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| April Jones killer claims 'mental block' over what happened to body | April Jones killer claims 'mental block' over what happened to body |
| (3 days later) | |
| The man accused of murdering April Jones told police he had a "mental block" about what happened to her body, a jury has heard. Mark Bridger, 47, also said he ran her over but "never thought" of calling 999, Mold crown court heard. | The man accused of murdering April Jones told police he had a "mental block" about what happened to her body, a jury has heard. Mark Bridger, 47, also said he ran her over but "never thought" of calling 999, Mold crown court heard. |
| The jury in his trial were hearing transcripts of his police interviews for a second day, read to the court by Paul Hobson, prosecuting. In the transcripts, Detective Constable Louise Thomas, the interviewing officer, asked the defendant about what happened after five-year-old April was seen for the last time, playing near her home in Machynlleth, Powys, on the evening of 1 October last year. | The jury in his trial were hearing transcripts of his police interviews for a second day, read to the court by Paul Hobson, prosecuting. In the transcripts, Detective Constable Louise Thomas, the interviewing officer, asked the defendant about what happened after five-year-old April was seen for the last time, playing near her home in Machynlleth, Powys, on the evening of 1 October last year. |
| Bridger denies abducting and murdering the girl in a sexually motivated attack, but says he accidentally ran her over and killed her. | Bridger denies abducting and murdering the girl in a sexually motivated attack, but says he accidentally ran her over and killed her. |
| He accepts he must have got rid of her body, but says he cannot remember how it did it. In the police interview, Bridger said he realised April was dead when he put his hand to her chest and saw "she was flat on the one side and round on the other". He said: "That's when I knew there was more to it." He said he was crying and panicking, and thought: "What have I done? I've now killed a little girl." | He accepts he must have got rid of her body, but says he cannot remember how it did it. In the police interview, Bridger said he realised April was dead when he put his hand to her chest and saw "she was flat on the one side and round on the other". He said: "That's when I knew there was more to it." He said he was crying and panicking, and thought: "What have I done? I've now killed a little girl." |
| He said what happened next was a blank. "I have been over and over and over again in my mind, what I've done and where I've been," he said in the police interview. "I just have a mental block of what happened." Referring to April's parents, he added: "I want them to have their daughter." | He said what happened next was a blank. "I have been over and over and over again in my mind, what I've done and where I've been," he said in the police interview. "I just have a mental block of what happened." Referring to April's parents, he added: "I want them to have their daughter." |
| Bridger said he planned to take her to a nearby hospital, but then remembered there was no accident and emergency there. He said he then drove to the town's clock tower where he parked, to "think about what to do", adding: "I never thought of dialling 999 or 112." Instead, he drove "back and forward" around the town. | Bridger said he planned to take her to a nearby hospital, but then remembered there was no accident and emergency there. He said he then drove to the town's clock tower where he parked, to "think about what to do", adding: "I never thought of dialling 999 or 112." Instead, he drove "back and forward" around the town. |
| April vanished while playing on her bike with her best friend near their homes on Machynlleth's Bryn-Y-Gog estate. Her body has never been found despite the biggest search in British policing history. | April vanished while playing on her bike with her best friend near their homes on Machynlleth's Bryn-Y-Gog estate. Her body has never been found despite the biggest search in British policing history. |
| Relating events back at his house in Ceinws, in the early hours of the next day, Bridger said: "I can't remember whether I slept or whether I just blanked out. I remember I hugged my dog. I talked to my dog about what happened, I know that sounds stupid." | Relating events back at his house in Ceinws, in the early hours of the next day, Bridger said: "I can't remember whether I slept or whether I just blanked out. I remember I hugged my dog. I talked to my dog about what happened, I know that sounds stupid." |
| At the end of the interview, on 3 October, he said: "I would like to say to Paul and Coral [April's parents], I never meant for this to happen, I never meant to put them through this. I have got kids of my own, I have known them for years." In the transcript, Thomas replied: "Maybe you can help by trying to remember." | At the end of the interview, on 3 October, he said: "I would like to say to Paul and Coral [April's parents], I never meant for this to happen, I never meant to put them through this. I have got kids of my own, I have known them for years." In the transcript, Thomas replied: "Maybe you can help by trying to remember." |
| Bridger, wearing a blue shirt and blue tie, often appeared to be crying and looked to the floor as the evidence was read out. | Bridger, wearing a blue shirt and blue tie, often appeared to be crying and looked to the floor as the evidence was read out. |
| In a later interview, again on 3 October, he was told the police had a witness who saw April "talking to a man" and then getting into a Land Rover which then drove off. | In a later interview, again on 3 October, he was told the police had a witness who saw April "talking to a man" and then getting into a Land Rover which then drove off. |
| He said that account was wrong and claimed that a child of April's size would not have been able to get into the Land Rover without help. | He said that account was wrong and claimed that a child of April's size would not have been able to get into the Land Rover without help. |
| He said: "That is complete fabrication, [the witness] obviously wasn't there. There is no way a girl of that size and petiteness would have been able to get into my vehicle." | He said: "That is complete fabrication, [the witness] obviously wasn't there. There is no way a girl of that size and petiteness would have been able to get into my vehicle." |
