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

[Clutchbag]

Ah thanks Clio, yes you are right about the timeline. its not awfully clear all the time, and easy to assume/get confused when thngs are reported slightly differently

tweet from yesterday:
April Jones' friend tells court her mum showed her pics of Land Rovers before she was formally interviewed by police. #apriljones

walesonline report from yesterday:
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".

 

[Neurotripsy]

@stevenmorris20:

#markbridger jury back; now hearing from Pc Fiona Evans, first police officer on scene after #apriljones allegedly abducted.

Pc Evans says April's brother flagged her down. April's mum Coral told officer: She's been taken, she's been taken. #apriljones

Officer says she spoke to April's 7yrold friend, who had been with April when she disappeared on evening of 1 Oct last year.

April's friend told Pc: she's gone in a van, a grey van, jury told. Asked who in van, the friend said: it was a man. #apriljones

Pc Evans said she asked April's friend if she knew the man. Friend allegedly said: I don't know, I think so.


@JerryLawton:

Child witness was "nervous, stood still staring ahead at the doorway", says WPC Fiona Evans #apriljones

Child witness tells WPC Evans she had seen the vehicle #apriljones got into the day before - two other children on the estate were in it

#apriljones trial adjourned until 2pm

 

[Neurotripsy]

@stevenmorris20:

Pc Fiona Evans going through her interview with #apriljones' friend an hour or so after the little girl vanished. #markbridger

#apriljones' friend allegedly said she may have seen the "van" and the "man" in the same spot the day before April vanished.

April looked back at her friend as she was talking to "the man". "Then she chose him and got in the van," the friend allegedly told police.

#apriljones' best friend told police April "might have known" the man who allegedly abducted her. Pc Evans now being cross examined.


@PaulyBentley:

Shortly after abduction, #AprilJones friend told cops she'd previously seen Bridger's kids in the van. Said: 'I think it was the same man'


@JerryLawton:

#apriljones pal told WPc she could not see her when she climbed in back of Bridger's Land Rover - "I thought she would come back"

#apriljones pal told WPC she had seen 2 children playing in Bridger's LRover on estate the day before - "I think it was the same man"

#apriljones pal told WPC she would not have spoken to a stranger - "she must have known him because she was speaking to him"


@stevenmorris20:

#apriljones jury now hearing from the girl's head teacher Gwenfair Glyn. She is giving her evidence in Welsh.

April was pupil in school's Welsh stream - in nursery class, her former head tells #markbridger jury.

Jury hearing about parents' evening on evening of April's disappearance. #markbridger's daughter was also at the school.

Head says she saw #markbridger twice at the parents' evening. First time he was talking to 14yrold former female pupil for about 10 mins.

Second time was about 6pm. #markbridger asked for word with head. Wanted to give her his new address. Head says he was always "charming".

#markbridger gave April's head his new address - Mount Pleasant in village of Ceinws (April's blood was found there, jury has heard).


@PaulyBentley:

'It appeared odd because I knew Mr Bridger had a history of relationships with young mothers,' she told the court #AprilJones

The headmistress described Bridger as 'always cofident,' 'courteous,' 'charismatic,' and 'charming'. #AprilJones


@stevenmorris20:

April's former head says she thought it was "odd" that #markbridger was seen talking to 2ndry school girl on evening April vanished.


@JerryLawton:

Garage customer saw Bridger's LRover drive past "faster" than normal emitting a "clunking" noise moments after #apriljones alleged abduction

Customer said he did not see anyone else in LRover - he paid for fuel at 7.21 - #apriljones allegedly abducted 60 seconds earlier


@PaulyBentley:

Witness tells court he saw Bridger 'travelling fast' out of town in his Land Rover at 7.20pm on evening #AprilJones disappeared

Keith Standing, who had known Bridger for about a year, told police he 'clearly saw his [Bridger's] face'. He was 'staring straight ahead'.


@stevenmorris20:

Mr Standing is asked who he saw driving past. He points to dock where #markbridger is sitting and says: "him."

Standing says #markbridger was travelling "faster than he normally does". He said he was in Land Rover Discovery. Saw nobody else in car.

#markbridger jury being shown police video interview with 8 year old girl. Interview took place eight days after #apriljones vanished.

8yrold said she saw Mark Bridger driving in a "blue van". She was playing on her bike with a friend. #apriljones

8-yr-old said Bridger asked her friend (who was 10) if she wanted to go for sleepover at his daughter's house. Friend said "maybe".

