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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/may/28/april-jones-murder-mark-bridger
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| April Jones murder: evidence against Mark Bridger is 'overwhelming' | April Jones murder: evidence against Mark Bridger is 'overwhelming' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| There is overwhelming evidence against the man accused of murdering April Jones, a jury has been told. | There is overwhelming evidence against the man accused of murdering April Jones, a jury has been told. |
| Mark Bridger, 47, has been on trial at Mold crown court in Wales, accused of abducting and murdering the five-year-old in a sexually motivated attack. | Mark Bridger, 47, has been on trial at Mold crown court in Wales, accused of abducting and murdering the five-year-old in a sexually motivated attack. |
| In her closing speech to the jury on Tuesday, Elwen Evans QC, prosecuting, said her case "stands strongly and compellingly". | In her closing speech to the jury on Tuesday, Elwen Evans QC, prosecuting, said her case "stands strongly and compellingly". |
| "The evidence overwhelmingly compels the conclusion that the defendant is guilty of each count in this case," she said. | "The evidence overwhelmingly compels the conclusion that the defendant is guilty of each count in this case," she said. |
| Evans asked the jury to consider Bridger's answers in the "spotlight of the witness box". | Evans asked the jury to consider Bridger's answers in the "spotlight of the witness box". |
| "You have seen some glimpses into his mindset and some of those glimpses, you may have thought, are quite frankly shocking," she went on. "But that assessment is for you. | "You have seen some glimpses into his mindset and some of those glimpses, you may have thought, are quite frankly shocking," she went on. "But that assessment is for you. |
| "Some of you may have wondered how anybody could do what the prosecution allege this defendant has done and then concoct a story to cover up what he has done?" | "Some of you may have wondered how anybody could do what the prosecution allege this defendant has done and then concoct a story to cover up what he has done?" |
| Evans reminded the jury of Bridger's claims about being in the military and said: "On his own admission, this is a man who, over 20 years ago decided to create a whole new lie – a whole new life for himself, and a man who was prepared to live that lie". | Evans reminded the jury of Bridger's claims about being in the military and said: "On his own admission, this is a man who, over 20 years ago decided to create a whole new lie – a whole new life for himself, and a man who was prepared to live that lie". |
| She said Bridger fabricated his past, adding that he "did so for selfish reasons". | She said Bridger fabricated his past, adding that he "did so for selfish reasons". |
| "Time and time again, we say, you have seen this defendant manipulate his account to try and deal with evidence that he cannot overcome." | "Time and time again, we say, you have seen this defendant manipulate his account to try and deal with evidence that he cannot overcome." |
| April disappeared as she was playing with a friend near their homes on the Bryn-Y-Gog estate, Machynlleth, Powys, on 1 October last year. | April disappeared as she was playing with a friend near their homes on the Bryn-Y-Gog estate, Machynlleth, Powys, on 1 October last year. |
| Bridger, a former abbatoir worker from Ceinws, denies abduction, murder and intending to pervert the course of justice. | Bridger, a former abbatoir worker from Ceinws, denies abduction, murder and intending to pervert the course of justice. |
| He claims he killed April when he accidentally "crushed" her with his Land Rover but can't remember what he did with the body because he was drunk and panicking. | He claims he killed April when he accidentally "crushed" her with his Land Rover but can't remember what he did with the body because he was drunk and panicking. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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