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

[Elainera]

Oh ok! I knew the term line up but not identity parade. Thank you for explaining!

ETA: I don't think there ever was one.

 

[Cherwell]

Possibly they tried something using photographs but it was inconclusive. Not sure how far away she was, or how good the light was. I doubt she had a clear view of his face.

 

[Neurotripsy]

Photos:

@skynewsnorth:

The bike being ridden by #apriljones moments before she went missing. Put on display by police. pic.twitter.com/Wc7LHU2T1Q

Forensic notes in a window of Mark Bridger's car allegedly used to drive #apriljones to her death. pic.twitter.com/wIhVpCzFrq

 

[Elainera]

Wasn't there something about that she had wrongly identified his eye color? I can't find it now but I thought I read that in the recent trial transcripts.

 

[Alyce]

I note that one question asked by the jurors was where was AJs bike ?

Now from what I remember of evidence, we have been told that AJ and her friend had swopped bikes just before AJ was taken....

However, it has always puzzled me as to what AJ did with her friend's bike when MB suggested she get into his car ...did she just leave the bike lying on the ground ? It doesnt seem quite right to me.
We have been told that AJ loved her own bike, so I cant see that she would just leave her friend's bike lying on the ground and, equally, have no thought for her own bike as well, if she was going off for a ride in a car.

Which leads me to wonder if MB actually suggested to AJ that she might like to just sit in his car and then when he got her in, he drove off quickly.....we are told that the witness who saw him leaving the town, said he was driving faster than would be usual.

I realies it , sadly, doesnt make much difference, but to me it might explain why AJ got into the car - because she only expected to sit there for a moment or two and didnt think this was at all the same thing as taking a ride with a stranger ( I realise he wasnt a complete stranger but I dont think he was on the close family list, not from what CJ said in her statement to the court )

 

[Alyce]

Wasn't there something about that she had wrongly identified his eye color? I can't find it now but I thought I read that in the recent trial transcripts.

Yes, the friend said MBs eyes were green ( I think ) but later admitted she couldnt actually see him that closely to be able to tell.

I would have to go back to find the exact quote but am sure the friend said something along the lines of trying to be helpful by advising re the colour even though she didnt really know it.

 

[Elainera]

Midway through her presentation of the text messages Ms Evans apologised to the judge for having an "unorganised" schedule. The judge then joked that it would be "wise to leave this part of the Amazon alone for now", prompting the jury to chuckle.

Sometimes they too need a bit of comic relief

 

[Alyce]

Neurotripsy can I just add my thanks as well for the sterling job you are doing in keeping us all updated.
I do try to dip into twitter when I have a moment but your excellent reporting, with all the comments posted in order make it very easy to catch up quickly with the proceedings and are hugely appreciated.

 

[Cherwell]

This article has a lot of details of MB's story that I had missed. Also texts sent and received by him.

This from MB reminds me of Stuart Hazell's words when he said that "deep down in his heart" he knew that Tia Sharp had walked out of his house. He was lying, of course.

All I want to say to Paul and Coral is that I’m sorry for what happened and that if in my heart of hearts I knew where she was I would tell them because ... I could help them lay her to rest.

 

[veggiefan]

Wasn't there something about that she had wrongly identified his eye color? I can't find it now but I thought I read that in the recent trial transcripts.

2.53pm

The youngster, who has been playing with her hair throughout the proceedings, has admitted to the court she was "guessing" at certain things she said during the police interview.

She said she only told the officer that the man next to the Land Rover had green or blue eyes and that April had failed to get in to the back of the vehicle because that's what she thought was accurate.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/live-updates-april-jones-murder-3414952

 

[Neurotripsy]

From live updates: [x]

The jury have once again taken their seats following the lunch break.

Bridger, who is wearing a different shirt to the one he has worn for the past seven days of his trial, has been brought up to dock by three security guards. The shirt Bridger is wearing appears to be the blue short-sleeved shirt he wore throughout the first he week of his trial. He is wearing the same tie and dark grey trousers.

The prosecution are resuming by reading more statements. The first was made by the police officer who seized the possessions on Bridger at the time of his arrest. In it, the officer said among the items seized were an iPhone, a head torch and a high visibility jacket. Also taken from Bridger was a camouflage style jacket and a pair of trousers. The officer said Bridger was not wearing any underwear at the time of his arrest.

<modsnip>

The trial has now been adjourned for the day. Proceedings are due to resume at 9.30am tomorrow.
Tomorrow's proceedings are expected to hear more of Bridger's police interviews.

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Live Tweets (may be deleted if above updates have more in-depth info)

@DarrenLittleSky:

Now onto a statement from PC who dealt with MB after arrest, going through clothes and items seized from him #apriljones


@JerryLawton:

When Bridger arrested he had a lock knife in his trouser pocket, two high visibility jackets, a head torch, two mobile phones #apriljones

Jury watching CCTV of Bridger being booked in at Aberystwyth police station after being arrested for #apriljones abduction


@DarrenLittleSky:

Jury now being shown video of MB entering the custody suite after being arrested #apriljones

Desk officer is told he's made a number of "significant statements on arrest" #apriljones

MB asked do you disagree with what the officer said, answers "no" #apriljones


@JerryLawton:

Officer says on CCTV Bridger made "number of statements" after arrest in which he said he had "crushed her" with his car #apriljones .

Bridger, on removing boots in police station: "I'm sorry my feet stink.. As you know I have been up all day and night"" #apriljones

Bridger told police he was a mercenary soldier who served in Angola/Belize/Burma and was trained by SAS #apriljones

Bridger said he was not registered to Army but had been seconded to them for nine years #apriljones


@DarrenLittleSky:

original interview was an "urgent interview" carried out ASAP to gather information, it started before MB's solicitor arrived #apriljones

Was "urgent"because of the need to find April #apriljones

He was told it was urgent primarily to locate #Apriljones it was at Aberystwyth Police Station

MB: I don't know where she is, when asked where is April

MB in interview: "As I went to pull away, there wasn't a thud, the car rose up"

MB to police' "I picked her, she's only little, put her in my car, tried to take her pulse and held her hand" #apriljones

MB looking emotional in court as his interview evidence is read out detailing his version of events #apriljones

MB to police - one side her chest wasn't there, I'd obviously crushed her body #apriljones

MB - I stopped, I stalled, I leaned across and I knew she'd gone #apriljones

MB said in early hours he remembered what had happened, went out to car and searched his house for April but she wasn't there #apriljones

MB - I wouldn't have ditched her I know that, I would have put her somewhere #apriljones

MB keeps blinking in the dock and closing his eyes for a short time, en looking down #apriljones

MB told police he took the bath apart, looked in the airing cupboard, the kids room, but he couldn't find her #apriljones

MB told the police "Paul and Coral are friends of mine and I've killed their daughter" #apriljones

MB to police - the more I drove around the more vodka I drank #apriljones

When first got to the monument - MB said - the colour had gone out of her, I checked her eyes #apriljones

MB said on the 3rd time he got to the monument he didn't "remember her being there"' "I'm sat there and she's not with me" #apriljones

MB- it was pure panic, just where do I go #apriljones

Officer - obviously this is totally traumatic for you, MB - no not for me #apriljones

MB told a female officer, due to the nature of the incident I have difficulty looking female officers in the eye #apriljones


@JerryLawton:

Bridger said he searched his house and garden then walked six times between his home and Machynlleth (3miles) looking #apriljones

Bridger said he pulled his bath apart looking for #apriljones - "I have wracked my brain all day. I want to find her."

Bridger to WPC due to "nature" of incident he had trouble looking female officers in eye "dad is a dad" but mother gives birth" #apriljones

Bridger "pinched" and "slapped" #apriljones in his LRover in a bid to revive her. "The colour had done out of her. Her lips were purple."

In 2nd interview Bridger said he planned to take #apriljones to Aberystwyth hospital but he turned round "pure panic had set in"

Bridger said he might have left #apriljones in paramedic's garden but "at no stage can I remember having April in my arms."

