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April Jones trial: Bone fragments from 'human skull' April Jones trial: Bone fragments from 'human skull'
(36 minutes later)
Bone fragments found in the fireplace of a man accused of killing five-year-old April Jones belonged to a human skull, a jury was told.Bone fragments found in the fireplace of a man accused of killing five-year-old April Jones belonged to a human skull, a jury was told.
A bone analysis specialist compared one burnt fragment to that of a young child, Mold Crown Court heard. A bone analysis specialist told Mold Crown Court the skull had been put in the fire "as fragments".
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 near her Machynlleth home on 1 October 2012.
He claims he accidentally ran her over in his Land Rover.He claims he accidentally ran her over in his Land Rover.
The court has been told he did not know how he disposed of her body because he was suffering memory loss caused by alcohol and panic.The court has been told he did not know how he disposed of her body because he was suffering memory loss caused by alcohol and panic.
The prosecution claims he murdered April after abducting her while she was playing near her home on the Bryn-Y-Gog estate.The prosecution claims he murdered April after abducting her while she was playing near her home on the Bryn-Y-Gog estate.
On Tuesday, forensic anthropologist Dr Julie Roberts explained that her role was to examine material recovered from the fireplace in the living room at Mr Bridger's home.On Tuesday, forensic anthropologist Dr Julie Roberts explained that her role was to examine material recovered from the fireplace in the living room at Mr Bridger's home.
She said the five fragments recovered from the fire were subjected to a range of tests but not all fragments underwent every test partly because they were very small.She said the five fragments recovered from the fire were subjected to a range of tests but not all fragments underwent every test partly because they were very small.
She said she was asked to consider three questions:She said she was asked to consider three questions:
The fragments were all burnt bone, she concluded, and "four of the fragments can be assigned to the cranium and one we can't say one way or the other".The fragments were all burnt bone, she concluded, and "four of the fragments can be assigned to the cranium and one we can't say one way or the other".
Giving evidence about fragment A, Dr Roberts said there were "several specific features" which led her to believe it was from a human skull. Giving evidence about fragment A, Dr Roberts said there were "several specific features" which were unique to human skull.
She said skull characteristics included a "double-layered structure", the fragment's thickness and the appearance of spongy bone. There were features unique to a human skull, she said. The fragment was compared with an archaeological specimen of a skull belonging to a child aged about four to eight years old.
The fragment was compared to an archaeological specimen of a skull belonging to a child aged about four to eight years old.
Dr Roberts said: "I was confident that this was a piece of human cranial bone."Dr Roberts said: "I was confident that this was a piece of human cranial bone."
Fragment A was selected for DNA analysis but it was not possible to obtain a DNA profile from the sample because it was so badly burned, she said.Fragment A was selected for DNA analysis but it was not possible to obtain a DNA profile from the sample because it was so badly burned, she said.
It was compared to bones from 14 other different species at the School of Veterinary Medicine in Liverpool including dog, fox, cat, ferret, squirrel, chicken, pig, horse, goat and sheep.
Dr Roberts said that because of the impact this type of evidence had on the case and the family "we wanted to be absolutely certain" before drawing any conclusions.
A second fragment, called C, was also said to feature the characteristics of a human skull and was, in Dr Roberts' opinion, consistent with a "younger individual".
She was asked by prosecuting counsel Elwen Evans QC whether it was possible to guess the temperature the fragments had been exposed to in the fire.
The witness said bone went through colour changes when burnt, starting off a yellow colour, then turning black before eventually going completely white.
Traditionally, she said, temperatures of about 700C would be required to reduce a bone to that state but other factors had to be taken into account such as the duration of burning and whether there was any soft tissue surrounding it.
'Clean-up process'
Referring to fragment C, she said: "It's burnt to a sufficiently high temperature whereby all the organic material has gone, so it's completely combusted."
Asked whether there was any doubt that all the bones had been subjected to heat, she said: "No doubt whatsoever".
Analysis on another fragment showed it to be compatible with human bone but it was not possible to tell on a fourth fragment, she said.
Dr Roberts said that in her experience of cremations, she would have expected to find other remains if a whole skull had been burnt. These would include facial bones and particularly traces of tooth, she said.
She said that "in other words I think those fragments have been put in as fragments".
She agreed what was found could have been part of a "clean-up process" at the property but said it was not the only possible interpretation.
For the defence, Brendan Kelly QC cast doubt on Dr Roberts' conclusions and said one internationally-renowned expert in the field, Prof Sue Black, disputed the prosecution's findings.
Prof Black was contacted by the Crown Prosecution Service last year to compile a report but Mr Kelly said she had disagreed with what other experts were saying.
Mr Kelly said: "She has no confidence at all that what was found in the fireplace was human bone, does she?"
Dr Roberts: "She doesn't appear to."
Mr Kelly went on to say that Prof Black was "even less confident" that they were the remnants of a human child.
He told Dr Roberts that as a scientist she was taught "not to guess" to which she replied: "We don't guess."
The court has previously heard that blood found in several locations around the defendant's house matched April's DNA.The court has previously heard that blood found in several locations around the defendant's house matched April's DNA.
The prosecution case is expected to conclude later with Mr Bridger's defence due to start on Wednesday.The prosecution case is expected to conclude later with Mr Bridger's defence due to start on Wednesday.
April's disappearance sparked the biggest police search in UK history. She has never been found.April's disappearance sparked the biggest police search in UK history. She has never been found.
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.