Deceased/Not Found UK - April Jones, 5, Machynlleth, Wales, 1 Oct 2012 #3 *M. Bridger guilty*

[Gallivant]

That would IMO depend on how well they really knew each other, if they were close at all, etc.

Reports suggest MB had been friends with April's father. Certainly we know his children played with April and April accompanied them (and MB) on a 'crabbing' trip this Summer, so it seems highly likely there was communication between MB and the Jones family.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

The magistrates would not have been made privy to any evidence.

The remand extensions would have simply been in response to Police requests and to ensure that a court is monitoring the process.

His last appearance at magistrates court would have been to determine jurisdiction for the trial.

A magistrates court cannot conduct trials in which a possible sentence can be longer that a relatively short prison term so jurisdiction would be passed over to Crown Court where his next appearance will be in January.

He has been in the Crown Court, on 10 October, Mr Justice Griffith-Williams presiding.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/10/mark-bridger-remanded-court-april-jones
'Mr Justice Griffith-Williams said any decision about where any future trial would be held would be made after consultation with the victim's family.

The case was adjourned until 11 January while investigations continue, the court was told. Bridger was remanded into custody and no application for bail was made.

On Monday Bridger made his first appearance in public since his arrest, when he was taken before magistrates in Aberystwyth. A crowd gathered outside court and the van in which he was travelling was attacked as it arrived and departed. Bridger's eyes filled with tears as the charges were read out.

Magistrates said the charges were so serious that the case would have to be dealt with in a crown court. He was remanded into custody and driven to HMP Manchester, formerly known as Strangeways.

At that point it was made clear he did not need to appear in person for his first crown court appearance at Caernarfon, which is 60 miles north-west of Machynlleth and 100 miles from Manchester.'


www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au
'Until 1968 there was only one form of committal proceedings in England and Wales. This procedure, which is still used in some cases, requires that the justices hear the witnesses for the prosecution, whose evidence is recorded in the form of written depositions. The accused must be present and he may be legally represented. The defence may cross-examine witnesses. The accused may give evidence and he may call witnesses, but he need not say anything or produce any evidence. Usually the defence is reserved; that is to say, no indication is given of whether the case will be defended or what the defence may be at the trial. The justices then decide whether the accused ought to be committed for trial and whether he ought to be released on bail or kept in custody to await his trial.


In England and Wales the Criminal Justice Act 1967 (U.K.) introduced substantial changes in respect to committal proceedings. The relevant sections of the Act came into force on I January, 1968. Basically, the Act introduced a procedure whereby the accused can be committed for trial upon evidence contained only in written statements, without consideration of the evidence by the magistrates, provided that he is legally represented and consents to this procedure being followed. The Act also introduced substantial changes in regard to public access to, and publication of, committal proceedings.


Section I of the Act empowers the examining justices, or a magistrate, to commit the accused for trial, not only on the basis of written statements without oral evidence, but also without the justices or magistrate having considered the contents of the statements unless: (1) the accused, or one of several accused persons, is not represented; or (2) the legal representative of the accused, or of one of several accused persons, has requested the court to consider a submission that the statements disclose insufficient evidence to support a committal. The section provides a number of safeguards for the accused - for example, the written statements must comply with a prescribed form; all the evidence of the prosecution and defence (if any) before the court must consist of written statements; and all accused persons must be legally represented. The procedure cannot be used if the accused is a person under 17 years of age.

 

[cluciano63]

I wonder if it is possible that the child witness did name the suspect, and they are holding that back.

 

[bijoux]

Doesn't answer my question though whether there is more to it than testifying that they saw April getting into a car that night.

I do wonder if any testimony will reflect past inappropriate behaviour on the part of the accused.

 

[Inge Jones]

Reports suggest MB had been friends with April's father. Certainly we know his children played with April and April accompanied them (and MB) on a 'crabbing' trip this Summer, so it seems highly likely there was communication between MB and the Jones family.

They were brothers-in-law while they were with their previous partners.

 

[bijoux]

I wonder if it is possible that the child witness did name the suspect, and they are holding that back.

I think more than one named MB. It's just unfortunate it took so long to locate him.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

I wonder if it is possible that the child witness did name the suspect, and they are holding that back.

One of the MSM reports says that the child provided 'the only description of the abductor'.

 

[Clio]

<rsbm>
Pure speculation, of course, but Occam's Razor suggests that a fast flowing river that runs into the sea would account for a body not being found despite a huge search effort over the last 11 days.

April Jones: Missing girl could have been swept 70 miles down the river

Fears grow that April Jones could have been swept 70 miles down the river, echoing a tragic case from 60 years ago.

