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

[ann-other]

The tragic thing here is that April's friend says she 'was only about 4 garages away from home' and could see April talking to a man and then getting into the car. For April's brother to have met this friend before she got home we can only be talking minutes. So terribly sad.

 

[Clio]

Piecing the tweets together, the way I read it is that CJ sent her son to fetch April. He met up with her friend somewhere between the abduction point and his home. She told him what had happened and gave him April's bike which she had been riding as the girls had swapped bikes sometime earlier. He then rode April's bike home and told CJ. CJ then went to the child's home, presumably to get a first hand account and shortly afterwards the child witness arrived home on foot.

 

[veggiefan]

I understand that we need to know just what happened, but really do the defence need to scoop this low - Defence QC: When you say you saw her get into the car through the driver’s door. I have to say you are wrong about that. Do you understand?

Although it does indeed seem unpleasant, the little girl will have been warned that this would happen, and may even have had some practice in seeing her evidence challenged. I thought she did remarkably well, especially given the long time span involved.

She seemed remarkably poised when challenged on the colour of the driver's jacket, saying "I said 'I think' after… I said I definitely think it was green." I can't help wondering if she'd been coached in anticipation of that particular challenge. It seems remarkably mature of such a young child.

 

[veggiefan]

I wouldn't have been too worried about her doing a drawing of a 4-door vehicle. I am more perturbed about her explicit description of how April tried to open the back doors but couldn't because they were locked or broken. I suspect that she only became sure that it was a Land Rover after having been shown the photos. Hmm.....

Yes, I feel very uneasy about that point. In fact, when her mother was giving evidence towards the end of the afternoon, she said that her 7-year old daughter recognised the words LAND ROVER on the front of the vehicle.

Can anybody see that in this picture of his vehicle (the Land Rover branding normally appears at the very front edge of the bonnet, as shown in the second image)?

I don't think that particular model has such a feature. Compare it with the very clear branding on the 4-door model:

So did this 7-year old girl really read "Land Rover", or did her mother know (or suspect) that it was Mark Bridger from the outset and therefore start by asking her daughter about Land Rovers?

It won't affect the outcome in the sense that MB is not denying that he was there, but I've always had the feeling that there's much about the complex relationships on that estate which have never fully come to light. And also, of course, if this mother did have a strong suspicion that April was abducted in a Land Rover, did she in fact pass on her suspicion to the police that it could have been MB? For there was always a chance that April could have been saved if the police had had a positive lead within the first few hours.

 

[ann-other]

Thinking about everything, as we all are! The 'van' was allegedly parked next to a BT van which is predominately white. April's friend said the van/car was clean aside from the wheels. Although it was dusk, I would have thought there would have been a difference to the eye to a dark blue compared to a grey car?

 

[Clio]

Thinking about everything, as we all are! The 'van' was allegedly parked next to a BT van which is predominately white. April's friend said the van/car was clean aside from the wheels. Although it was dusk, I would have thought there would have been a difference to the eye to a dark blue compared to a grey car?

I have always been puzzled how a "white or grey" van could morph into a dark blue Land Rover. The presence of the BT van may go some way towards explaining the initial police description that they were looking for a white or grey van. Perhaps, at first, the child only told them there were two light coloured vans. I get the distinct impression that they didn't get a very clear description from the child when she was first spoken to on the 1st Oct and that it was only after her mother showed her pictures of a Land Rover that they had a better idea of what they were looking for.

Still doesn't really explain how dark blue can look grey. It was talked about a lot at the time. One theory was that MB had access to 2 vehicles, one of which was a light coloured van and they knew they were looking for him so released descriptions of both vehicles. Now we know about the BT van, I am thinking this is unlikely. Another theory is that the child was remembering the white/grey stripe on the side of the vehicle.

I am also a little uncomfortable with the fact that April "knew" MB and got in willingly when CJ has testified that she was only mildly acquainted with MB from many years ago when they played darts in the same pub and that no member of her family has ever been in his home or vehicle. I may be wrong but I also got the impression that PJ's relationship with MB was from long ago when they dated sisters - I'm guessing that must have been before he got together with CJ and since CJ said she didn't know MB well, I assume PJ can't have had much to do with MB in recent years. Hopefully things will become clearer as the trial progresses.

