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

[MidwestMama]

He will have been advised by his lawyers to say nothing except to confirm that he understands the charges. Making a huge fuss in front of the judge would do him no good what so ever.

He has been charged. The media are not allowed to report anything which may prejudice a trial. There will be no hint of anything about what he's saying or doing printed now until the trial. You can't infer anything from the lack of press reports.

Another difference of the court system.

The child won't have to do that. All they will do is tell what they saw in their own words and maybe answer one or two very simple questions put to them very kindly and calmly probably by the judge himself.

I'm VERY glad to hear that! :great:
(referring to the way the child will be questioned)

 

[Cherwell]

One thing that your post has brought up for me is: how many similar vehicles to the description (either light coloured van, or even the navy blue Discovery) that are RIGHT hand drive that are also in the neighbourhood? Maybe the child witness was absolutely right and April did get in the driver's side, as perhaps she was pulled in by the driver? Or climbed on to 'their' lap?

Would she have needed any help to get in? I'm not sure about a Discovery, but some 4x4s are quite high off the ground.

 

[MidwestMama]

He'd probably be charged with contempt of court. Then what you would read in the press would be something like, "Murder Suspect Faces Additional Charges".

Wow. They are VERY careful in UK about what is printed. I'm glad because if it helps avoid losing the conviction of the guilty it is worth it!

 

[raithjames]

Hi all, I have been trying to keep up with this case as I have had doubts about this whole prosecution.
I'm sorry if all this has been said before.
<modsnip> I read that mum arrived home with the eldest daughter?
A report says MB was seen/heard driving up and down the street around 6pm (I will find this I'm sure I read it on here). Does that mean his car was already having trouble and was booked into the garage in advance? We own a mechanics garage and clients have to book there car in in advance to be repaired, or left for days till it can be looked at.
MB also reportedly asked a search member if AJ had been found on the Tuesday I need to try and find that link too as what time was that did he have the bag on him?
I'm sorry once again if all these questions have been answered.
My own personal theory is that when they police said that they suspected this was a murder case. The locals had to stop searching at night. Was this to ensure people would listen and stop that way the police could monitor anyone moving around who shouldn't be?
Is it possible the police were trying to create a trap to allow the real criminal time to relax and make a mistake? Is that why they checked out the facebook couple?
Sorry more questions than answers my head spins.:banghead:

 

[Cappuccino]

Wow. They are VERY careful in UK about what is printed. I'm glad because if it helps avoid losing the conviction of the guilty it is worth it!

Its supposed to protect the innocent from conviction. Evidence can usually take care of the guilty.

 

[Adorabella]

There wasnt any other suspect at least in public domain

Odd. Unless the child witness absolutely stated that it was MB and MB's vehicle, which she may have - it seems strange not to consider that an abductor may have enticed or pulled a 5 year old child into a vehicle from the RH-side - especially as we are in the UK and that would be the driver's side. Did the child know whose car it was and who was driving it but it was reported otherwise for logistical reasons?

 

[Adorabella]

Would she have needed any help to get in? I'm not sure about a Discovery, but some 4x4s are quite high off the ground.

I have a Rav4 which is not a real 4x4. It's higher than a normal car but lower than a Discovery and would be difficult for a small child to get in to. She would have to actually climb in.

 

[badhorsie]

Welcome Carole70 and raifjames :welcome:

 

[Insp.Dots]

Great post and it is tragic that your husband felt he couldn't stop - don't blame him in this climate

Yes...it's horrible that things are so easily implied when some are genuinely trying to be decent human beings.

I saw a warning posted somewhere yesterday,

'A young girl around 9 yrs was stood near a pub, when a man approached and asked her if she was ok, did she need a lift somewhere or want to use his phone to ring parents'

This was posted as an attempted abduction....where is the crime here??
It was windy and wet and sounds like this man was genuinely concerned, he was not pushy or insistent...His crime....Caring that a 9yr old was stood alone in bad weather in a rough part of town.

I know that is NEVER advisable to get into a strangers car but not everyone is Evil....it's become such a sad world.

 

[jaldy80]

Would she have needed any help to get in? I'm not sure about a Discovery, but some 4x4s are quite high off the ground.

I wouldn't think it would have been a major struggle for her. She was a 5-year-old kid, they climb all over the place. Don't know what part the cerebral palsy effecting her hands would have played in this though.

 

[cluciano63]

Hi all, I have been trying to keep up with this case as I have had doubts about this whole prosecution.
I'm sorry if all this has been said before.
Firstly I know AJ's dad is said to have a degenerative eye condition but why has he not said anything in the media? There is a picture of AJ with a man confirmed as her dad at the olympic torch ceremony. Have you seen what this man is wearing?? Camouflage and shades!! Same as MB was wearing?
Has it actually been confirmed that Mum and Dad were at the parents evening? I read that mum arrived home with the eldest daughter?
A report says MB was seen/heard driving up and down the street around 6pm (I will find this I'm sure I read it on here). Does that mean his car was already having trouble and was booked into the garage in advance? We own a mechanics garage and clients have to book there car in in advance to be repaired, or left for days till it can be looked at.
MB also reportedly asked a search member if AJ had been found on the Tuesday I need to try and find that link too as what time was that did he have the bag on him?
I'm sorry once again if all these questions have been answered.
My own personal theory is that when they police said that they suspected this was a murder case. The locals had to stop searching at night. Was this to ensure people would listen and stop that way the police could monitor anyone moving around who shouldn't be?
Is it possible the police were trying to create a trap to allow the real criminal time to relax and make a mistake? Is that why they checked out the facebook couple?
Sorry more questions than answers my head spins.:banghead:

As far as the last question...never would they actually proceed with official charges as a lure to get the "true" criminal. Maybe on TV. But this charge will show on this man's record record forever, regardless of result, and it just is not done. Following up on other reports is just standard, to show that they did not only focus on him. They went where the evidence took them, in my opinion.

