Deceased/Not Found UK - April Jones, 5, Machynlleth, Wales, 1 Oct 2012 #7 *M. Bridger guilty*

[veggiefan]

I wonder who was on the other end of the walkie talkie?

I guess it might have just been a mobile phone with a booster antenna - reception in the Corris valley, where he had moved, is very poor indeed.

 

[Neurotripsy]

@stevenmorris20:

Jury hearing about #markbridger's visit to auto repair shop at 9.30am on Oct 2 - day after #apriljones vanished.

#markbridger's Land Rover was playing up. Receptionist at garage said he seemed on the verge of crying - which she found "odd", jury hears.

#markbridger told receptionist: my children used to play with her. Receptionist took the "her" to be #apriljones


@ChrisMRiches:

#apriljones At trial this morning. Now to hear from Dyfi garage owner Robert Evans where Bridger took his car the day after April vanished.


@JerryLawton:

Garage receptionist said she found it "odd" Bridger was so upset by #apriljones disappearance - he told her he was off to join search

After being told LRover was unroadworthy Bridger said: "Now is not the best time for this to happen. I could use it to help" #apriljones


@stevenmorris20:

Mechanic at the garage said #markbridger seemed "nervous and edgy." "He seemed to be always looking around him."

First live witness of the day at #markbridger trial. Auto repair shop owner Robert Evans.

Evans says that #markbridger dropped his Land Rover off. Bridger said he was going to go and search for #apriljones

#markbridger returned to garage between 1 and 1.30pm, Evans says. He appeared "normal". Was told his car needed a new engine..

Bridger told garage owner Evans he would get a friend to look on the internet for a new engine, jury hears. #apriljones

Evans says the front doors of #markbridger's Land Rover were hard to open from the outside - child may have struggled, he tells jury.


@JerryLawton:

Garage receptionist noticed Bridger was wearing waterproof trousers and his trainers were "soaking wet" #apriljones


@stevenmorris20:

The prosecution alleges April got into the car happily. #markbridger has claimed he hit her with car and he put her into the vehicle.

Jury now hearing from police who were the first to reach #markbridger's house the day after #apriljones vanished.


@JerryLawton:

Bridger asked if LRover could be fixed "now" but needed new engine - mechanic said he appeared agitated and behaviour "strange" #apriljones


@stevenmorris20:

First up DC Sarah Totterdale. She tells jury she was instructed at 2.45pm on Oct 2 to go to #markbridger's house and arrest him.

Detectives arrived at #markbridger's house, Mount Pleasant in Ceinws, at 3.03pm. No sign of anyone there, jury told.

Detectives searched house for #apriljones. Looked under bedclothes for her. She wasn't there, jury told.

Dc Totterdale said she was struck by how hot the living room was. The heat was "noticeable." There was a "strong smell of washed clothes".

Detective on the log burner. "It was still burning. The fire had been burning for some time...it was uncomfortably hot." #markbridger


@JerryLawton:

detective sent to Bridger's house to arrest him and look for #apriljones found it empty - "uncomfortably hot" - smell of detergent/cleaners

Detective said Bridger's log burner was "still burning" - it had been "burning for some time" - empty Strongbow cans in lounge #apriljones


@stevenmorris20:

The prosecution has claimed fragments were found in the fire ash that were allegedly from the skull of a human "juvenile".

Detective says empty cans of cider were found in #markbridger's living room. Coffee table was in "odd place" blocking access to cupboard.


@JerryLawton:

Detective said smell of detergent/cleaner was "strong" in living room, hall and bathroom of Bridger's house #apriljones


@stevenmorris20:

#markbridger trial: the police officer who arrested the defendant is called to give evidence. He is Pc Phil Saunders. #apriljones

Saunders was instructed on Oct 2 to arrest #markbridger if he was seen. Arrested him on suspicion of abduction at around 3.30pm.

#markbridger allegedly told arresting officer: I know what it's all about, jury hears. Had a small lock knife on him.

Pc describes exchange. Pc: where is she? #markbridger: it was an accident. I crushed her with my car. I don't know where she is.

Pc said he told #markbridger not to talk until he reached police station. Bridger said he needed to talk.

#markbridger cries in the dock as what he allegedly told arresting officer is recounted in court. #apriljones

Pc says #markbridger claimed he tried to revive #apriljones, said he had to apologise to the girl's parents....

"I really don't know where she is," #markbridger allegedly told arresting police officer. #apriljones

Pc says #markbridger told him he hit #apriljones with car. "I went numb. I don't know what I was doing."

Arresting officer tells jury #markbridger was an "emotional wreck." #apriljones

 

[Clio]

Question from the Jury

Adele Robinson ‏@SkyNewsAdele 3m
Jury asks if TV at MB's home was working and could transmit the news - prosecution answer is no, it could only play DVD/vids

 

[Neurotripsy]

@stevenmorris20:

#markbridger trial adjourned until Monday.

 

[Elainera]

Wow! Just wow!

 

[Elainera]

Friend saw her getting into his car - then when did he allegedly run her over? When and where did she get back out and why? And why not he at the same time? She gets out but he doesn't and runs her over. Doesn't make sense.

 

[Sarahlou]

Friend saw her getting into his car - then when did he allegedly run her over? When and where did she get back out and why? And why not he at the same time? She gets out but he doesn't and runs her over. Doesn't make sense.

It doesn't make sense as it's not true. She got in his car and he killed her at home IMO.

 

[veggiefan]

Friend saw her getting into his car - then when did he allegedly run her over? When and where did she get back out and why? And why not he at the same time? She gets out but he doesn't and runs her over. Doesn't make sense.