Bridger drove off, girl says in police interview. Pros alleges this exchange took place shortly before #apriljones vanished.

8-yr-old says in police interview this exchange took place on the afternoon April went missing. #apriljones #markbridger

8-yr-old said she saw Bridger again a little later in another part of Machynlleth. "He stopped and parked by us as we were playing there...

She said Bridger seemed to be speaking on what might have been a walkie talkie. "I don't think he was following us" she said in police int.


@JerryLawton:

8yro says Bridger appeared to be talking on "walkie talkie" - "he might have been following us but I don't think he was following us then"


@ChrisMRiches:

#apriljones Mark Bridger laughs in the dock as a child witness on a recorded interview describes him having "just a little bit of hair".


@stevenmorris20:

#markbridger jury sent home for the day.

 

[Clutchbag]

I wonder at what point MB got drunk, if according to the headmistress he was not at 6pm.

So bizarre that not a bad word has yet been said about him by those who knew him. But it happens, remember Ted Bundy.

It is also odd that April knew not to speak to strangers or get in cars but by her friends account she willingly did so, and seemed happy, I wonder if MB was known fairly well to her if he was around the estate often but unknown to her mother, and he promised her take to a funfair or something

I wonder how the defence will explain the blood and and dna in his house if he is denyng abduction murder destroying and disposing of her body and that April had never been there.

 

[veggiefan]

I wonder at what point MB got drunk, if according to the headmistress he was not at 6pm.

I actually wonder if he ever was drunk that night. Quite apart from the fact that the road up to Ceinws is tricky enough for a sobre driver, he seems to have been perfectly able to dispose of a body with relatively little evidence.

I was also struck by the comment from the headteacher that it wasn't until the following day, when she saw he had been named locally, that she called the police to pass on the information that he was now living in Ceinws.

I wonder if we will learn how and why he was "named locally".

 

[ann-other]

And whatever he said to her, it appears after she clambered in the back she was lying down, hence not seen by other witnesses. Was she told to hide?

 

[marlywings]

I wonder at what point MB got drunk, if according to the headmistress he was not at 6pm.

So bizarre that not a bad word has yet been said about him by those who knew him. But it happens, remember Ted Bundy.

It is also odd that April knew not to speak to strangers or get in cars but by her friends account she willingly did so, and seemed happy, I wonder if MB was known fairly well to her if he was around the estate often but unknown to her mother, and he promised her take to a funfair or something

I wonder how the defence will explain the blood and and dna in his house if he is denyng abduction murder destroying and disposing of her body and that April had never been there.

Going by the following report they all knew each other as MB's ex girlfriend was a close friend of April's mum. MB was quite well known to April...

05 Oct 2012

April was taken crabbing with Mr Bridger's two children in his blue Land Rover which police believe was used to abduct the five-year-old, her family has revealed.

The crabbing trip in August means April had been in Mr Bridger's vehicle at least twice before she was abducted while playing outside her home

Bridger was a frequent visitor to the Brynygog Estate in Machynlleth where April's family live close to his ex-girlfriend

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...ng-trip-with-murder-suspect-Mark-Bridger.html

 

[Neurotripsy]

[Missed these two Tweets yesterday:]

@PaulyBentley:

Girl, 8, tells court Bridger stopped her and a friend on their bikes in exact spot April was taken, 90 mins earlier #AprilJones

'Mark said do you want to sleepover in [his daughter]'s house because [daughter] says you're friends,' child told cops in vid played to crt

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Tweets from today:]

@stevenmorris20:

#markbridger. Jury seeing video of police interview with 10-yr-old girl that defendant allegedly approached just before #apriljones vanished


@ChrisMRiches:

#apriljones The girl is told by police that they "are just trying to find April and we need your help".


@stevenmorris20:

The 10yr old girl told police officer #markbridger's daughter was a very good friend of hers.

Girl talking about late pm of #apriljones' disappearance. "I saw Mark in his car. He offered me to have a sleepover with his daughter."


@ChrisMRiches:

#apriljones She said Mark Bridger overheard her asking her mum to go on a bike ride- then asked her if she wanted to come for a sleepover.


@JerryLawton:

Girl, 10, tells police Bridger invited her for a "sleep over" at his house 2 hrs before he allegedly abducted #apriljones

Girl said she had seen Bridger "a couple of times before" - "he has been really nice to me and said 'hi'" #apriljones


@stevenmorris:

10yrold girl says this was "five-ish". April vanished at around 7.15pm. Girl says #markbridger had always been "very nice to me."


