Man in ‘mental block’ over what happened to April’s body

The man accused of murdering April Jones told police he had a “mental block” about what happened to her body, a jury has heard.

Mark Bridger, aged 47, also said he “never thought” of calling 999 after he says he ran her over, Mold Crown Court heard.

The jury in Bridger’s trial were hearing transcripts of his police interviews, read in court by Paul Hobson, prosecuting, and interviewing officer, detective constable Louise Thomas.

Ms Thomas was asking the defendant about events after 5-year-old April was last seen playing near her home in Machynlleth, Powys, on the evening of Oct 1 last year.

Bridger says he accidentally killed the youngster when he ran her over and accepts he must have got rid of her body but cannot remember how it did it.

“I have been over and over and over again in my mind, what I’ve done and where I’ve been,” he said in his interview.

“I just have a mental block of what happened.”

Referring to April’s parents, Coral and Paul, he added: “I want them to have their daughter.”

“My intention was to get to the hospital and when I got to the hospital in Machynlleth, I then remembered there was no A&E.”

He said he then drove to the town’s clock tower where he parked, to “think about what to do”.

But he added: “I never thought of dialling 999 or 112, I just didn’t think.”

Instead, Bridger said, he drove “back and forward” around the town.

He said he realised April was dead when he put his hand to her chest. Bridger denies abducting and murdering the schoolgirl in a “sexually motivated” attack.

Telling the officer about when he was back at his house in Ceinws, early the next day, Bridger said: “I remember I hugged my dog. I talked to my dog about what happened, I know that sounds stupid.”

The trial continues.