He contests that she got into his car of her own volition. Remember, his defence counsel accused April's friend of lying when she said that April got into the car ("I have to say you are wrong about that. Do you understand?").

The prosecution's witnesses of yesterday and today have, of course, given some credence to MB's claim: the garage mechanic thought it would be very difficult for a child to open the car door, and those who saw the car drive past said there was no sign of April (suggesting that she might already be dead, with her body out of sight in the vehicle).

The defence will make great play of the fact that the only witness to April getting into the vehicle alive is a very young child, who claims to have seen this happen at dusk, as the light was fading, and who has already admitted to inventing details such as being able to see the colour of MB's eyes.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

He contests that she got into his car of her own volition. Remember, his defence counsel accused April's friend of lying when she said that April got into the car ("I have to say you are wrong about that. Do you understand?").

The prosecution's witnesses of yesterday and today have, of course, given some credence to MB's claim: the garage mechanic thought it would be very difficult for a child to open the car door, and those who saw the car drive past said there was no sign of April (suggesting that she might already be dead, with her body out of sight in the vehicle).

The defence will make great play of the fact that the only witness to April getting into the vehicle alive is a very young child.

Won't matter what defence makes of that, the forensic evidence is there in his house, on his computer, even the headmistress of the school knew about his dating habits and taste for very young women.
Adult witnesses saw him hanging around the garages as well, even if they didn't see April get into the vehicle.
Every day that this trial goes on is more damning for Bridger. He is beneath contempt. How those parents sit and listen to the evidence is beyond me. They are showing great dignity - in contrast to the person in the dock. :twocents:

 

[LegallyBrunette]

Question for veggie - why would the head teacher have given her evidence in Welsh? I saw an interview with her just after April went missing and of course she speaks English fluently. Just curious

 

[LegallyBrunette]

I guess it might have just been a mobile phone with a booster antenna - reception in the Corris valley, where he had moved, is very poor indeed.

As today's evidence disclosed that he had two mobiles, maybe he was ringing himself up to have a chat and commiserate about the latest girlfriend dumping him?:twocents:

 

[LegallyBrunette]

Just getting caught up with the evidence, and nothing so far is really surprising, as we had surmised a lot of it here several months ago, but what *is* surprising is how quickly and methodically he did his deeds, especially the disposal of the April's body. Had he pre-planned the 'alleged' abduction and murder down to the last detail? I feel he must have.

Evidence has shown that he researched similar crimes and kept the info on his computer.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

IIRC there was a third person's DNA found on the shower curtain where they found April's blood, but obviously they've found out whose that was and ruled it out.

I fully believe he worked alone.

The latest ex had been in the house, in one of the texts she tells him 'I don't want anything from the house'.

 

[graceholl]

I wonder what the significance of that jury question is. Even if he didn't have a working telly, they know he had the internet, assuming we are referring to his ability to keep track on the case...?

Just thinking out loud!

 

[LegallyBrunette]

I wonder what the significance of that jury question is. Even if he didn't have a working telly, they know he had the internet, assuming we are referring to his ability to keep track on the case...?

Just thinking out loud!

Question probably relates to his conversation at the mechanic's, claiming he hadn't heard the news because he didn't have TV or radio 'up there'. But as you say, he most certainly did have internet and used it prolifically. If you can troll sites and download pics of your friends' daughters from Facebook you can log into BBC Wales or similar to catch up on news.

Pretended he didn't even know April's name - 'I think she used to play with my children'.
Hello. Would that be the children whose first cousins are April's half siblings through her Dad? The children whose mother was 15 when he first started dating her and he was early 30's. What shower does he think people came down in?:banghead:

 

[Elainera]

He contests that she got into his car of her own volition. Remember, his defence counsel accused April's friend of lying when she said that April got into the car ("I have to say you are wrong about that. Do you understand?").

The prosecution's witnesses of yesterday and today have, of course, given some credence to MB's claim: the garage mechanic thought it would be very difficult for a child to open the car door, and those who saw the car drive past said there was no sign of April (suggesting that she might already be dead, with her body out of sight in the vehicle).

The defence will make great play of the fact that the only witness to April getting into the vehicle alive is a very young child, who claims to have seen this happen at dusk, as the light was fading, and who has already admitted to inventing details such as being able to see the colour of MB's eyes.

Ok I understand. Thanks!

 

[Clutchbag]

This might sound silly but does anyone know if the national grid can tell when electricity is put on, when theres a surge,if so could they figure out what time he went home and when for instance washing machine was put on? Tia

 

[veggiefan]

Question for veggie - why would the head teacher have given her evidence in Welsh? I saw an interview with her just after April went missing and of course she speaks English fluently. Just curious

Speaking Welsh is very much a matter of national pride in that part of Wales, and she may well also have been acknowledging that April was in the Welsh stream at her school, so all of April's lessons would have been in Welsh.

 

[veggiefan]

This might sound silly but does anyone know if the national grid can tell when electricity is put on, when theres a surge,if so could they figure out what time he went home and when for instance washing machine was put on? Tia

Only on a regional basis - not for a single town, let alone a single house.

 

[veggiefan]

Won't matter what defence makes of that, the forensic evidence is there in his house, on his computer, even the headmistress of the school knew about his dating habits and taste for very young women.
Adult witnesses saw him hanging around the garages as well, even if they didn't see April get into the vehicle.

But we don't yet know that the forensic evidence shows that April was killed in the house. That may be case, but the jury will need evidence beyond reasonable doubt.

As to MB's taste for young mothers, it doesn't follow from that he wanted to abduct children.

Don't think I'm trying to defend Bridger, though. I'm just pointing out that conclusions must be based on evidence, not feelings.