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

[Jezbel]

This is slightly off topic, but I followed a case recently, well it actually happened a few years back and the trial took place this year.
A man in his late twenties was on trial for Kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of an 8 year old girl. The laws in Canada are similar to the UK where no evidence is released and not much information is available before the trial. There were a lot of people who thought this man was innocent. If you were to look at his pictures, he also doesn’t look like what you might consider
your typical paedophile/murderer. He looks like a young, not bad looking man who seems to take care of his appearance. There were no reports of him being that way with young girls, he did not have a criminal record, he was somewhat of a cad, considered himself a ladies man I think, but still someone you would look at and not suspect. There were a lot of people, he when the trial was going on that did not believe he was guilty still and there was also a lot of information that was not admitted into evidence as it would go towards his character and that is allowed here like in the US. So when the trial came to an end and the jury were sequestered, a tone of information was made available, for instance all of his computer searches, they were sick and disgusting and did involve young girls, necrophilia, etc. After that was released, there really was no denying he did in fact have interest in children, other reports came out too that weren't allowed at trial, all the people who thought he was innocent, soon changed their mind and the jury got it right, even without that evidence.

My point in the a bit long drawn out post is that, you can’t assume someone is innocent based on a picture or what little you
have heard about them. I have no doubt there is evidence against MB and we will all have to just be patient and wait for the trial to find out what it is.

On another note regarding the law, Canadian authorities contacted WS and they asked that we refrain from posting, linking and hinting about anything that happens in the case until the trial ban is lifted. I don’t know if the UK authorities would do the same, but they may, so be careful

 

[LegallyBrunette]

I've been king arthurs regularly over the years, last on Aug bank holiday. If that's what's considered small I don't fancy the search teams chances.
Basically for those who haven't been in a cave you walk a couple hundred yards inside, get on a boat for about 500yds then its a series of caverns and corridors, bridges and indoor pools of water and is pretty big, I think they take 80 an hour down in 4 parties of 20.
That's.just the public access bit as its probably.much much bigger.

I don't think I'll be going there anytime soon :-(
This search really is a needle in a haystack. I feel so sorry for the searchers, some police went back to London in tears because they didn't find April. Someone knows where the little pet is, that person is beneath contempt.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

This is slightly off topic, but I followed a case recently, well it actually happened a few years back and the trial took place this year.
A man in his late twenties was on trial for Kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of an 8 year old girl. The laws in Canada are similar to the UK where no evidence is released and not much information is available before the trial. There were a lot of people who thought this man was innocent. If you were to look at his pictures, he also doesn’t look like what you might consider
your typical paedophile/murderer. He looks like a young, not bad looking man who seems to take care of his appearance. There were no reports of him being that way with young girls, he did not have a criminal record, he was somewhat of a cad, considered himself a ladies man I think, but still someone you would look at and not suspect. There were a lot of people, he when the trial was going on that did not believe he was guilty still and there was also a lot of information that was not admitted into evidence as it would go towards his character and that is allowed here like in the US. So when the trial came to an end and the jury were sequestered, a tone of information was made available, for instance all of his computer searches, they were sick and disgusting and did involve young girls, necrophilia, etc. After that was released, there really was no denying he did in fact have interest in children, other reports came out too that weren't allowed at trial, all the people who thought he was innocent, soon changed their mind and the jury got it right, even without that evidence.

My point in the a bit long drawn out post is that, you can’t assume someone is innocent based on a picture or what little you
have heard about them. I have no doubt there is evidence against MB and we will all have to just be patient and wait for the trial to find out what it is.

On another note regarding the law, Canadian authorities contacted WS and they asked that we refrain from posting, linking and hinting about anything that happens in the case until the trial ban is lifted. I don’t know if the UK authorities would do the same, but they may, so be careful

Thank you for this very interesting post and the heads up on Canadian law, sounds very similar to UK and Australia. I tried to point out what you have said about posting on here to someone in the US who still thinks they are immune from contempt laws. Apparently not up with the extradition treaty that UK and US are parties to. It doesn't matter where the server or the person posting is, if the material is published in the area where the trial is held it can still be contempt.
Thanks again,

 

[veggiefan]

I've been king arthurs regularly over the years, last on Aug bank holiday. If that's what's considered small I don't fancy the search teams chances.
Basically for those who haven't been in a cave you walk a couple hundred yards inside, get on a boat for about 500yds then its a series of caverns and corridors, bridges and indoor pools of water and is pretty big, I think they take 80 an hour down in 4 parties of 20.
That's.just the public access bit as its probably.much much bigger.

It is indeed - you only explore part of Level 6 on the trip you mention, which I've done too. The Corris Miners tours, mentioned earlier, explore Levels 4 and 5 as well.

I doubt that AJ would have been hidden there because access is locked out of hours, as I remember. But it is an indication of what exists in the Corris area.

