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April Jones trial: Suspect's drowning fear over body disposal April Jones trial: Five-year-old 'never been to suspect's home'
(35 minutes later)
The trial of a man accused of murdering five-year-old April Jones has heard how he would not have disposed of her body in water because he was "scared of drowning". The man accused of murdering April Jones told police he did not believe the five-year old had ever been in his house, a court has heard.
Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, Powys, denies abducting and murdering April, who went missing near her Machynlleth home on 1 October 2012. Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, Powys, denies abducting and murdering April, who went missing from her Machynlleth home on 1 October 2012.
Mold Crown Court has heard Mr Bridger claimed to have accidentally knocked her over with his Land Rover. The prosecution has told Mold Crown Court that April's blood was found in several locations at his home.
April has never been found. Mr Bridger says he accidentally knocked her over with his Land Rover.
Mr Bridger told police he accidentally ran her over but it had not occurred to him to ring 999, the court has heard. He told officers he did not know how he disposed of her body because he was suffering memory loss caused by alcohol and panic, the jury has heard.
He told them he did not know how he disposed of her body because he was suffering memory loss caused by alcohol and panic, the jury has heard.
A forensics scientist who examined the vehicle has told the court there was no evidence of any type of collision with April.A forensics scientist who examined the vehicle has told the court there was no evidence of any type of collision with April.
On Monday, the court heard written evidence from a detention officer which discussed the ways in which he had possibly disposed of April's body. On Monday, the court was told that Mr Bridger was asked when April had last been in his house. He replied: "In the six hours that I lost between leaving Machynlleth... I don't believe I took her to the house because I cannot ever remember seeing her in the car."
The court heard the defendant spoke about the possibility of also burning April but said he knew through his fire training that like pork, human flesh "smells". The officer said: "She's never been into your house?" Mr Bridger: "Never."
He also said he would have remembered having a fire. He was also asked about blood found on the bathroom wall at his house which the court has heard matched April's DNA.
The court heard how he told police he did not believe he had left Machynlleth with April. "I had obviously gone to the toilet at some stage," he said. "Obviously there has been a trace of blood on my hands... the only explanation I have got to that is I have put my hand up against the wall to go to the toilet."
He said he knew he would not have wanted her to get wet. He went on to say he may have washed his hands and flicked them, sending traces of blood onto the wall.
The officer asked whether the blood was there because April had been assaulted in the bathroom. He replied: "Not at all."
Earlier, in written evidence from a detention officer, Mr Bridger discussed the ways in which he had possibly disposed of April's body.
The court heard how he would not have got rid of the body in water because he was "scared of drowning".
The jury was also told the defendant spoke about the possibility of burning April but said he knew through his fire training that like pork, human flesh "smells".
He said he would have remembered having a fire.
Indecent imagesIndecent images
Although he could not remember what he did with April, he told police: "I wouldn't have put her in a bin because that's disgusting."Although he could not remember what he did with April, he told police: "I wouldn't have put her in a bin because that's disgusting."
The court also heard details of an interview on 5 October with Det Con Louise Thomas in which he explained to police why indecent images of girls were found on his computer.The court also heard details of an interview on 5 October with Det Con Louise Thomas in which he explained to police why indecent images of girls were found on his computer.
He said he had been researching body and breast development so he could better understand how his daughter was growing up.He said he had been researching body and breast development so he could better understand how his daughter was growing up.
He also said he wanted to be able to "advise" his children if they ever asked about sex and other issues as they got older.
The public gallery was then cleared as the jury heard about images on Mr Bridger's computer which were discussed in his police interview. Some images were shown in court.The public gallery was then cleared as the jury heard about images on Mr Bridger's computer which were discussed in his police interview. Some images were shown in court.
He again claimed indecent pictures of young girls on his laptop were just to help him with his research into his daughter's development.He again claimed indecent pictures of young girls on his laptop were just to help him with his research into his daughter's development.
In response to one picture, he said: "I get no sexual pleasure at all... not from that."In response to one picture, he said: "I get no sexual pleasure at all... not from that."
He then described having "problems with erections" and said it affected his last relationship.He then described having "problems with erections" and said it affected his last relationship.