@ChrisMRiches:

#apriljones The girl said it was "odd" Bridger invited her for a sleepover. He said "that's sorted then" but never arranged a day or time.

Girl says #markbridger drove off. Says she saw him again five or 10 mins later in another part of Machynlleth.


@PaulyBentley:

Later: ‘We were heading to play on the grass. He [Bridger] was in his car, lying down with a newspaper on his lap.' #AprilJones


@stevenmorris20:

She says #markbridger was lying down with a newspaper on his lap talking into a walkie talkie. #apriljones


@PaulyBentley:

'He got up and saw me. He put his thumbs up to me. I smiled,' says girl, 10, on 2nd time she saw Bridger on evening #AprilJones disappeared

April was out playing on her bike in the distance when the girl, 10, was approached my Bridger, she told officers #AprilJones

Later, she saw April playing in the spot where she was taken #AprilJones


@stevenmorris20:

10yrold girl - who cannot be named - said she found #markbridger's behaviour "really odd".


@ChrisMRiches:

#apriljones Girl said when she saw Bridger the second time he waved but she cycled home "really fast" as he was acting "odd" and "weird".


@stevenmorris20:

Girl says later two boys came to her house and told her #apriljones had been "kidnapped". She went out with her dad to help search.


[I guess it makes sense now how MB's name was given to the police so early on...]

 

[Clio]

Going by the following report they all knew each other as MB's ex girlfriend was a close friend of April's mum. MB was quite well known to April...

05 Oct 2012

April was taken crabbing with Mr Bridger's two children in his blue Land Rover which police believe was used to abduct the five-year-old, her family has revealed.

The crabbing trip in August means April had been in Mr Bridger's vehicle at least twice before she was abducted while playing outside her home

Bridger was a frequent visitor to the Brynygog Estate in Machynlleth where April's family live close to his ex-girlfriend

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...ng-trip-with-murder-suspect-Mark-Bridger.html

The statements in this report put together at the time of April's disappearance are apparently quotes from "a family member" who isn't named. At the time the close family allegedly disputed that it was true and it's not quite what has been said in court. Following tweets are from the statement made by CJ read out in court on 3rd May

Lisa Dowd Sky News ‏@LisaSkyNews 3 May
Coral statement: Mark Bridger "does not stand out in my mind at all"... "I do not know much about him".

Lisa Dowd Sky News ‏@LisaSkyNews 3 May
Coral: "April is aware of strangers"... And knew not to get into "anyone's car she did not know".

Lisa Dowd Sky News ‏@LisaSkyNews 3 May
Coral: no member of her family has ever been in Mark Bridger's vehicle or house

Lisa Dowd Sky News ‏@LisaSkyNews 3 May
Coral: April would probably know Mark "by sight but I am positive she would not get in his vehicle voluntarily"

 

[Neurotripsy]

@stevenmorris20:

10yr old girl says both times she saw #markbridger on evening of #apriljones' disappearance April was playing nearby.


@PaulyBentley:

Girl said it was "a bit weird" how Bridger was parked up - she went back after dinner to see if still there but he'd gone #apriljones


@stevenmorris20:

Statement from 10yr old's mother read. She puts the time of her daughter's alleged exchange with #markbridger at 5.47pm on Oct 1...


@JerryLawton:

Girl's mum heard Bridger in background as she talked to her on her mobile "at this point I didn't think anything more about it" #apriljones


@stevenmorris20:

#apriljones allegedly abducted at around 7.15pm, jury has heard. 999 call reporting her missing 7.29pm. #markbridger

Hearing statement from deputy head at #apriljones' school. She taught #markbridger's daughter. She saw him at parents' meeting 5.40pm Oct 1.

Dep head: Mark seemed his normal self. Something gave me the impression he may have had a couple of drinks. #markbridger


@PaulyBentley:

Teacher heard Mark Bridger talking to 'four little girls' by a dolls' house at primary parents' evening on the night #AprilJones vanished


@stevenmorris20:

Another teacher says that she had the impression #markbridger wanted to "make his presence felt at parents' evening.

Teacher says #markbridger used to be lifeguard at leisure centre and played darts. #apriljones


@ChrisMRiches:

#apriljones School teacher who saw Bridger on the day April vanished said he seemed "very chatty and full of himself".


@JerryLawton:

Another teacher saw Bridger chatting to young girls in #apriljones school at parents' evening. Afterwards drove in & out of April's estate


@stevenmorris20:

A statement from student read to court. She says she saw #markbridger in camouflage jacket, trousers around half hour before April vanished.


