Mother’s last moments with April Jones

Coral Jones told the trial of April’s alleged murderer, Mark Bridger, that they had allowed April to go and play on her bike with a friend in the early evening – and had never seen her again.

Outlining the events of 1 October 2012, she described how she had collected April from school and taken her for a swimming lesson at the local leisure centre.

I told her I didn’t want her out for long. I think it was about 7pm and that was the last time I saw her. Coral Jones

The family returned to their home, in the town of Machynlleth, where April had eaten her dinner and watched her favourite Disney film. She had then asked to go and play with a friend.

“Paul and I said no, she wanted to take her bike to her friend’s next door,” Mrs Jones said. “She kept on and on and had a little tantrum and I eventually gave in so she went next door to play.

“I told her I didn’t want her out for long. I think it was about 7pm and that was the last time I saw her.”

‘Frantic’

Twenty minutes later Mrs Jones sent her son to collect April.

“Within a very short time he came running home and he was in a hysterical state,” Mrs Jones said. “When I calmed him down he said that April’s friend had seen her getting into a car with a man and that she had gone.

I went out and searched around the estate, everywhere I could think of. I even look in the bins. Coral Jones describing her search for her daughter

“I immediately went over and asked April’s friend what she had seen. I was told that April had got into a car with a man and he had driven off.”

Mrs Jones called the police straight away. “I was so upset I do not remember much of what was said,” she said. “I think I spoke to the police for a little while then gave the phone to my friend.

“I went out and searched around the estate, everywhere I could think of. I even looked in the bins. I asked a friend to drive me around in my car.

“I was frantic, trying to find her. The police turned up very quickly and then I was answering questions about her.”

CCTV evidence

The jury at Mold Crown Court was also shown CCTV footage, plotting the movements of April and Bridger on the fateful day, as well as Bridger’s movements on the following day.

The images show April at a leisure center in the Welsh town of Machynlleth from 4.50pm. The five-year-old is seen playing with friends and going in and out of the leisure centre cafe – before leaving the centre at 5.40pm.

Footage of Bridger shows him driving to and from his home in his Land Rover. An image from 4.48pm shows Bridger driving past a local garage towards Machynlleth. Earlier in the week an eye-witness told the court he saw Bridger driving towards his home past the same garage at 7.20pm (above).

Helicopter footage also followed Bridger walking his dog down his street the day after April’s disappearance (video, below).

Bridger is on trial for the abduction and murder of April, as well as for perverting the course of justice by destroying or disposing of her body. He denies the charges, saying he accidentally killed her when he hit her with his car, and that he does not remember what he did with her body.

He says he was suffering from memory loss caused by alcohol and panic.

The prosecution case is that Bridger abducted and murdered April in a “sexually motivated” attack. The jury has also been shown evidence that Bridger had images of children on his computer at home, including pictures of murdered schoolgirls Holly and Jessica Chapman.

Jurors have been told how traces of blood matching April’s DNA were found in Bridger’s living room, hallway and bathroom.

The case continues.