 

[ann-other]

I have always been puzzled how a "white or grey" van could morph into a dark blue Land Rover. The presence of the BT van may go some way towards explaining the initial police description that they were looking for a white or grey van. Perhaps, at first, the child only told them there were two light coloured vans. I get the distinct impression that they didn't get a very clear description from the child when she was first spoken to on the 1st Oct and that it was only after her mother showed her pictures of a Land Rover that they had a better idea of what they were looking for.

Still doesn't really explain how dark blue can look grey. It was talked about a lot at the time. One theory was that MB had access to 2 vehicles, one of which was a light coloured van and they knew they were looking for him so released descriptions of both vehicles. Now we know about the BT van, I am thinking this is unlikely. Another theory is that the child was remembering the white/grey stripe on the side of the vehicle.

I am also a little uncomfortable with the fact that April "knew" MB and got in willingly when CJ has testified that she was only mildly acquainted with MB from many years ago when they played darts in the same pub and that no member of her family has ever been in his home or vehicle. I may be wrong but I also got the impression that PJ's relationship with MB was from long ago when they dated sisters - I'm guessing that must have been before he got together with CJ and since CJ said she didn't know MB well, I assume PJ can't have had much to do with MB in recent years. Hopefully things will become clearer as the trial progresses.

I echo this entirely.

 

[Untidyhedgehog]

"Wearing a pink ribbon, the woman told Ms Evans that she had "wracked her brain" trying to think about what type of vehicle her daughter was referring to when she first described it.

She told how it was only when she saw a Land Rover in the garage the day after April was abducted that she printed a picture of one out to show her daughter.

When she showed the picture, the woman said her daughter became "quite animated".

Does anyone know if it was actually MB's Land rover that she saw in the garage that she is refering too?

 

[ann-other]

"Wearing a pink ribbon, the woman told Ms Evans that she had "wracked her brain" trying to think about what type of vehicle her daughter was referring to when she first described it.

She told how it was only when she saw a Land Rover in the garage the day after April was abducted that she printed a picture of one out to show her daughter.

When she showed the picture, the woman said her daughter became "quite animated".

Does anyone know if it was actually MB's Land rover that she saw in the garage that she is refering too?

I read somewhere today that April's friend said the Land Rover 'did not have bars on the top' To me this suggests she was shown a picture with?

 

[bijoux]

I think he'd been grooming her for a long time, taking her on trips in his car, gaining her trust. I also think he'd been building up fantasies by watching child and reading about other child murder cases. Then one day he decided to take her, rape and murder her and dispose of her the best he could. He seems to have done a good job of the latter apart from leaving blood and bone evidence in his house.

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.

 

[Crazy Mama]

Perhaps he normally abducted from further afield (speculation, of course) and became brave enough to do a local one, and that is why he is so quick to do the cleanup.

 

[Sarahlou]

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.

I definitely think he planned to kill a child that day, maybe even more than one as he did try to get two other girls to come over to his house for a 'sleepover'.
The whole clean up and disposal seemed far too good for a novice too. I think he may have done something similar before.

 

[Neurotripsy]

@stevenmorris20:

Start of proceedings in #markbridger trial will be delayed a bit. Courts cleared when fire alarm went off. No fire thankfully.

 

[Alyce]

Yes, I feel very uneasy about that point. In fact, when her mother was giving evidence towards the end of the afternoon, she said that her 7-year old daughter recognised the words LAND ROVER on the front of the vehicle.

Can anybody see that in this picture of his vehicle (the Land Rover branding normally appears at the very front edge of the bonnet, as shown in the second image)?

I don't think that particular model has such a feature. Compare it with the very clear branding on the 4-door model:

So did this 7-year old girl really read "Land Rover", or did her mother know (or suspect) that it was Mark Bridger from the outset and therefore start by asking her daughter about Land Rovers?

It won't affect the outcome in the sense that MB is not denying that he was there, but I've always had the feeling that there's much about the complex relationships on that estate which have never fully come to light. And also, of course, if this mother did have a strong suspicion that April was abducted in a Land Rover, did she in fact pass on her suspicion to the police that it could have been MB? For there was always a chance that April could have been saved if the police had had a positive lead within the first few hours.