Asked whether he remembered searching on the internet for "naked young five-year-old girls", he replied: "No."Asked whether he remembered searching on the internet for "naked young five-year-old girls", he replied: "No."
He went on to discuss some of the sexual cartoon images that were found on his computer which he said were "disgusting" and "not for sexual pleasure at all".He went on to discuss some of the sexual cartoon images that were found on his computer which he said were "disgusting" and "not for sexual pleasure at all".
He had hand-written between five and 10 letters of complaint to companies in Belgium, Holland, Germany and Britain.He had hand-written between five and 10 letters of complaint to companies in Belgium, Holland, Germany and Britain.
He said he had received no replies but decided to keep the pictures in case the images were taken down so he could say "that's not what you were showing before".He said he had received no replies but decided to keep the pictures in case the images were taken down so he could say "that's not what you were showing before".
Shown a picture of a young child on a potty, he again said it was for breast development research purposes.Shown a picture of a young child on a potty, he again said it was for breast development research purposes.
Asked how he felt about the picture, he said: "The way you have put it across to me now, I feel like a pervert... you think I've taken them for my own sexual pleasure and that's not the case."Asked how he felt about the picture, he said: "The way you have put it across to me now, I feel like a pervert... you think I've taken them for my own sexual pleasure and that's not the case."
Shown other pictures saved on his computer, he said he found them "disgusting".
When asked about one cartoon image, he said: "This is not adult porn, this is sick." Discussing further images, he said: "Whoever gets off on these has got a serious problem, and obviously these are cartoons."When asked about one cartoon image, he said: "This is not adult porn, this is sick." Discussing further images, he said: "Whoever gets off on these has got a serious problem, and obviously these are cartoons."
April pictureApril picture
Later in the interview he was shown a Facebook-type picture of April with one of her older sisters.Later in the interview he was shown a Facebook-type picture of April with one of her older sisters.
Asked if he knew who the younger girl was, he replied: "That is April."Asked if he knew who the younger girl was, he replied: "That is April."
The interviewer noted at this point that Mr Bridger appeared upset. She asked how it made him feel and he answered that it upset him. The interviewer noted at this point that Mr Bridger appeared upset.
He was also asked whether there was any coincidence that he had researched murders of young girls and was now being questioned about April's death.He was also asked whether there was any coincidence that he had researched murders of young girls and was now being questioned about April's death.
He replied: "There shouldn't be because I told you the story of April... I didn't abduct her," adding that it had been an accident and there had been no sexual pleasure.He replied: "There shouldn't be because I told you the story of April... I didn't abduct her," adding that it had been an accident and there had been no sexual pleasure.
Later, the interviewer pointed out that there had been large age gaps between Mr Bridger and his former girlfriends - a 20 year age gap with his most recent girlfriend.Later, the interviewer pointed out that there had been large age gaps between Mr Bridger and his former girlfriends - a 20 year age gap with his most recent girlfriend.
Asked if he liked young girls, he replied: "Young girls no, young women yes."Asked if he liked young girls, he replied: "Young girls no, young women yes."
After lunch, the jury heard evidence from another interview on 5 October in which Det Con Louise Thomas told the defendant there was nothing forensically - hair, skin or blood - in his vehicle to back up his claims of an accident.After lunch, the jury heard evidence from another interview on 5 October in which Det Con Louise Thomas told the defendant there was nothing forensically - hair, skin or blood - in his vehicle to back up his claims of an accident.
He said: "That is obviously very, very strange... if I ever abducted her and put her in the car there would be some sort of hair and fingerprints and things."He said: "That is obviously very, very strange... if I ever abducted her and put her in the car there would be some sort of hair and fingerprints and things."
Questioned further, he repeated that there was no blood in the car.Questioned further, he repeated that there was no blood in the car.
He said: "I would have expected to see blood from her mouth, blood from her torso... there was nothing visible... I blew into her mouth, I would've tasted blood."He said: "I would have expected to see blood from her mouth, blood from her torso... there was nothing visible... I blew into her mouth, I would've tasted blood."
As well as abduction and murder, he also denies intending to pervert the course of justice.As well as abduction and murder, he also denies intending to pervert the course of justice.
The case continues.The case continues.