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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| April Jones accused told police he had been a mercenary in Africa | April Jones accused told police he had been a mercenary in Africa |
| (8 days later) | |
| The man accused of abducting and murdering April Jones told police he had been a mercenary in Africa, trained with special forces in south-east Asia and had worked within the British army. | The man accused of abducting and murdering April Jones told police he had been a mercenary in Africa, trained with special forces in south-east Asia and had worked within the British army. |
| During interviews with detectives following his arrest, Mark Bridger claimed he had worked as a mercenary in Angola, was trained by an SAS unit in Burma and was seconded to the British army. | During interviews with detectives following his arrest, Mark Bridger claimed he had worked as a mercenary in Angola, was trained by an SAS unit in Burma and was seconded to the British army. |
| But the jury was told that the military had found no record of him working for UK armed forces. | But the jury was told that the military had found no record of him working for UK armed forces. |
| Bridger, a former slaughterman and lifeguard, is accused of the abduction and murder of five-year-old April, who was last seen alive close to her home in Machynlleth in mid-Wales on 1 October last year. The prosecution has claimed the motive was sexual. | Bridger, a former slaughterman and lifeguard, is accused of the abduction and murder of five-year-old April, who was last seen alive close to her home in Machynlleth in mid-Wales on 1 October last year. The prosecution has claimed the motive was sexual. |
| He denies abduction, murder and concealing, disposing of or destroying April's body and insists he accidentally knocked the schoolgirl over with his Land Rover, put her in his car and forgot what he did with her body after failing to resuscitate her. | He denies abduction, murder and concealing, disposing of or destroying April's body and insists he accidentally knocked the schoolgirl over with his Land Rover, put her in his car and forgot what he did with her body after failing to resuscitate her. |
| The jury at Mold crown court in north Wales viewed footage of the moment Bridger, 47, arrived at Aberystwyth police station and heard about his first interviews. | The jury at Mold crown court in north Wales viewed footage of the moment Bridger, 47, arrived at Aberystwyth police station and heard about his first interviews. |
| Asked where April was, he told police: "I don't know where she is." | Asked where April was, he told police: "I don't know where she is." |
| He said he was on the Bryn-Y-Gog estate, where April lived, to try to see a girlfriend with whom he had just split up. | He said he was on the Bryn-Y-Gog estate, where April lived, to try to see a girlfriend with whom he had just split up. |
| Bridger claimed he hit April as he pulled away in his Land Rover. "I had obviously crushed her little body," he said. The defendant said he had been drinking and the "adrenaline was pumping". He told officers he was an alcoholic and drank vodka even as he tried to revive the girl. | Bridger claimed he hit April as he pulled away in his Land Rover. "I had obviously crushed her little body," he said. The defendant said he had been drinking and the "adrenaline was pumping". He told officers he was an alcoholic and drank vodka even as he tried to revive the girl. |
| He said he could not remember what he had done with April later. Bridger added: "I would not have dumped her. I just don't know where I have put her. I am sorry, I don't know." | He said he could not remember what he had done with April later. Bridger added: "I would not have dumped her. I just don't know where I have put her. I am sorry, I don't know." |
| In a second interview he said: "I would not have buried her, but obviously it was raining and I would have covered her out of respect." | In a second interview he said: "I would not have buried her, but obviously it was raining and I would have covered her out of respect." |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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