Land Rover never have the LR wording on the side of the vehicles.....only the model name
The only other place the friend could have seen the name is if he had a tyre on the back, in the LR cover

However, when was that brown paper taped over the front ? could that be something that was done the following day, therefore the friend could have seen the LR wording on the front of the car the night before

I also felt that there could have been a chance for AJ if the police had had a positive lead in those first few hours. Some reporting ( and who knows how accurate it was ) implied that the police were given MBs name almost immediately that night

 

[Neurotripsy]

@ChrisMRiches:

#AprilJones after a delay for a fire alarm the trial is due to start again any minute now


@stevenmorris20:

#markbridger jury hearing statement from Valerie Jones, who was at home with April's mum when the little girl went out to play on 1 Oct.

Valerie Jones said April's brother came running back in, struggling to get words out. Boy said: "Someone's taken April." #apriljones

Hearing Coral Jones's panicked 999 call following her daughter April's disappearance. #markbridger appears to be listening closely.


@JerryLawton:

#apriljones distraught mum tells 999 operator "my daughter's been kidnapped" - recording of dramatic call played to jury

Pal of #apriljones mum says missing girl's 11yo brother returned "upset, crying & struggling to get his words out"-"someone's taken April"


@PaulyBentley:

Coral passes the phone to a friend. She can be heard hyperventilating in the background #AprilJones


@stevenmorris20:

Several jurors have glanced towards the dock where #markbridger is sitting during playing of 999 call made following April's disappearance.

Awful sound of someone in background trying to catch their breath during the 999 call. #markbridger #apriljones


@PaulyBentley:

Bridger stares straight ahead as 999 call is played. Jurors looking up to where #AprilJones's parents are sitting in the public gallery

 

[Clio]

Land Rover never have the LR wording on the side of the vehicles.....only the model name
The only other place the friend could have seen the name is if he had a tyre on the back, in the LR cover

However, when was that brown paper taped over the front ? could that be something that was done the following day, therefore the friend could have seen the LR wording on the front of the car the night before

I also felt that there could have been a chance for AJ if the police had had a positive lead in those first few hours. Some reporting ( and who knows how accurate it was ) implied that the police were given MBs name almost immediately that night

The Land Rover lettering is normally on the front edge of the bonnet. Even with the paper/plastic taped over the front of the vehicle, the place where the lettering would appear is still visible. It really doesn't sound like anything as specific as "it was a Land Rover" was said until the point at which the child's mother showed her a photo of one. The question is why did her mum show her a picture of that particular vehicle? I guess it's possible she showed her pictures of lots of different "vans".

 

[Neurotripsy]

@JerryLawton:

#apriljones mum leaves court public gallery when she is heard hyper-ventilating on 999 court

#apriljones Trial adjourned after second fire alarm of day goes off


@PaulyBentley:

All evacuated from court bc of fire alarm #AprilJones

 

[Clio]

Initial description of the vehicle

Emily Morgan ‏@emilymorganitv 14m
Jury being played the 999 call made when April went missing. Valerie, who's taking, says a friend of April says she got in a big grey car

Darren Little ‏@DarrenLittleSky 14m
The description of the car on the 999 call was "it was a big grey car with a man driving"

 

[Clutchbag]

The Land Rover lettering is normally on the front edge of the bonnet. Even with the paper/plastic taped over the front of the vehicle, the place where the lettering would appear is still visible. It really doesn't sound like anything as specific as "it was a Land Rover" was said until the point at which the child's mother showed her a photo of one. The question is why did her mum show her a picture of that particular vehicle? I guess it's possible she showed her pictures of lots of different "vans".

I thought she said yesterday that after seeing the land rover in the garage, (on the tv i presume on oct 2) she showed her daughter a photo, and the daughter got animated because she recognised it

 

[Clio]

I thought she said yesterday that after seeing the land rover in the garage, (on the tv i presume on oct 2) she showed her daughter a photo, and the daughter got animated because she recognised it

Not sure she meant MB's Land Rover specifically. The child said she saw the picture of a Land Rover on her mum's phone. I got the impression that her mum saw "a" Land Rover in "a" garage and took a photo but I might be wrong. The interview was conducted at around 2pm on the 2nd October. MB hadn't been arrested at that point and his vehicle wasn't recovered until even later that day. The photo's of his vehicle hadn't been released by then. IIRC the police took the very unusual step of naming him & showing photos of his vehicle early on the morning of 3rd Oct.

ETA here you go - wasn't a picture of MB's Land Rover

“I was down the local shop and a silver Land Rover pulled up so I Googled one and showed her.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/april-jones-young-friend-saw-3420429