 

[bijoux]

I can't find the VT interview...

Clio, what does VT specifically refer to?

 

[Clutchbag]

Odd. Unless the child witness absolutely stated that it was MB and MB's vehicle, which she may have - it seems strange not to consider that an abductor may have enticed or pulled a 5 year old child into a vehicle from the RH-side - especially as we are in the UK and that would be the driver's side. Did the child know whose car it was and who was driving it but it was reported otherwise for logistical reasons?

I dont think its this bloke because NOTHING points to him, i could well be proved wrong and will be sad and disappointed and shocked and proven to be naive

i didnt like the Policeman bevans face either, seemes he just HAD to charge someone

he strikes me as a loner, a nice compassionate guy, maybe had a drink problem, never been in trouble doesnt look like a child killer at all

I STILL think he has been fitted up lets not forget the people the police have fitted up in the past

 

[Inge Jones]

I am not sure about the UK, where sentences are lighter, but in the USA not many child killers seem to confess. It is the one crime that no one wants to admit to, for obvious reasons. JMO

Maybe in the UK, a confession would aid in sentencing? Not sure how that would work. Over here, they might confess if they want LWOP vs. DP.

I don't think you'd want to confess here, either. Because our prisons tend to have freer movement and association between prisoners than US prisons do, child killers and paedophiles tend to be bumped off or at least injured multiple times by fellow prisoners.

 

[Clutchbag]

I don't think you'd want to confess here, either. Because our prisons tend to have freer movement and association between prisoners than US prisons do, child killers and paedophiles tend to be bumped off or at least injured multiple times by fellow prisoners.

Yes that maybe a reason to not confess but whats the point they will do you in anyway

 

[opalsqueak63]

Yes...it's horrible that things are so easily implied when some are genuinely trying to be decent human beings.

I saw a warning posted somewhere yesterday,

'A young girl around 9 yrs was stood near a pub, when a man approached and asked her if she was ok, did she need a lift somewhere or want to use his phone to ring parents'

This was posted as an attempted abduction....where is the crime here??
It was windy and wet and sounds like this man was genuinely concerned, he was not pushy or insistent...His crime....Caring that a 9yr old was stood alone in bad weather in a rough part of town.

I know that is NEVER advisable to get into a strangers car but not everyone is Evil....it's become such a sad world.

That's madness isn't it. I think, in general, most people are good.

I'm not a parent, but I look out for children if I see something I don't like the look of, I never walk on by - ever. When I was a tiny child, I got lost at the Hoppins Fair in Newcastle. I remember crying and people milling around me everywhere. A man stopped for me - he said "don't worry - we'll find your mammy", and he did.

 

[Cherwell]

I dont think its this bloke because NOTHING points to him, i could well be proved wrong and will be sad and disappointed and shocked and proven to be naive

i didnt like the Policeman bevans face either, seemes he just HAD to charge someone

Why? :waitasec: We've only been told a fraction of what the police know, which is absolutely normal.

I'm saying nothing about your comment about Mr Bevan. :ziplip:

 

[Insp.Dots]

I agree that the child will have to be questioned. However, I hope the lawyer/barrister remembers it is a CHILD he is questioning. Sometimes in their quest for a not guilty decision they victimize the witnesses/victims all over again. Questions can be asked without adding undue additional trauma to the children.

My son was called as a witness a few years ago, he was 8yrs old. He never had to go to court though, he was in a special room, miles away, set up especially for children to be interviewed by police and give evidence via a video link...
This is done with specialist teams and social workers etc etc and the questions are asked very carefully, as far as I remember actually, the defence had to send questions in advance, then it was asked to my son whilst being filmed then this was presented to the court.
The only live bit was he had to speak to say his name and how old he was and was asked if he understood why he was a witness!! It was all done VERY carefully. For me the hard bit was only being able to watch from a room next door, they only let the police and social workers into the actual room while they give evidence.
This could well be different in other places but I would think it is done in a similar way.

 

[cluciano63]

Yes that maybe a reason to not confess but whats the point they will do you in anyway

In the US, we currently have several missing children where it seems very likely that someone known to or related to them knows what became of them. But if the child is deceased, there is close to zero percent chance of them talking, since the children have not been found and no one has been charged. You'd have to admit to not only killing or causing the child's death, but also putting their body in some awful place. It is too much to admit to, IMO, regardless of what will happen to them in prison.

As far as the charges against the suspect in April's case, I have no reason to doubt that the evidence is there. Since I am in the US, it is unusual for me not to be able to hear some of it, but it does not make me trust LE any less. There are chains of command to decide if the evidence reaches a certain standard. No one wants an expensive trial against the wrong person with faulty or no evidence, what would be the point?

The quick announcement of April's death almost convinces me more that LE is on the level and on the case. Why on earth would they want to suck the life out of this community if they did not have to?

 

[Cappuccino]

I dont think its this bloke because NOTHING points to him, i could well be proved wrong and will be sad and disappointed and shocked and proven to be naive

i didnt like the Policeman bevans face either, seemes he just HAD to charge someone

he strikes me as a loner, a nice compassionate guy, maybe had a drink problem, never been in trouble doesnt look like a child killer at all

I STILL think he has been fitted up

You've spoken some of my thoughts. About the suspect that is, I have no opinion on the policeman's face, lol.

Then again, first impressions can be wrong. Who knows? He could be the next Colin Stagg, or the next Ian Huntley, its hard to say at this point.