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April Jones murder: Mark Bridger says he put body 'somewhere' April Jones murder: Mark Bridger says he put body 'somewhere'
(6 days later)
The man accused of abducting and murdering the schoolgirl April Jones in a sexually motivated attack has told a jury he put her body "somewhere where it has not been found".The man accused of abducting and murdering the schoolgirl April Jones in a sexually motivated attack has told a jury he put her body "somewhere where it has not been found".
On his second day of cross-examination, Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, mid-Wales, answered questions about the search for April's body.On his second day of cross-examination, Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, mid-Wales, answered questions about the search for April's body.
Elwen Evans QC, prosecuting, told Mold crown court on Thursday that after April's disappearance police mounted the biggest search in British history.Elwen Evans QC, prosecuting, told Mold crown court on Thursday that after April's disappearance police mounted the biggest search in British history.
She said police had looked everywhere, and asked Bridger: "Where did you put the body?"She said police had looked everywhere, and asked Bridger: "Where did you put the body?"
Bridger, who claims his memory has gone blank after he knocked April down in a car accident, said: "I can't recall. I still believe I have placed her somewhere."Bridger, who claims his memory has gone blank after he knocked April down in a car accident, said: "I can't recall. I still believe I have placed her somewhere."
Evans said April's body had not been found because Bridger was trying to cover up what he had done.Evans said April's body had not been found because Bridger was trying to cover up what he had done.
She said: "Why has April's body, not any part of it, been found?"She said: "Why has April's body, not any part of it, been found?"
The defendant replied: "I have put her somewhere where it hasn't been found."The defendant replied: "I have put her somewhere where it hasn't been found."
Bridger denied putting the body in a carefully chosen place.Bridger denied putting the body in a carefully chosen place.
Evans said: "It's just one of those things? That wherever you have put her was just a search site that the police never looked? Is that what you are saying?"Evans said: "It's just one of those things? That wherever you have put her was just a search site that the police never looked? Is that what you are saying?"
Bridger replied: "You are asking me to speculate here and I can't do that."Bridger replied: "You are asking me to speculate here and I can't do that."
Evans added: "You really are not going to give us any assistance as to what you did?"Evans added: "You really are not going to give us any assistance as to what you did?"
Bridger said he told police at the time about the places he had been and walked, including caves and rivers.Bridger said he told police at the time about the places he had been and walked, including caves and rivers.
Evans said police had been "up hill and down dale, down mine shafts and not found her anywhere".Evans said police had been "up hill and down dale, down mine shafts and not found her anywhere".
Bridger denies abduction, murder and intending to pervert the course of justice by disposing of, concealing or destroying April's body.Bridger denies abduction, murder and intending to pervert the course of justice by disposing of, concealing or destroying April's body.
April disappeared on 1 October last year. The prosecution says Bridger snatched and murdered her in a sexually motivated attack.April disappeared on 1 October last year. The prosecution says Bridger snatched and murdered her in a sexually motivated attack.
Bridger says he accidentally killed April when he ran her over and accepts he must have got rid of her body, but he says he cannot remember how he disposed of it because he was suffering memory loss caused by alcohol and panic.Bridger says he accidentally killed April when he ran her over and accepts he must have got rid of her body, but he says he cannot remember how he disposed of it because he was suffering memory loss caused by alcohol and panic.
Earlier the trial heard how Bridger viewed images of child pornography on his laptop on the day April went missing and that forensic investigators discovered traces of April's blood in Bridger's living room, hall and bathroom.Earlier the trial heard how Bridger viewed images of child pornography on his laptop on the day April went missing and that forensic investigators discovered traces of April's blood in Bridger's living room, hall and bathroom.
Bridger told the jury he had a recollection of "holding" April and placing her on the floor in front of the fireplace in his living room at his cottage, Mount Pleasant.Bridger told the jury he had a recollection of "holding" April and placing her on the floor in front of the fireplace in his living room at his cottage, Mount Pleasant.
Evans put it to him that that was a "major" memory to recall.Evans put it to him that that was a "major" memory to recall.
"Up until this recollection your story had been that April had never been to the house," she went on, asking when the memory had "come back" to him."Up until this recollection your story had been that April had never been to the house," she went on, asking when the memory had "come back" to him.
Bridger told the jury it was during discussions with his legal team.Bridger told the jury it was during discussions with his legal team.
Evans said: "It's a memory that has come back to you because you realised it's a fact that April's blood was on the carpet."Evans said: "It's a memory that has come back to you because you realised it's a fact that April's blood was on the carpet."
Asked about the presence of saws, hacksaws and knives in his living room, which the prosecutor described as "weaponry", Bridger told the court they were "tools" for outdoor activities.Asked about the presence of saws, hacksaws and knives in his living room, which the prosecutor described as "weaponry", Bridger told the court they were "tools" for outdoor activities.
"I love my bushcraft," he said: "They are tools I have used – saws for cutting wood, hacksaws for making knife handles and walking stick handles – all of which I do in my living room.""I love my bushcraft," he said: "They are tools I have used – saws for cutting wood, hacksaws for making knife handles and walking stick handles – all of which I do in my living room."
He denied he owned a "boning knife", saying it was nothing more than a "standard kitchen knife".He denied he owned a "boning knife", saying it was nothing more than a "standard kitchen knife".
He added that two pairs of handcuffs in the living room were "just decorative".He added that two pairs of handcuffs in the living room were "just decorative".
Earlier, Evans asked Bridger whether he had been "sexually frustrated" on the day April disappeared.Earlier, Evans asked Bridger whether he had been "sexually frustrated" on the day April disappeared.
He said: "No, not at all."He said: "No, not at all."
She asked if he had looked at indecent images of children on his laptop that day.She asked if he had looked at indecent images of children on his laptop that day.
The defendant replied: "I can't remember if I looked at it, I clicked on a picture."The defendant replied: "I can't remember if I looked at it, I clicked on a picture."
Evans then said: "Is it right to say that Monday 1 October last year was the day that your relationship with your girlfriend had finished?"Evans then said: "Is it right to say that Monday 1 October last year was the day that your relationship with your girlfriend had finished?"
Bridger told the court it was.Bridger told the court it was.
The trial continues.The trial continues.
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