A girl who previously went missing from the same town as five-year-old April Jones was swept more than 70 miles away in a case that foreshadows the latest tragic disappearance.

Eight-year-old Beryl Jones fell into the river Dyfi in Machynlleth more than 60 years ago and her body washed up nine days later on the northern side of Cardigan Bay.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...-have-been-swept-70-miles-down-the-river.html

 

[Cherwell]

Remember this couple?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2012/may/16/derby-fire-father-video

Yes. What's your point?

 

[bijoux]

Yes. What's your point?

I wondered that too!

Btw, are there CCTV cameras anywhere in Wales?

 

[George Gently]

I do wonder if any testimony will reflect past inappropriate behaviour on the part of the accused.

That would not be admissible as evidence as it does not relate to the charges.

 

[veggiefan]

April Jones: Missing girl could have been swept 70 miles down the river

I think the essence of that story is true, but the standard of reporting by the Torygraph remains abyssmal.

Firsly, she couldn't have been swept 70 miles down the river, because there's only some 12 miles of river before it meets the sea. They mean that she could have been swept out to sea. I have said from the outset that I think this is a strong possibility.

Secondly, they are repeating the error that the coastguards are searching between Towyn and Borth. Towyn is on the coast of North Wales, not all that far from Liverpool. It is not in the frame at all. They mean Tywyn, just up the coast from the Dyfi estuary.

 

[Clio]

I wondered that too!

Btw, are there CCTV cameras anywhere in Wales?

Police are also looking closely at CCTV footage which may contain a clue as to where April's abductor went after leaving the estate.

While no public CCTV cameras are available to the police, private footage from cameras at garages, supermarkets and other outlets is available

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/april-jones-missing-abducted-five-year-old-1357411

 

[LegallyBrunette]

Originally Posted by PADDYWHACK
Remember this couple?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2...e-father-video

Yes. What's your point?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ad-Philpott-charged-murdering-6-children.html


'The children were killed in the early hours of May 11 after the fire funnelled up the stairs and smoke filled the rooms where they were sleeping.
Philpott, a father of 17 by five women, became known as ‘Shameless Mick’ in 2007 after demanding a larger house to share with his wife, his girlfriend Lisa Willis, and eight of his offspring.'=

An outstanding citizen :banghead:

 

[veggiefan]

Btw, are there CCTV cameras anywhere in Wales?

In the cities such as Cardiff and Swansea. But I should think there are few in quiet rural areas such as Machynlleth, other than those run by individual shops and offices in the town. There wouldn't be any at all on the A487 going up to Corris IMO.

 

[Elainera]

I think the essence of that story is true, but the standard of reporting by the Torygraph remains abyssmal.

Firsly, she couldn't have been swept 70 miles down the river, because there's only some 12 miles of river before it meets the sea. They mean that she could have been swept out to sea. I have said from the outset that I think this is a strong possibility.

Secondly, they are repeating the error that the coastguards are searching between Towyn and Borth. Towyn is on the coast of North Wales, not all that far from Liverpool. It is not in the frame at all. They mean Tywyn, just up the coast from the Dyfi estuary.

And where is the northern side of Cardigan Bay where the girl 60 years ago was eventually found? Are they searching there now too?

 

[LegallyBrunette]

I do wonder if any testimony will reflect past inappropriate behaviour on the part of the accused.

It would be considered in sentencing, if accused found guilty.

 

[Elainera]

Police: The search for missing April remains intense

Superintendent Ian John, of Dyfed Powys Police, has confirmed the high numbers of police searching for April Jones will remain over the weekend. He said searching will move away from the town of Machynlleth and spread to surrounding areas.

They are covering 60 square kilometres of ground and using Coastguard, RAF and specialist police units.

The search, he said, is constantly under review but right now it remains as intense as it has been all week. Because of this, he is certain they will find April at some point.

http://www.itv.com/news/2012-10-12/...r-old-april-jones-remains-intense-say-police/

 

[LegallyBrunette]

I think the essence of that story is true, but the standard of reporting by the Torygraph remains abyssmal.

Firsly, she couldn't have been swept 70 miles down the river, because there's only some 12 miles of river before it meets the sea. They mean that she could have been swept out to sea. I have said from the outset that I think this is a strong possibility.

Secondly, they are repeating the error that the coastguards are searching between Towyn and Borth. Towyn is on the coast of North Wales, not all that far from Liverpool. It is not in the frame at all. They mean Tywyn, just up the coast from the Dyfi estuary.

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story

 

[bijoux]

That would not be admissible as evidence as it does not relate to the charges.

What if it is relevant?