Mark Bridger, the ex-abattoir employee, the chief suspect in the April Jones murder case, has voiced to the Mold Crown Court that he was “probably responsible” for the 5-year-old April Jones’ death. Nonetheless, Mark Bridger pleaded not guilty to abduction, murder and perverting the path of justice during his appearance at the Mold Crown Court.

This rather complex submission of Mark Bridger to the Mold Crown Court was elucidated by his barrister, who stated that his client’s defence would consist of him confessing that he probably killed April Jones. During the proceedings at the Mold Crown Court regarding the April Jones disappearance and murder case, the child’s parents, Coral and Paul, heard the testimony of Mark Bridger. It was the first time that April Jones’ parents had come in person with Mark Bridger since Bridger was charged with April Jones’ murder and kidnapping.

April Jones, prior to her disappearance, was last seen on October 1, 2012, frolicking on her bicycle close to her residence on the Bryn-y-Gog estate in Machynlleth, mid-Wales. Mark Bridger, who dwelled close by, was detained the subsequent day, but April Jones’ body was never detected and the search for her continues.

Mark Bridger was subsequently charged with April Jones’ murder and kidnapping and of illegally disposing of and hiding her corpse to obstruct the path of justice.

The judge, Justice Griffith-Williams, disapproved the defence application for the April Jones murder trial to be moved, with the judge commanding that the April Jones murder and disappearance trial occur at Mold Crown Court, starting on February 25. The trial is expected to continue four weeks. The Mold Crown Court heard that, during the April Jones murder trial, the jury would be transported to the locale, where April Jones was last witnessed alive.

The April Jones abduction and murder case triggered widespread grief and sympathy for the child and her parents, with hundreds of people joining the search for April Jones. Notwithstanding massive police resources being used to detect April Jones’ remains, nothing has been discovered yet. The Dyfed-Powys Police force has remarked that 16 search squads are connected to the operation to find April.