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April Jones case: Judge summing up continues before jury retires April Jones case: Judge continues summing up
(41 minutes later)
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.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 continued 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 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 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.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.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.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". The judge said at 12:11 the defendant accessed a pornographic cartoon "and you need no reminder of what that showed" and spoke of him sending Facebook messages to women, asking them for drinks.
Describing April's movements on the day, he reminded the jury she came home from school and had her dinner, then went to the leisure centre for a swimming lesson.
Later, she returned home and the judge said the evidence that her parents - who were again in the public gallery - gave in and let her go out to play would have "struck a chord with many parents".
The judge reminded them of the evidence surrounding the parents' evening and how the defendant later drove to Bryn-Y-Gog, the estate where April lived, then around the local area.
Mr Bridger, who has been looking straight at the judge during his summing up, was seen in or around the estate by several witnesses on the evening of 1 October, before April's disappearance.
The judge reminded the jury of the evidence of the 10-year-old girl who was invited by Mr Bridger to a sleepover with his daughter.
Moving on to the evidence of the seven-year-old friend April was playing with when she went missing, he said: "In her interview she said that when they were near the BT van she told April to 'come on'... she said that she called her to tell her to get home because it was getting dark.
"April was talking to a man who was standing between the Land Rover and the BT van... she could see their mouths moving.
"She said the man got out of the Land Rover... it was as if he was waiting for someone... she said she didn't know why April wanted to go... but April got in through the driver's door."
He added that in the girl's words: "He was inside the van when April was going to get in..."
The judge reminded the jury of what the girl had said in cross-examination by defence counsel Brendan Kelly QC. When Mr Kelly asked the girl whether she had seen April on the floor, the judge said the girl replied: "She was talking, but she was standing up when she was talking to the man..."
Considerable sympathy
The judge then told the jury how April's brother had later ran home and said: "Someone's taken April."
The 999 call was placed and by 20:13 a police road block had been set up on the nearby Dyfi bridge.
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.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."
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".
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 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.