 

[Jezbel]

Thank you for this very interesting post and the heads up on Canadian law, sounds very similar to UK and Australia. I tried to point out what you have said about posting on here to someone in the US who still thinks they are immune from contempt laws. Apparently not up with the extradition treaty that UK and US are parties to. It doesn't matter where the server or the person posting is, if the material is published in the area where the trial is held it can still be contempt.
Thanks again,

You're very welcome

It is quite similar, that's why I thought I would post, so others may understand.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

You're very welcome

It is quite similar, that's why I thought I would post, so others may understand.

The man who taught me evidence and advocacy was a grad from Uni of Alberta and practised as a trial and appellate lawyer in Canada before migrating to Australia over 20 years ago.

 

[Jezbel]

The man who taught me evidence and advocacy was a grad from Uni of Alberta and practised as a trial and appellate lawyer in Canada before migrating to Australia over 20 years ago.

Well he knows his stuff. The similarity in the justice system probably as a lot to do with both Canada & Australia once being a part of the British Empire

 

[LegallyBrunette]

Well he knows his stuff. The similarity in the justice system probably as a lot to do with both Canada & Australia once being a part of the British Empire

Indeed he does, a learned author as well as teacher and practitioner.

Canada and Australia, once part of the Empire, still part of the Commonwealth

 

[LegallyBrunette]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/missing-april-jones--went-to-birthday-party--48-hours-before-abduction.html

Missing five-year-old April Jones enjoyed a friend's birthday party less than 48 hours before she was kidnapped, it emerged today.

The youngster, who was last seen 'willingly' getting into a van on Monday evening, attended a party over the weekend, according to a family friend.

The news emerged as around 200 residents joined police rescue teams combing the town of Machynlleth, in Powys, Mid Wales, for clues of the girl's whereabouts

Family friend Phil Garrod said both of his children were at a birthday party with April on the weekend.Mr Garrod, a local businessman, said: "I've got two little girls and they were both at a birthday party with April at the weekend.

"My youngest is in the same class at school. Where she lives is where all the children play together.

"It's a safe environment, all the properties look on to where the children play.

"It's the sort of area where you drop your children off at school and everyone lingers and chats.

"They are a normal family, lovely people."

It is thought April's father used to own a hardware store in Machynlleth 'a few years ago'.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

From The Guardian, Tues eve 2nd October, might be helpful as it is before so many details began to get confused.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/02/hundreds-search-april-jones-machynlleth

It was an agonising day for the family of April Jones; it was difficult for the whole town. Time and again residents of Machynlleth, a town families move to because it is a great place to bring up children, explained that this was the sort of awful thing that happened elsewhere, not here.

But it had. And as detectives made their inquiries behind the scenes, the residents of this pretty town in mid Wales piled into the streets, the muddy hills and fields to do their bit to bring April home.

The five-year-old went missing from the Bryn-y-Gog estate on Monday evening. It was a dull, showery evening, but April and her friends were playing on the green outside her family's home.

Robert Griffiths, 38, a council worker and retained firefighter who lives close by, said the green had always been the sort of place where children could play safely. "Everybody knows everybody. It is the sort of place where you can leave your door unlocked. I've brought up three kids here, they've always played out without any problems."

As dusk fell, April became separated from her friends. Some say she was playing in a narrow alleyway just off the green when she was abducted. Within minutes her family realised something was wrong. Relatives, friends and April's siblings began knocking on doors asking if anyone had seen her.

"Her sister banged on my door at around 7.30pm asking me if I'd seen her," said Griffiths. He went out, assuming she would be found. "When I came back there were hundreds of people on the green, it was chaos. There are lots of rumours, lots of people repeating versions of the story, you don't know what to believe."

What happened next showed just how close a community this is. On Monday night and into the early hours of Tuesday morning, hundreds of people began searching for April. It was no easy task; it was pitch dark and the town is perched on the edge of hundreds of miles of rough, open, countryside.

Among the few who did not join the search were April's parents, Paul and Coral, who stayed put in the family home hoping the little girl would walk back through the door at any moment.

But by daybreak there was no sign of the five-year-old. The search intensified. The high street, normally bustling, was eerily empty. Most of the shops were closed and almost all had "missing" posters in the windows. The cafes were empty, the pubs and bars vacant.

<modsnip>

 

[PADDYWHACK]

I don't know if the police are looking at previous addresses, but the address MB was living at in April has 4 lock up garages. 10 Glanclegyr, LLANBRYNMAIR, Powys, SY19 7DH

 

[LittleMissContrary]

Here is a timeline of key events since five-year-old April Jones went missing.

Monday October 1

7pm - April is playing with friends in the mid-Wales town of Machynlleth when she goes missing. According to witnesses she is taken away in a van or a four-wheel drive vehicle and there are no apparent signs of a struggle.

10.30pm - Dyfed Powys Police issue a statement saying: "We are increasingly concerned for a missing five-year-old, April, who was last seen playing on her bike in Machynlleth at about 7.30pm. April was seen getting into a light-coloured van as it drove off." Hundreds of local volunteers join the search for the little girl, and publicity is raised on Twitter and Facebook.

I thought AJ's godmother said CJ called her at 6:50 and told her April was kidnapped?

 

[nursebeeme]

Here is a timeline of key events since five-year-old April Jones went missing.

Monday October 1

7pm - April is playing with friends in the mid-Wales town of Machynlleth when she goes missing. According to witnesses she is taken away in a van or a four-wheel drive vehicle and there are no apparent signs of a struggle.

10.30pm - Dyfed Powys Police issue a statement saying: "We are increasingly concerned for a missing five-year-old, April, who was last seen playing on her bike in Machynlleth at about 7.30pm. April was seen getting into a light-coloured van as it drove off." Hundreds of local volunteers join the search for the little girl, and publicity is raised on Twitter and Facebook.

I thought AJ's godmother said CJ called her at 6:50 and told her April was kidnapped?

as many media articles that exist will be how many different ways and times of reporting there are.:twocents:

 

[greenpalm]

respectfully snipped:

…

On another note regarding the law, Canadian authorities contacted WS and they asked that we refrain from posting, linking and hinting about anything that happens in the case until the trial ban is lifted. I don’t know if the UK authorities would do the same, but they may, so be careful

A polite request is not the same as a court injunction. Although yes, I personally would respect such a request, the question at hand is can I be held in contempt of court. I would submit that I cannot. Although again… I have no intention of violating Websleuth policy. When US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center asking him not to go through with his Quran burning, he really had no recourse to stop him, other than a request.

Thank you for this very interesting post and the heads up on Canadian law, sounds very similar to UK and Australia. I tried to point out what you have said about posting on here to someone in the US who still thinks they are immune from contempt laws. Apparently not up with the extradition treaty that UK and US are parties to. It doesn't matter where the server or the person posting is, if the material is published in the area where the trial is held it can still be contempt.
Thanks again,

Perhaps a distinction should be made about the kinds of discussion to which we are referring. Clearly I don't have any evidence in this trial that has not been made a public record.

If I were to travel to Wales or speak on the phone with a local and somehow become privy to information in the case, and then come home to Texas and publish evidence that could harm the trial, that would be one thing.

As it is, I'm sitting in Texas blindly speculating, so it's not very likely that I could, in expression speculation or opinion, reveal anything that might damage the trial.

I read of a case wherein the New York Times was publishing articles about a trial in the UK as it was ongoing. They arranged for any incoming isp addresses originating in the UK to be blocked from viewing those articles. But again, they had a reporter on location at the trial, I presume gaining access to information that would be covered under sub judice. Here is a link:
http://www.out-law.com/page-9742

The article addresses the matter quite thoroughly. It covers far more than just the arrangement made by the New York Times. It discusses several high profile UK cases and how the matter was handled by internet news sources as well as sites that have user generated content such as this one.

All I can do is repeat what the news articles have said about MB and speculate - so in the first place I'm in very little danger of breaking the law, and in the second place my intention is to follow Websleuth's lead about our behavior here.

I agree that there may be some risk to users in regards to this line item:

"anticipating the course of a trial or predicting the outcome;"

But the article explains that the publisher is the responsible party, even in the case of user generated content. Which would put the problem back in the hands of Websleuths.

I repeat, I haven't violated the guidelines established by Websleuths, and furthermore don't intend to do so. So this is all theoretical anyway, and we should probably get back on direct topic.

 

[Elainera]

As it is, I'm sitting in Texas blindly speculating, so it's not very likely that I could, in expression speculation or opinion, reveal anything that might damage the trial.

Not reveal, but being on a public forum you can add to rumour and opinion weaving which could lead to a situation where it can influence potential jurors, for example. Already MB is slaughtered by many even though he *should* be considered guilty until proven otherwise. How can he get a fair trial?

 

[Clio]

Not reveal, but being on a public forum you can add to rumour and opinion weaving which could lead to a situation where it can influence potential jurors, for example. Already MB is slaughtered by many even though he *should* be considered guilty until proven otherwise. How can he get a fair trial?

Did you mean innocent until proven otherwise?

 

[jigzy]

I don't know if the police are looking at previous addresses, but the address MB was living at in April has 4 lock up garages. 10 Glanclegyr, LLANBRYNMAIR, Powys, SY19 7DH

My friends were involved with searches of Llanbrynmair. Police dogs, public, LE - you name it. The place was searched, imo.

 

[jigzy]

.......Already MB is slaughtered by many even though he *should* be considered guilty until proven otherwise. How can he get a fair trial?

?????

 

[Elainera]

Did you mean innocent until proven otherwise?

Yes! I'm too tired today :blushing:

 

[jigzy]

And considering that MB was AWOL from around the time of the abduction and until the next afternoon when he was arrested, and that in normal circumstances a person so close to the family and with the skills he has including 'potholing' and generally pretty fit and had worked in the forest, wouldn't he have been right up there with the searchers?
Instead he's arrested while 'strolling' along the riverbank. Hello???
BTW, on FB, VF and ED (nee EG) and SW are all friends. MB is also on SW's friend's list. All public profiles.

he was not arrested whilst strolling along the riverbank. Where did 'strolling' come into it? He was found by LE on the A487 just East of the Dyfi bridge, walking towards town (machynlleth). He was not arrested on the riverbank at all. This is main road with 2 way vehicles.

jmo