| He suggested the police examine his car for April's fingerprints, adding: "If she was awake or alive at that point, she would have held on, she'd have held things. It's not what happened and obviously you've got the vehicle in for forensics." | He suggested the police examine his car for April's fingerprints, adding: "If she was awake or alive at that point, she would have held on, she'd have held things. It's not what happened and obviously you've got the vehicle in for forensics." |
| Asked about the indecent images found on his laptop computer, he said he had been researching the adolescent development of one of his daughters. "As a father who spends every weekend with my daughter, I want to know what's going on." | Asked about the indecent images found on his laptop computer, he said he had been researching the adolescent development of one of his daughters. "As a father who spends every weekend with my daughter, I want to know what's going on." |
| He then added: "I'm 95% impotent, did you know that? It's one of the reasons I split up with my ex, because I cannot perform, obviously." | He then added: "I'm 95% impotent, did you know that? It's one of the reasons I split up with my ex, because I cannot perform, obviously." |
| During his fifth interview, on 4 October, Bridger was formally arrested on suspicion of the murder of April and for possession of child abuse images. | During his fifth interview, on 4 October, Bridger was formally arrested on suspicion of the murder of April and for possession of child abuse images. |
| He stated: "I didn't murder the little girl, I didn't murder her. It was an accident." | He stated: "I didn't murder the little girl, I didn't murder her. It was an accident." |
| He went on to say that the images on his laptop were to investigate "body changes" experienced by his daughter and because he wanted to protest about the availability of child abuse images on the internet. "I couldn't contain my disgust and I actually wrote letters to the companies," he said. | He went on to say that the images on his laptop were to investigate "body changes" experienced by his daughter and because he wanted to protest about the availability of child abuse images on the internet. "I couldn't contain my disgust and I actually wrote letters to the companies," he said. |
| Questioned about his background, he said he had spent time in the military and that about "nine or 10" years ago he twice completed a 14-week training programme for the South London Fire Service. | Questioned about his background, he said he had spent time in the military and that about "nine or 10" years ago he twice completed a 14-week training programme for the South London Fire Service. |
| "Were you ever a firefighter, fighting fires?" the officer asked. | "Were you ever a firefighter, fighting fires?" the officer asked. |
| "I passed everything, completed the training," he said, before adding that he had applied to join the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and the Royal Engineers. He said he was accepted for REME, and completed 12 weeks' basic training. | "I passed everything, completed the training," he said, before adding that he had applied to join the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and the Royal Engineers. He said he was accepted for REME, and completed 12 weeks' basic training. |
| "I excelled in everything, other than the electrical and the mechanical," he said, adding that his intended specialisms were "knife training and close combat". He said he wanted to excel in something else so he studied bomb disposal. | "I excelled in everything, other than the electrical and the mechanical," he said, adding that his intended specialisms were "knife training and close combat". He said he wanted to excel in something else so he studied bomb disposal. |
| By this time, Bridger told the officer, he had moved to Wales and was living in Blaenau Ffestiniog but the army wanted to post him to Gloucester. | By this time, Bridger told the officer, he had moved to Wales and was living in Blaenau Ffestiniog but the army wanted to post him to Gloucester. |
| He said he was approached by "mercenaries" so left the army, "because of the money", and spent a lot of time "out of the country". | He said he was approached by "mercenaries" so left the army, "because of the money", and spent a lot of time "out of the country". |
| The officer asked him to tell her about where he served, and he replied: "Some I can tell you about, some I can't." | The officer asked him to tell her about where he served, and he replied: "Some I can tell you about, some I can't." |
| He listed a number of the countries, including Belize, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Afghanistan. He said: "Some of it was operational and some of it observational. Most of it was mine detection and mine laying." | He listed a number of the countries, including Belize, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Afghanistan. He said: "Some of it was operational and some of it observational. Most of it was mine detection and mine laying." |
| He said he was asked to continue these activities but declined, telling the interviewing officer: "I had been asked to go back and do others but obviously I had a young family at this time and I felt I had tried my luck." | He said he was asked to continue these activities but declined, telling the interviewing officer: "I had been asked to go back and do others but obviously I had a young family at this time and I felt I had tried my luck." |
| He added that in the course of these activities he had been "shot in the back" and "broken most of the bones" in the left side of his body. He also said he "smashed two lower vertebrae" in a parachute jump that "went wrong". | He added that in the course of these activities he had been "shot in the back" and "broken most of the bones" in the left side of his body. He also said he "smashed two lower vertebrae" in a parachute jump that "went wrong". |
| The interview ended with the officer returning to the matter of April's whereabouts. | The interview ended with the officer returning to the matter of April's whereabouts. |
| Bridger said: "When you came in before and said you were arresting me on suspicion of murder... I was initially relieved because at that point I honestly thought you had found her." | Bridger said: "When you came in before and said you were arresting me on suspicion of murder... I was initially relieved because at that point I honestly thought you had found her." |
| "You know where she is," the officer said. | "You know where she is," the officer said. |
| He replied: "I don't know where she is. In my mind I've obviously put her somewhere and I can't get that back." | He replied: "I don't know where she is. In my mind I've obviously put her somewhere and I can't get that back." |
| The trial was adjourned until Monday. | The trial was adjourned until Monday. |
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