@JerryLawton:

Motorist tells how Bridger nearly "ran me off the road" as he headed into estate where #apriljones vanished


@ChrisMRiches:

#AprilJones #markbridger Hearing from eye witnesses who saw Bridger in the estate where April vanished in the hours before incident.


@JerryLawton:

Witness saw Bridger parking up his left-hand drive LRover near where #apriljones was playing around 7.10pm on night she disappeared


@stevenmorris20:

#markbridger jury being read statements from people who said they saw him on Bryn-Y-Gog estate shortly before #apriljones' disappearance.

 

[ann-other]

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

 

[Clutchbag]

I actually wonder if he ever was drunk that night. Quite apart from the fact that the road up to Ceinws is tricky enough for a sobre driver, he seems to have been perfectly able to dispose of a body with relatively little evidence.

I was also struck by the comment from the headteacher that it wasn't until the following day, when she saw he had been named locally, that she called the police to pass on the information that he was now living in Ceinws.

I wonder if we will learn how and why he was "named locally".

From todays tweets it seems the 10 yr old told her mother he was around earlier, I guess people put two and two together plus the 7yr olds car description, talk went around quick

And whatever he said to her, it appears after she clambered in the back she was lying down, hence not seen by other witnesses. Was she told to hide?

Maybe, but it was darkish too, and she was only little

Going by the following report they all knew each other as MB's ex girlfriend was a close friend of April's mum. MB was quite well known to April...

05 Oct 2012

April was taken crabbing with Mr Bridger's two children in his blue Land Rover which police believe was used to abduct the five-year-old, her family has revealed.

The crabbing trip in August means April had been in Mr Bridger's vehicle at least twice before she was abducted while playing outside her home

Bridger was a frequent visitor to the Brynygog Estate in Machynlleth where April's family live close to his ex-girlfriend

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...ng-trip-with-murder-suspect-Mark-Bridger.html

Thanks, Id forgotten about that

The statements in this report put together at the time of April's disappearance are apparently quotes from "a family member" who isn't named. At the time the close family allegedly disputed that it was true and it's not quite what has been said in court. Following tweets are from the statement made by CJ read out in court on 3rd May

Lisa Dowd Sky News ‏@LisaSkyNews 3 May
Coral statement: Mark Bridger "does not stand out in my mind at all"... "I do not know much about him".

Lisa Dowd Sky News ‏@LisaSkyNews 3 May
Coral: "April is aware of strangers"... And knew not to get into "anyone's car she did not know".

Lisa Dowd Sky News ‏@LisaSkyNews 3 May
Coral: no member of her family has ever been in Mark Bridger's vehicle or house

Lisa Dowd Sky News ‏@LisaSkyNews 3 May
Coral: April would probably know Mark "by sight but I am positive she would not get in his vehicle voluntarily"

Doesnt tally does it.

 

[Clutchbag]

That time of 5.47, can it be right if MB saw the headmistress either 5.50 or 6pm? And after the deputy head met him at 5.40?

Also the girl says when she was talking to him, April was playing on her bike. CJ said when they came back from leisure centre (she was on camera there at 5.40) she and her friend had some dinner and then watched a disney film before asking to go out at 7pm

Edit - snap, glad its not just me clio

 

[Clio]

These timings are confusing me. Yesterday we heard that Mrs Glyn saw MB at the parents evening at 5:20pm. And today we hear that the deputy head saw him at 5:40pm. The 10 year old's mother puts the call from her daughter (where MB is heard in the background) at 5:47pm. Mrs Glyn also said yesterday that MB followed her into her office to give her his new address and timed that at between 5:50-6pm.

So did he go to see Mrs Glyn & the deputy head, then drive to the estate and talk to the 10 year old then go back to the school and talk to Mrs Glyn again?

 

[veggiefan]

So did he go to see Mrs Glyn & the deputy head, then drive to the estate and talk to the 10 year old then go back to the school and talk to Mrs Glyn again?

The school is on the estate (about 100 yards from the garages).

 

[Neurotripsy]

@stevenmorris20:

#markbridger jury hears that police set up roadblocks approx 1 hour after #apriljones allegedly abducted on 1 Oct last year.

First live witness of the day in #markbridger trial. Jennifer Clarke from Ceinws, the village where Bridger lived. #apriljones

Clarke tells jury she saw left-hand drive Land Rover reverse on to #markbridger's drive at about 8.34pm on day #apriljones vanished.

