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April Jones trial: Bone fragments from 'human skull' | April Jones trial: Bone fragments from 'human skull' |
(37 minutes later) | |
Bone fragments found in the fireplace of a man accused of killing five-year-old April Jones were from a human skull, a jury was told. | Bone fragments found in the fireplace of a man accused of killing five-year-old April Jones were from 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. | 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. | 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". | 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". |
"It's burnt to a sufficiently high temperature whereby all the organic material has gone, so it's completely combusted," said Dr Roberts. | "It's burnt to a sufficiently high temperature whereby all the organic material has gone, so it's completely combusted," said Dr Roberts. |
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. |
Human remains | Human remains |
For the defence, Brendan Kelly QC cast doubt on Dr Roberts's conclusions and said one internationally-renowned expert in the field, Professor Susan Black, disputed the prosecution's findings. | For the defence, Brendan Kelly QC cast doubt on Dr Roberts's conclusions and said one internationally-renowned expert in the field, Professor Susan 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. |
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". | 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". |
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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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 waste pipe 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 she examined the bath waste pipe and recovered an "incredibly small" fragment measuring about 3mm x 2mm which had the appearance of bone which had come from the cranium. |
Organised crime | Organised crime |
Another expert, Prof Holger Schutkowski, later said one of the main fragments was bone consistent with the human skull and evidence hinted towards it coming from a child. | Another expert, Prof Holger Schutkowski, later said one of the main fragments was bone consistent with the human skull and evidence hinted towards it coming from a child. |
After lunch, the court heard from Prof Christina Cattaneo, a Milan-based forensic pathologist and anthropologist who works on burnt and cremated remains especially related to cases of organised crime in Italy. | After lunch, the court heard from Prof Christina Cattaneo, a Milan-based forensic pathologist and anthropologist who works on burnt and cremated remains especially related to cases of organised crime in Italy. |
She told the jury bones could be separated into two categories, primary bone (very young) and secondary bone (more mature). | She told the jury bones could be separated into two categories, primary bone (very young) and secondary bone (more mature). |
The jury was shown microscopic examples to show the differences in structure between the two types and the differences between human and non-human bones. | The jury was shown microscopic examples to show the differences in structure between the two types and the differences between human and non-human bones. |
Prof Cattaneo described how two fragments were tested, one of which showed a "typically human structure" while the other was "much more degraded". | Prof Cattaneo described how two fragments were tested, one of which showed a "typically human structure" while the other was "much more degraded". |
"In several areas of these two fragments there are no non-human structures... it is more likely than not that these two fragments belong to the human species," she said. | "In several areas of these two fragments there are no non-human structures... it is more likely than not that these two fragments belong to the human species," she said. |
The defence called anthropology expert Prof Black who said she initially thought the fragments she examined were bone but "could not confirm human or non-human origin". | The defence called anthropology expert Prof Black who said she initially thought the fragments she examined were bone but "could not confirm human or non-human origin". |
She said she would need "definitive evidence to be able to make an opinion". | She said she would need "definitive evidence to be able to make an opinion". |
Prof Black called into question some of Prof Schutkowski's findings and said there was no scientific evidence to conclude that one of the fragments had come from a juvenile skull. | |
Asked her opinion of some of the expert evidence heard earlier, she said she had described it as "confirmation bias" which involved finding evidence that "fundamentally supports what you're saying". | |
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. | As well as abduction and murder, Mr Bridger also denies intending to pervert the course of justice. |
The case continues. | The case continues. |