Bridger 'probably responsible' for April's death, court is told

FORMER lifeguard Mark Bridger is "probably responsible" for the death of five-year-old April Jones but denies her abduction and murder, a court has heard.

Bridger, of Mount Pleasant farmhouse in the village of Ceinws, near Machynlleth, will stand trial later this year accused of murdering April, who went missing in mid Wales last year.

April was last seen playing on her bike on Machynlleth's Bryn-y-Gog estate, where she lived, on October 1.

Bridger was arrested the following day, but the search for April's body goes on.

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Bridger entered not guilty pleas to abduction, murder and perverting the course of justice at Mold Crown Court yesterday.

But Brendan Kelly, defending, told the court his client's defence involves him "conceding that he probably killed the child".

Mr Justice Griffith-Williams said: "That matter can be reported. You have indicated that the defendant's case is that he was probably responsible for the death of April."

The judge ordered that no other evidence in the case can be reported at this time.

The case sparked an outpouring of support for April's family, with hundreds of people joining the search.

April's parents Coral and Paul Jones were in court as Bridger, 46, entered his pleas and sat just 10ft away from the dock.

Both parents stared at Bridger as the charges were read to him.

At one point Bridger, wearing a navy blue jumper with a pair of spectacles tucked into his collar, appeared to be making an effort to compose himself as he entered his pleas and looked up towards the ceiling as he entered his final not guilty plea.