5 Oct 2012

April Jones suspect arrested on suspicion of murder

After Mark Bridger is arrested on suspicion of the murder of five-year-old April Jones, police are given extra time to question him before they have to charge or release him.

As the search for missing April Jones entered a fifth day, police said Mr Bridger, who was arrested on suspicion of child abduction on Tuesday, had now been arrested on suspicion of murder.

He was driven to Aberystwyth magistrates’ court in a secure van, where an application was made for a further warrant of detention.

Police now have until Saturday afternoon before they have to charge or release the 46-year-old.

Following media reports, Powsy County Council confirmed today that Mr Bridger attended a parents’ evening at April’s school just hours before she disappeared. He has two children at Machynlleth CP School.

The grim news about Mr Bridger’s arrest was revealed by Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan at a press conference in Aberystwyth.

While this is a significant development in the investigation, I once again appeal to the public for information which may help us find April. Det Supt Reg Bevan, Dyfed-Powys Police

He said: “Mark Bridger has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of April Jones. He remains in custody at Aberystwyth Police Station where he continues to be questioned. The arrest does not detract from our efforts to find April and we remain committed to finding her.

“Her family has been informed of this development and as you would expect they continue to be supported by a family liaison officer.

“While this is a significant development in the investigation, I once again appeal to the public for information which may help us find April.

“We are looking to trace the movements of Mark Bridger between 6.30pm on Monday and 3.30pm on Tuesday and any sightings of him between these times.

“We also need information regarding the movements of the blue Land Rover Discovery registration L503 MEP between these times.”

Members of the public have been involved in the search for April, but Superintendent Ian John said they were no longer needed.

He said: “The dynamics of the search have now changed and due to the passage of time and the developments within the investigation, it is no longer appropriate for us to expect untrained members of the public to continue the search.”

Time pressure

Officers were under time pressure to charge or release Mr Bridger. Dyfed-Powys Police had to make a decision by 5.00pm this afternoon or apply for a further 24-hour detention warrant.

They are reportedly being helped by one of the world’s leading forensic psychologists who advised British and Portuguese police in the search for Madeleine McCann.

Joe Sullivan is giving officers advice on interviewing Mr Bridger, according to the Times.

April Jones has been missing from her home in Machynlleth in mid Wales since Monday evening. Mark Bridger is being held at Aberystwyth police station.

Police are trying to piece together his movements from 5.00pm on Monday until his arrest at 3.30pm on Tuesday.

Land Rover

April was seen willingly getting into what is believed to be a Land Rover Discovery on the Bryn-y-Gog estate where she lives at 7.00pm on Monday.

Mr Bridger, 46, from Machynlleth, drives a Land Rover Discovery which was found at a local repair garage on Tuesday and is being forensically examination.

Search teams have been concentrating on areas of thick forest and a small farmhouse in the village of Ceinws where Mr Bridger has been living.

There has been activity inside the cottage and outside, where paving slabs have been lifted up.

In a symbolic gesture of continued hope, people living in the area have been wearing pink ribbons and decorating their homes and cars with them.

“It is a symbol of the hope that April is going to come back and we are all still optimistic,” said Machynlleth Mayor Gareth Jones.