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| April Jones trial jury views suspect's vehicle | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Land Rover said to have been used by a man accused of killing five-year-old April Jones has been viewed by the jury trying him at Mold Crown Court. | |
| Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, Powys, has told police he accidentally knocked her over and put her in his Land Rover Discovery but cannot remember what he did with her body. | Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, Powys, has told police he accidentally knocked her over and put her in his Land Rover Discovery but cannot remember what he did with her body. |
| April went missing while playing near her Machynlleth home on 1 October 2012 and has never been found. | April went missing while playing near her Machynlleth home on 1 October 2012 and has never been found. |
| Mr Bridger denies abduction and murder. | Mr Bridger denies abduction and murder. |
| The prosecution claims the defendant murdered April in a sexually motivated attack. | The prosecution claims the defendant murdered April in a sexually motivated attack. |
| Mr Bridger told police during interviews he accidentally hit her with his Land Rover and does not know how he disposed of the body because he was suffering memory loss caused by alcohol and panic. | Mr Bridger told police during interviews he accidentally hit her with his Land Rover and does not know how he disposed of the body because he was suffering memory loss caused by alcohol and panic. |
| But a forensics scientist who examined the vehicle told the jury on Tuesday there was no evidence of any type of collision with April. | But a forensics scientist who examined the vehicle told the jury on Tuesday there was no evidence of any type of collision with April. |
| The jury was taken to see the vehicle on Thursday morning and was also due to view the bicycles April and her friend were playing on when she disappeared. | |
| After returning to court, the jury sent questions to the judge about the Land Rover, some of which would be answered in evidence the judge said. | |
| One of the questions related to whether a "Scantronic radio" device in the car worked. | |
| The prosecution also ran through previous evidence including items found in the vehicle such as cable ties, masking tape and a packet of baby wipes. | |
| The jury has also heard an air rifle and handcuffs were found at his house. | |
| Elwen Evans QC, prosecuting, talked about text messages Mr Bridger sent the day before April went missing, including to a woman on the Isle of Wight which said "hi sweetheart" and "I'll be dead and buried before I find the right one again". | |
| On the day April disappeared, there was also a text message exchange between Mr Bridger and his former girlfriend Vicky Fenner. | |
| He texted: "You were my baby my everything... for what it's worth I'm still in love with you." | |
| Following an earlier question from the jury, the court also heard Mr Bridger worked at an abattoir in Llanidloes as an "operative" between October 2009 and January 2010 then in "quality assurance" between January 2010 and February 2012. | |
| The jury heard he had "access to an array of knives and he was skilled in both boning and skinning". | |
| Mr Bridger's claim of military service was also discussed with the prosecution previously saying it was a "lie and a fantasy". | |
| Written evidence from a staff sergeant with the Royal Military Police said: "The following names came back as negative on our military systems so have never served in any UK regular or reserve force." | |
| The name searched for was Mark Leonard Bridger. The statement added the database had no access to records for foreign forces or mercenary details. | |
| Images | |
| On Wednesday, the court heard that Mr Bridger had viewed Facebook pictures of April on his computer. | On Wednesday, the court heard that Mr Bridger had viewed Facebook pictures of April on his computer. |
| He also had images of April's half-sisters, child murder victims and local girls, according to Dyfed-Powys Police hi-tech crime manager Mervyn Ray. | He also had images of April's half-sisters, child murder victims and local girls, according to Dyfed-Powys Police hi-tech crime manager Mervyn Ray. |
| On the day April disappeared, the court was told Mr Bridger viewed 32 images of a local girl, some of which were saved to a folder on his computer. | On the day April disappeared, the court was told Mr Bridger viewed 32 images of a local girl, some of which were saved to a folder on his computer. |
| Earlier, the jury was told how Mr Bridger's computer also contained images of naked young girls and pornographic cartoons. | Earlier, the jury was told how Mr Bridger's computer also contained images of naked young girls and pornographic cartoons. |
| There were 100 to 150 indecent pictures on Mr Bridger's laptop, the court was told. | There were 100 to 150 indecent pictures on Mr Bridger's laptop, the court was told. |
| Photographs of real-life crime, including pictures of young murder victims such as Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman from Soham, were also among images found. | Photographs of real-life crime, including pictures of young murder victims such as Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman from Soham, were also among images found. |
| The jury has previously heard that April's blood was found in several locations around his home. | The jury has previously heard that April's blood was found in several locations around his home. |
| As well as abduction and murder, Mr Bridger also denies intending to pervert the course of justice. | As well as abduction and murder, Mr Bridger also denies intending to pervert the course of justice. |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |