Deceased/Not Found UK - April Jones, 5, Machynlleth, Wales, 1 Oct 2012 #4 *M. Bridger guilty*

[Amber34]

Well this is my first post.
I lived about 12 miles from Machynlleth until 2 years ago. At that time there were CCTV cameras through the town and I even had a conversation with a local LE officer who told me how useful they had proven to be in the past. So if MB in fact did abduct AJ and turn right from the estate he will be on camera, unless he turned left and took the mountain road to Llanidloes.
For MB to have a firearms licence and maintain it, he would have had an interview with a local firearms officer, will not have a criminal record for violence etc. When he moved he would have informed the firearms officer. It is a serious offence failing to do so. Also before he was granted a licence in the first instance, almost certainly his GP would have been contacted as to his mental state. I gained my licence when I lived in Wales, I have no criminal record, my accountant was contacted (for reference) as was my GP, plus I had to satisfy the firearms officer that I had genuine reasons for wanting one.
I am an ex garage owner and from the reports of MB driving erratically in the press I can confirm the issues are consistent with hydraulic clutch issues. To drive the vehicle the 5 miles to the garage with hydraulic clutch problems he would need to start the car in gear and change gear at certain revs to avoid crunching gears and no he would not want to stop for other road users for obvious reasons. he would possible know how to do this as he was an ex mechanic.
I don't know at this stage whether I feel he is guilty or not I will reserve judgement until I see the evidence.
The LE are under pressure to get a result and I just hope they are not putting all their eggs in one basket, so to speak.

Welcome to Websleuths Quattro. Thank you for your insight, great first post

:welcome4:

 

[Dirk Gently]

Could you enlighten us on UK rules for issuing of firearms licence, i.e. would any previous crim history preclude issue, or only relevant history (violence related etc)
As you say, MB had recently moved, MSM said 2 weeks ago after break up of relationship with VF. Another report said he was evicted from previous house because landlord found him keeping chickens inside the house. (probably relevant to nothing but I don't know anyone who keeps chooks in their home)

Applicants have to demonstrate that they're fit to be entrusted with a firearm, have good reason for possessing one, and can do so without endangering public safety.

Applicants have to prove that they have "good reason" for owning firearms, i.e. as someone who has shooting rights over land and/or is a member of a target shooting club. If the latter they have to complete a probationary period in the first instance and be approved as a full member.

The UK's Rehabilitation of Offenders Act doesn't apply to FAC applications so applicants are required to divulge all their previous convictions. A conviction wouldn't necessarily result in rejection but anything that hints at drug or alcohol abuse or aggressive or anti-social behaviour would certainly receive very close attention.

Applicants must submit their GP's contact details. LE will contact the applicant's GP if they have any doubts about his/her mental state and general fitness to possess a firearm.

An FAC application also requires applicants to submit details of two referees who can vouch that they know of no reason why the applicant should not be permitted to own a firearm.

Police visit the applicant's home to conduct an interview and ensure that security arrangements for storing the weapon(s) and ammunition are up to scratch.

 

[Dr. Know?]

What more can you be charged with than murder?

Rape is foremost in my mind, sadly. I'm not sure how your country handles a murder/rape conviction. Will be reading tomorrow when I can.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

If that is true I wonder what happened that day when three children were in that same vehicle. Did they drive somewhere? Did they play a game? Did the person (MB?) try to gain their trust? Did some inappropriate happen?

Maybe police have questioned those kids and found out more about MB and his behaviour with children, which would in part explain why the judge said "many children" will testify at the January hearing. Maybe this had happened not only once or twice but more often?

It's interesting that one child denied going.

 

[Elainera]

It's interesting that one child denied going.

Yea it is. I wonder if police have been able to (gently) get some info out of these kids.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...es-children-as-young-as-seven-to-testify.html

...(MB) was remanded in custody to appear at a plea and case management hearing on January 11 at the same court ahead of a trial later in the year.

It will be overseen by Mr Justice Griffith Williams, a High Court judge who has previously presided over high profile cases such as that of Barry George, who was acquitted of the murder of presenter Jill Dando.

The judge said today that April's family would be concerned "that the matter be brought speedily to trial" and asked for their input about where the trial should be held to cause them the least possible inconvenience.

He added: "Another consideration from my reading of the papers is that there will be some young witnesses who have been video interviewed. One of them I think is seven years old.

"The longer the delay in bringing the case to trial, the more difficult it is for witnesses of that age."
....The judge said he felt the trial should be held in Caernarfon or at Mold Crown Court in North Wales.

He said: "Any decisions as to the court of trial will be made once I know what the views of the family and the witnesses are."

The judge said the youngest witnesses would give evidence via video link, probably from Aberystwyth, which is closer to Machynlleth than the trial venue.

 

[Dirk Gently]

I am an ex garage owner and from the reports of MB driving erratically in the press I can confirm the issues are consistent with hydraulic clutch issues. To drive the vehicle the 5 miles to the garage with hydraulic clutch problems he would need to start the car in gear and change gear at certain revs to avoid crunching gears and no he would not want to stop for other road users for obvious reasons. he would possible know how to do this as he was an ex mechanic.

If he was "driving it on the key" then this could well explain why he was reported as nearly hitting someone, i.e. if he was starting the vehicle in gear just as someone crossed the road in front of him then they'd be in danger of being caught out as the vehicle jerked forward.

 

[Agatha Krispy]

Just to clarify, Snowdonia National Park is much closer than that - Ceinws, where MB was living, is in the National Park.

However, it doesn't sound as if his car was in good enough shape to drive any great distance.

Or maybe his car had driven somewhere rugged and was starting to croak because of it.

 

[PADDYWHACK]

And this..
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/april-jones-missing-parents-have-pink-1376745
By Adam Aspinall 13 Oct 2012 02:28

April Jones' parents paid a late-night visit to a local tattoo parlour to have pink ribbons etched onto their bodies as a permanent mark of their love for the little girl.

The pink ribbon has become a powerful symbol of the hope in Machynlleth that a miracle could still happen and ribbons of all sizes adorn every inch of the quiet mid-Wales town.

Rob Williams, 35, designed the tattoos for April’s parents and admitted it was a moving moment applying them.

He said: “I have known Coral and Paul for years and they have been in here before to have tattoos done.

Adorning my body would be the last thing on my mind.

 

[ScotsPaddy]

You can see the seat behind whatever it is, still looks like a camo backpack or gear bag to me. Sitting up too well to be a jacket.

It looks like a lightweight camo jacket with the hood over the headrest of the passenger seat(i think thats why its sitting up),you can see the velcro where it would close in front of youre neck...

 

[Agatha Krispy]

I'm just trying to figure out why he would have owned a LH drive vehicle. When you are used to RH drive, the opposite is difficult enough when you drive in a country that is LH drive, let alone in UK where it isn't. That's what is making me think it could be a vehicle he already had in another country then brought back to UK.
What you say is what is confusing some people, that April was reported as getting in the driver's side, but if it was LH drive, it was the passenger side.

We have so many Eastern Europeans coming here now that the LH drive vehicles on our roads have increased dramatically. This small market town is only one hour's drive from the English border. I don't know that it would stand out anymore. Certainly wouldn't here in England MOO

 

[Agatha Krispy]

Has anybody been able to work out what is on the passenger seat of MB's Discovery? The best photo is probably this one:

http://www.teinteresa.es/sucesos/desaparicion-April-Jones-imagenes_5_785371466.html?itemId=3

Looks like a windproof jacket in camouflage print.

 

[Elainera]

Stupid question maybe but what would be the significance of April climbing in the side where the driver sits vs the passenger side?

 

[LegallyBrunette]

Locals - is this in the general area ?

Registration district: Wrexham Maelor
Inferred County: Wales

 

[Agatha Krispy]

You can see the seat behind whatever it is, still looks like a camo backpack or gear bag to me. Sitting up too well to be a jacket.

The hood is hung over the seat. The flap is the bit that goes over your neck/throat area.

 

[PADDYWHACK]

Stupid question maybe but what would be the significance of April climbing in the side where the driver sits vs the passenger side?

If the vehicle was left hand drive, she was climbing into the passenger seat.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

Or maybe his car had driven somewhere rugged and was starting to croak because of it.

If it was the same vehicle that April got into the problem must have started after that.

 

[bijoux]

Rape is foremost in my mind, sadly.

Me too, but rape without AJ's body would be impossible to prove. 0ne more reason they need to find her.

 

[Elainera]

If the vehicle was left hand drive, she was climbing into the passenger seat.

Yes, I understood that but my question is - to put it bluntly - what does it matter which side she climbed into?

 

[Elainera]

Me too, but rape without AJ's body would be impossible to prove. 0ne more reason they need to find her.

Maybe that's the reason he isn't telling.