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| April Jones trial: Bone fragments from 'human skull' | April Jones trial: Bone fragments from 'human skull' |
| (35 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 told Mold Crown Court the skull had been put in the fire "as fragments". A fragment was also found in the bath waste pipe. | |
| 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. | |
| 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 were unique to human skull. | Giving evidence about fragment A, Dr Roberts said there were "several specific features" which were unique to human skull. |
| 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 with 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. | 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. | 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's 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. | 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. | 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. | 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' | '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." | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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, Professor Sue Black, disputed the prosecution's findings. | For the defence, Brendan Kelly QC cast doubt on Dr Roberts' conclusions and said one internationally-renowned expert in the field, Professor 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. | 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?" | 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." | 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. | 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." | He told Dr Roberts that as a scientist she was taught "not to guess" to which she replied: "We don't guess." |
| Prosecuting, Ms Evans said: "It is clear that there is challenge to your conclusions based on the views of Professor Sue Black... it's been put to you that she was your PHD tutor... I suppose the implication is that you are less of an expert than she is." | Prosecuting, Ms Evans said: "It is clear that there is challenge to your conclusions based on the views of Professor Sue Black... it's been put to you that she was your PHD tutor... I suppose the implication is that you are less of an expert than she is." |
| Dr Roberts said: "In terms of the area of expertise and experience the point was made that she's an international expert, so am I..." | Dr Roberts said: "In terms of the area of expertise and experience the point was made that she's an international expert, so am I..." |
| Dr Roberts went on to explain how she worked with the military police and dealt with casualties in Afghanistan, involved in reconstructing the skulls of dead soldiers. | Dr Roberts went on to explain how she worked with the military police and dealt with casualties in Afghanistan, involved in reconstructing the skulls of dead soldiers. |
| Later, the jury heard evidence from another expert in the analysis of human remains, forensic anthropologist Linda Ainscough, who said she had searched through a quantity of ash and found 16 bone fragments, 12 of which were "very, very small". | |
| Separate exhibits | |
| She said she was confident they were "consistent with being bone" and had all been burnt but it was not possible to tell whether they were human or non-human. | |
| Of the smaller fragments, she said two appeared more cranial than non-cranial, six appeared "post cranial" - everything aside from the head - and it was not possible to say where in the skeleton the other four might have come from. | |
| Regarding the five samples from the fireplace, she agreed with the conclusions of Dr Roberts. | |
| She said she had been asked to examine 22 separate exhibits which included traps from beneath sinks and the bath at Mr Bridger's property. | |
| She said she examined the bath trap and recovered an "incredibly small" fragment measuring about 3mm x 2mm which had the appearance of bone which had come from the cranium. | |
| She said part of the temple bone, behind the ear but because of its size, it was not possible to establish whether it was human or non-human. | |
| 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, Mr Bridger also denies intending to pervert the course of justice. | |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |