr Bridger's home. On Tuesday, the court heard from forensics scientist Roderick McKenzie Stewart, who examined Mr Bridger's Land Rover Discovery.
"I was looking for signs of recent damage which could indicate a collision with a person or another object such as a bicycle," he said.
He said he carried out a "very thorough examination" and none of the damage on the vehicle was recent.
He also examined two bicycles and said there was no evidence either had been involved in a forceful collision with a vehicle.
If the Land Rover had collided with a person or another vehicle, the witness said he would have seen "something there".
Mr Bridger's vehicle "weighs two tonnes, it's going to do a lot of damage", he said.
Cross examined by defence counsel Brendan Kelly QC, he said he "saw no fibres on any of the tyres".
Mr Kelly asked whether fibres could be retained in the wheel if the vehicle had been driven in wet conditions for about 15 miles.
The forensics scientist said fibres could be trapped in certain areas and could remain there for a long time.
Mr Kelly questioned the thoroughness of the examination but the witness said he had been doing the job for a "very long time".
Mr Stewart said he would have expected to have found pieces of fabric embedded in the tyres or wheel arches if the car had gone over a child.
Earlier on Tuesday, proceedings opened with the jury hearing evidence from Patricia Foley, a senior crime scene investigator with North Wales Police who examined Mr Bridger's home.
She described how a chemical was used at the house to detect if blood was present.She described how a chemical was used at the house to detect if blood was present.
Mr Bridger stared at the floor as the witness described blood being found on his carpet and in grout on floor tiles.Mr Bridger stared at the floor as the witness described blood being found on his carpet and in grout on floor tiles.
Brendan Kelly QC, for the defence, suggested the chemical used in the testing could also have reacted to cleaning products rather than blood. Mr Kelly suggested the chemical used in the testing could also have reacted to cleaning products rather than blood.
But Ms Foley said she was satisfied the tests were consistent with blood being present.But Ms Foley said she was satisfied the tests were consistent with blood being present.
DNA profileDNA profile
The jury asked more about April's DNA match probability and the judge explained it was not like bookmakers' odds.The jury asked more about April's DNA match probability and the judge explained it was not like bookmakers' odds.
He said "the chance of finding the same DNA profile from a person unrelated to April is one in a billion".He said "the chance of finding the same DNA profile from a person unrelated to April is one in a billion".
It was accepted that it was April's blood, he added.It was accepted that it was April's blood, he added.
The jury also heard evidence from Steve Penhallurick, a fingerprint expert for Dyfed Powys Police, who was asked about a print on the washing machine in Mr Bridger's home. The jury also heard from fingerprint experts who examined Mr Bridger's house and car.
It was a mark apparently in blood, the court was told, but was of insufficient quality for conclusive identification. Some of the fingerprints in the defendant's Land Rover were said to be consistent with children but none matched those taken by experts from April's school books and home.
Mr Penhallurick said in his opinion the mark was consistent with an adult's but he could not confirm it was Mr Bridger's or rule it out.
He also gave evidence about fingerprints in the defendant's Land Rover, including three which were said to be consistent with children.
The court heard tests were carried out but none of the fingerprints matched those taken by experts from April's school books and home.
Crime scene investigator Alex Morgan, who carried out the fingerprinting, said 26 prints were taken from the vehicle, mostly in the rear passenger seat area. There were none in the boot.
Later, the court was told that Michael Keyte, a scenes of crime officer for Dyfed Powys Police, did not examine the site of the alleged abduction on the Bryn-Y-Gog estate because of a misunderstanding.Later, the court was told that Michael Keyte, a scenes of crime officer for Dyfed Powys Police, did not examine the site of the alleged abduction on the Bryn-Y-Gog estate because of a misunderstanding.
Mr Kelly then suggested the scene had not have been examined at all.Mr Kelly then suggested the scene had not have been examined at all.
The hearing was adjourned for lunch. On Monday, the jury heard April's blood was found in the living room, hallway and bathroom of Mr Bridger's home.
On Monday, the jury heard that traces of April's blood were found around Mr Bridger's cottage.
Blood matching April's DNA was discovered on the floor of the living room, the hallway carpet and the bathroom, the court was told.
Evidence suggested she had been lying on the floor near the fireplace "for some period of time", the jury heard.Evidence suggested she had been lying on the floor near the fireplace "for some period of time", the jury heard.
The evidence also pointed to attempts being made to remove or clean up the blood. The evidence pointed to attempts being made to remove or clean up the blood, the court was told.
Mr Bridger also denies intending to pervert the course of justice.Mr Bridger also denies intending to pervert the course of justice.
The case continues.The case continues.