Afterwards he drove to estate and parked up near home of ex-girfriend who'd dumped him that morning "I was quite emotional" #apriljones

Bridger sat in LRover mulling over relationship. As he pulled away he ran over #apriljones - "no thud" but felt something under car

As a "first aider" Bridger tried to give her nose and mouth.. She gave a "gasp" but there was no pulse #apriljones

He set off to hospital in Machynlleth but no A&E so headed for Aberystwyth. After checking #apriljones again he realised half chest missing

He drove round and round panicking and swigging vodka from a hip flask - woke up in early hours back home. #apriljones was missing

Bridger searched LRover, shed, cottage - looked in/under beds, in airing cupboard and took side panel off bath #apriljones

Bridger went out with head torch searching hedges for #apriljones - when met fellow searchers spec what had happened he thought "It's me"


@DarrenLittleSky:

Jury asked for a short break, MB clearly been crying as taken to cells #apriljones

In the next interview MB's solicitor was present #apriljones

This interview is the next day, 1st q - do you know where April is? MB- no I honestly don't #apriljones

MB - if it had been raining I would have covered her,I wouldn't have buried her #apriljones

MB at no stage do I remember having April in my hands, my arms #apriljones

MB - in my heart of hearts I wanted her to be found #apriljones

Says after parents evening at school he parked close to his ex's house and "reminisced" #apriljones

MB told police he saw his daughter's friend and waved at her, but they didn't speak. She told the police he invited her to a sleepover

MB - as I went to pull away there was a completely different girl who came between and a van. I remember seeing her little bike #apriljones

MB - there was a child or small person underneath the wheel of the car #apriljones

MB again wiping his eyes in the dock as details of his account of April dying are read out #apriljones

MB told police he remembers seeing people in fluorescent jackets out searching for #apriljones

MB - when came to in early hours - went out to the car, I lifted the seats up, stupid, I looked in the garden #apriljones

MB- I even looked in the washing machine, how on earth I would have got her in there I don't know #apriljones

Bus driver talked to MB about what had happened, "perverts" etc, MB-"and all that time I thought it was me" #apriljones

MB was then taken through a map of Machynlleth pointing out where he stopped, drove etc in some detail #apriljones

MB told police he sat in tears in his car at the monument #apriljones


@JerryLawton:

Bridger said he had checked all the places "you see on telly where children are hidden" #apriljones

Bridger said he sat in LRover "in tears, shaking" "I had a tingling in my face" #apriljones


@DarrenLittleSky:

Court is finished for the day, resumes at 9.30 am #apriljones

 

[Elainera]

Bridger, who is wearing a different shirt to the one he has worn for the past seven days of his trial, has been brought up to dock by three security guards. The shirt Bridger is wearing appears to be the blue short-sleeved shirt he wore throughout the first he week of his trial. He is wearing the same tie and dark grey trousers.

Why is it important what MB wears during the trial?

 

[Elainera]

Reading today's statements I wonder if he's delusional. He's an alcoholic, he could be very impaired. His mind could be playing all kinds of tricks, false memories, fantasies.

 

[ann-other]

"Bridger received texts from two ex-partners before he was arrested saying police looking for left-hand drive Land Rover." #apriljones

I wonder why?

 

[Sarahlou]

"Bridger received texts from two ex-partners before he was arrested saying police looking for left-hand drive Land Rover." #apriljones

I wonder why?

Because they knew he had that car? Maybe they were a bit suspicious, or just wanted to warn him..

 

[Elainera]

He set off to hospital in Machynlleth but no A&E so headed for Aberystwyth. After checking #apriljones again he realised half chest missing

Now it becomes pretty obvious that MB is either lying or crazy - how can half her chest be "missing" and yet no blood in the car?

 

[ann-other]

Yes so why would they warn him?

 

[veggiefan]

Yes so why would they warn him?

My guess is that it wasn't so much a warning as a broad hint that MB ought to give himself up as he had been pretty much identified by his vehicle.

It does seem strange if they both texted the same message, but I'm not certain how similar the messages were. Only the Sky News reporter seems to have tweeted this bit of information.

 

[Cherwell]

Yes so why would they warn him?

My guess is that it wasn't so much a warning as a broad hint that MB ought to give himself up as he had been pretty much identified by his vehicle.

I don't suppose that at that stage anyone knew that he had harmed April. They may have had cause to fear it, or they may not. (I'm still wondering if there is more to his relationship with the Jones family than we have so far been told.)

 

[jigzy]

The LE did say early on in the investigation that establishing the facts had been difficult due to the close network of interconnected people within the community, or words to that effect as I understood it. I have no link but made a mental note at the time that it seemed that certain people were not being as open with the LE as they might have been or maybe others were giving misleading info. Jmo.