Pros has alleged April was abducted at around 7.15pm. #markbridger was allegedly seen driving out of Machynlleth at around 7.20pm.

Clarke says she saw driver but nobody else in the Land Rover as it reversed into drive of #markbridger's home. Could not identify driver.


@ChrisMRiches:

#apriljones Witness says at 8:34pm she saw a Land Rover reversing onto Bridger's drive. She saw the back of a man but no passengers inside.


@stevenmorris20:

#markbridger jury hears from woman who went out searching for #apriljones on Oct 2 - day after she vanished. Witness called Carwen Sheen.

Sheen tells jury she saw #markbridger driving past layby at Ceinws (village where he lived, a few miles from Machynlleth. 8.42am.

Sheen says she next saw #markbridger's Land Rover parked at side of road. Then she said she saw Bridger, Sheen tells the jury.

Sheen: "I saw him coming down the bank. He was holding a black bin bag. It was like it was wrapped up. It was rolled up....

Sheen: "There was a bit hanging down like it hadn't been tucked in properly." She didn't talk to Bridger. That was the last she saw of him.

Sheen on the bag: it was wrapped like a sausage. There was a bit hanging down like it was not wrapped fully." #markbridger #apriljones

Witness Sheen asked if the bag looked empty or full. "I'd say there was something in it. Not very big but there was something in it."

jury being read statement from owner of guesthouse where #markbridger was working as labourer. He took Oct 1 off - day April vanished

On Oct 2, 8.30am Bridger arrived at guesthouse. Was concerned about his car. #markbridger #apriljones alternator playing up.


@JerryLawton:

Bridger told guest house owner at 9am he'd seen search party earlier when he stopped "to have a wee" #apriljones


@ChrisMRiches:

#apriljones around 9am on the day after April vanished Bridger quizzed the postman about what vehicle the police were looking for.


@PaulyBentley:

Postman spoke to Bridger on morn after #April vanished. 'He appeared quite shocked. He asked me what sort of vehicle they were looking for'


@JerryLawton:

Bridger "appeared quite shocked" when postman told him police were looking for LRover/Transit/camper van over #apriljones abduction

Bridger was "acting normally" morning after #apriljones disappearance - witness

Bridger takes dog for a walk morning after #apriljones disappearance - tells fellow dog walker he planned to join the search for April


@PaulyBentley:

John Jones saw Bridger walking his dog. 'I’ll pick my van up & go looking for the little girl. I didn’t know anything about the little girl'


@JerryLawton:

Bridger seen looking in hedges at 1.50pm day after #apriljones vanished - witness assumed he was looking for April

Bridger seen walking near bridge at 3.20pm day after #apriljones vanished - he was wearing camouflage jacket and black waterproof trousers


@stevenmorris20:

Dog walker said he met man he believes was #markbridger morning after April vanished. Man told him that he planned to join search for April


@JerryLawton:

Bridger joined #apriljones search party at 2.10pm day after she vanished - said been searching all night and wished them luck as he left


@stevenmorris20:

But he also told searchers he had only heard that #apriljones was missing at 9.30am on Oct 2 - morning after she vanished.

Searchers noticed that #markbridger was clean shaven - they were used to seeing him with beard.

Search party also surprised that #markbridger's clothes seemed clean. Though he claimed he had been searching during night.


@PaulyBentley:

Only after Bridger's arrest did volunteers realise what he claimed 'did not add up’ #AprilJones


@stevenmorris20:

#markbridger jury sent home for the day. Bridger denies abducting and murdering #apriljones.

 

[Fluttershy]

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

Maybe it was a dictaphone or a tape recorder? If so, I really hope they find it.

Also, here's a Guardian link.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/may/09/april-jones-girl-mark-bridger

 

[Adorabella]

Any possibility that someone else was involved?

Could a 2nd or even more people have enabled the faster disposal of AJ's remains.

I guess that has been ruled out by forensics but trying to think why a walkie talkie...or was it just a mobile 'phone?

 

[Sarahlou]

Any possibility that someone else was involved?

Could a 2nd or even more people have enabled the faster disposal of AJ's remains.

I guess that has been ruled out by forensics but trying to think why a walkie talkie...or was it just a mobile 'phone?

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.

 

[ann-other]

Any possibility that someone else was involved?

Could a 2nd or even more people have enabled the faster disposal of AJ's remains.

I guess that has been ruled out by forensics but trying to think why a walkie talkie...or was it just a mobile 'phone?

I have to admit my feelings from onset. Just too many things not adding up..