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April Jones case: Judge summing up continues before jury retires April Jones case: Judge summing up continues before jury retires
(about 1 hour later)
A judge will sum up the evidence in the trial of a man accused of murdering five-year-old April Jones before the jury retires to consider its verdict. A judge has resumed summing up the evidence in the trial of a man accused of murdering April Jones before the jury retires to consider its verdict.
Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, Powys, denies abducting and murdering five-year-old April, who went missing near her Machynlleth home on 1 October 2012.Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, Powys, denies abducting and murdering five-year-old April, who went missing near her Machynlleth home on 1 October 2012.
He has told Mold Crown Court he accidentally ran her over with his car but the prosecution says he murdered her and lied to cover it up.He has told Mold Crown Court he accidentally ran her over with his car but the prosecution says he murdered her and lied to cover it up.
Her body has never been found.Her body has never been found.
Mr Bridger said he "panicked" after knocking April over and cannot remember what he did with her body.Mr Bridger said he "panicked" after knocking April over and cannot remember what he did with her body.
The court has heard April's blood was found in several locations at his home and fragments from a human skull were in his fire.The court has heard April's blood was found in several locations at his home and fragments from a human skull were in his fire.
The judge Mr Justice John Griffith Williams will continue his summing up of the case on Wednesday morning before the jury is expected to retire. The judge Mr Justice John Griffith Williams continued his summing up of the case on Wednesday morning before the jury is expected to retire.
He told the court on Tuesday there was considerable sympathy for April's parents - who have attended every day of the trial - but the jury must concentrate only on the evidence of the case. He is going through the key points of the evidence and started with the background of the case, reminding the jury of April's family history and that of the defendant.
He also reminded them of the evidence from April's mother Coral that her daughter would probably have known Mr Bridger by sight but would not have got into his vehicle knowingly.
The judge mentioned that the defendant worked in a slaughterhouse in Llanidloes and was skilled in the use of knives for boning and skinning. He reminded the jury the defendant had never served in the armed forces despite his previous claims.
Moving on to key evidence, he began by detailing text messages sent and received by Mr Bridger on the morning April disappeared.
The judge said at 12:11 the defendant accessed a pornographic cartoon "and you need no reminder of what that showed".
On Tuesday, the judge told the court there was considerable sympathy for April's parents - who have attended every day of the trial - but the jury must concentrate only on the evidence of the case.
He said: "All the answers you need will be found in the evidence, and so you must not speculate... to speculate is to guess."He said: "All the answers you need will be found in the evidence, and so you must not speculate... to speculate is to guess."
The court also heard closing speeches from the prosecution and defence teams.The court also heard closing speeches from the prosecution and defence teams.
Elwen Evans QC, for the prosecution, said the evidence "overwhelmingly" pointed to Mr Bridger's guilt.Elwen Evans QC, for the prosecution, said the evidence "overwhelmingly" pointed to Mr Bridger's guilt.
She said on the day April disappeared, the defendant "had gone to significant lengths to lie about any involvement".She said on the day April disappeared, the defendant "had gone to significant lengths to lie about any involvement".
Referring to evidence from his computer, she said he had an interest in young girls and an interest in real life crime. She said these two factors taken together painted "a very powerful picture".Referring to evidence from his computer, she said he had an interest in young girls and an interest in real life crime. She said these two factors taken together painted "a very powerful picture".
For the defence, Brendan Kelly QC cast doubt on the evidence of April's seven-year-old friend who claimed to have seen her getting into Mr Bridger's vehicle "happy and smiling".For the defence, Brendan Kelly QC cast doubt on the evidence of April's seven-year-old friend who claimed to have seen her getting into Mr Bridger's vehicle "happy and smiling".
He told the jury inconsistencies in the girl's evidence were "utterly consistent with honesty" but had a negative effect on the reliability of her evidence, which was the "cornerstone" of the trial.He told the jury inconsistencies in the girl's evidence were "utterly consistent with honesty" but had a negative effect on the reliability of her evidence, which was the "cornerstone" of the trial.
He said if the jury was less than certain about the evidence of April's friend then the case "remains unproven".He said if the jury was less than certain about the evidence of April's friend then the case "remains unproven".
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.