Prosecution claims April accused's story 'is a lie'

The former abattoir worker accused of murdering schoolgirl April Jones made up a “story” that he had killed her in a car accident in a bid to “explain away” his role in the killing, a court heard today.

Mark Bridger, 47, is accused of murdering the five-year-old after he abducted her as she played outside her home in Machynlleth, mid-Wales, on October 1 last year. April’s body has never been found.

On the second day of opening the case for the prosecution, Elwen Evans QC took the jury through the story Bridger told when he was arrested on October 2, which including him wanting to “say sorry” to April’s family.

Miss Evans said: “We know that the prosecution case is that the defendant’s account is a lie.”

She added: “He was now coming up with a story to try and explain away April’s disappearance and his role in that.”

Miss Evans said Bridger told police: “I know what this about.”

He then went on to give the arresting officers his account of what happened.

He said: “It was an accident. I crushed her with the car. I don’t know where she is. As I was going to drive away two girls on bikes came across me.

“I then got out and saw a little girl lying under my car.

“I picked her up and put her in my car, which is left-hand drive, and put her on the front seat.”

Miss Evans told the jury that Bridger carried on telling police officers his story as he was being driven to Aberystwyth Police Station.

He said: “I had been looking for her all night and did it on foot because my car is in the garage.

“I didn’t abduct her. I did my best to revive her. I panicked.

“The more I drove through the night, the more pissed I got. My son and daughter play at her house. I didn’t even know until this morning until I saw it on TV.”

He continued: “I just wish I knew what I had done with her, where I have put her.

“I need to say sorry to her family. I can’t believe I didn’t just call an ambulance or the police.

“My intention was to head to the hospital. There was no life in her. No pulse. No breath. No response in her eyes. She was just on the seat. I tried to revive her.

“When my hands went on her chest I knew there was a lot more to it.

“I did my best to revive her. I don’t remember having her in the car when I went back.

“I looked in all the rooms in my house...I wouldn’t have dumped her. She is a human being. I wouldn’t have done that.”

He went on to say that the only place he had not checked “is down from my house”.

“I really don’t know where she is. I just want to know what I have done,” he said.

“My car was making a hell of a noise.

“I remember looking through my rear window.

“I saw a little girl with dark hair.

“I then felt the car rise up and down.”

He said when he looked there was a little girl “under the car”.

He added: “She had gone a funny colour. She was only a little thing. I remember it being 5pm.

“I don’t know what I was doing.”