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April Jones trial: Five-year-old 'never been to suspect's home' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
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 from her Machynlleth home on 1 October 2012. | |
The prosecution has told Mold Crown Court that April's blood was found in several locations at his home. | |
Mr Bridger says he accidentally knocked her over with his Land Rover. | |
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. | |
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 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 officer said: "She's never been into your house?" Mr Bridger: "Never." | |
He was also asked about blood found on the bathroom wall at his house which the court has heard matched April's DNA. | |
"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 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 images | Indecent 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. |
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." |
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 picture | April 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. | |
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. |