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Original poster

The April Jones trial has started

368 replies

NorthernLurker · 30/04/2013 13:27

The trial of Mark Bridger for the abduction and murder of April Jones plus some other charges has started today. From what I've read of the initial statements given by the prosecution, it's clearly going to be a very distressing case.
My thoughts are with all in court including the jury but most especially with April's parents who are in court. I don't know how they can bear it.

OP posts:
INeedThatForkOff · 30/05/2013 15:27

kitty I'm loathe to engage with you on this, and agree with the analogy that's already been made about the victims in other crimes such as rape. They are in no way to blame for the crimes perpetrated, as here, April's parents are not to blame for her abduction.

You have twice talked about a child being allowed to play out in the dark. I distinctly remember the evening she went missing. As I am fairy local, the pleas for help on Facebook started coming in very soon afterwards. Just a little earlier I had been snuggling my DD to sleep and had been pleased to notice that it was still light outside as for me, the beginning of October signifies the start of autumn and the nights drawing in. It was not dark.

stooshe · 30/05/2013 15:36

Anybody blaming the parents needs to know this. A paedophile does not only take advantage of opportunities presented to them, they MAKE opportunities. If not April Jones, it would have been somebody else's child . It's the determination of the paedophile that should ALWAYS be looked at. However, people seem to get a buzz out of trying to discern whether paedophilia is a sexual orientation (thereby giving it some cachet), whether paedophilia is learned behaviour(thereby suggesting that it can cured or modified). This man had no previous record, but I can guarantee that he has always been a paedophile. No ordinary person I know (even the ones who in my mind like too much "normal" porn) has sought out child porn for on the internet. The little that I know about that suggests that there are so m any hoops to jump through that a layperson can't ordinarily access it. I bet you my home that Bridger expected the "why was April out so late" brigade to come out to play as he killed April Jones. Paedophiles are if not anything else self justifiers of the highest order, anything to minimise and deflect the true horror of their actions. So I agree that blaming the parents and trying to look superior is not needed. I could tell you a story how I, not a stupid woman had an ex who was abusing his daughter under my roof. I reported my suspicions, his daughter denied it and he's gone onto another woman with a young child. He now takes the time to travel across town to be seen on MY road, knowing that I will hear this back. That's because no matter how many women, police and social workers he has managed to fool, he knows that I KNOW what he has done. I am not intimidated because I do not blame anybody else in his life (ex partners, the mother of his kids, myself, his daughter for not grassing, his extended family) for HIS behaviour. Victims of paedophilia, I feel can be as angry and point fingers wherever and as much as they want. The survivors know the dynamics within which they were abused. R.I.P April Jones.

MatersMate · 30/05/2013 15:55

Well said stooshe and thank god he'll never see the light of day again. :(

lottieandmia · 30/05/2013 16:16

I think that what this case shows is you just never know who might have an awful dark side that they keep hidden. This was a man who nobody suspected would be capable of a crime such as he committed.

Yet from what I have read about the trial, he sounds like a manipulative and dangerous man. I got sick of hearing reports of him breaking down during the trial when the parents of the little girl who should still be here today had to listen to it.

miemohrs · 30/05/2013 16:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

donnie · 30/05/2013 16:33

Northern's 13:48 post says it all.

donnie · 30/05/2013 16:39

He has been given a whole life tariff which means he can never endanger other children again. Apparently he will also be on rule 42 or whatever they call it for the rest of his life, so he isn't beaten and murdered by other prisoners.

I was just about to cite Monbiot's piece in the Guardian as well but I see I was beaten to it! it's a great piece and says a lot about the way certain communities see their children playing out all the time.

Oh and Angers: your comment that "I think a certain amount of blame has to be portioned (sic) to the parents" is especially vile and despicable. No doubt when your children are teens you will be chaperoning them around everywhere and accompanying them to the toilets in Sainsbury's? Like fuck you will.

hackmum · 30/05/2013 17:13

50 years ago (or less) it would have been quite normal for small kids to be playing out on the street with other kids. Machynlleth sounds that it's a bit like that - all the children go out to play in the evening with each other. April pleaded with her mum to be allowed to go out again, so her mum let her, for what she thought would be a short period of time.

If Bridger hadn't killed April, he'd have killed some other child. I think we can be fairly certain of that.

specialsubject · 30/05/2013 17:15

unbelievable to blame the parents. It wasn't dark, it is a small town where everyone knows everyone - and unfortunately it housed a murderer. THAT is where the blame lies.

the guy was clearly guilty as hell from the word go and I am only relieved to see justice done. And that it looks like the prison will 'not be able to remember' where they left the key.

no winners - but he won't kill again.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 30/05/2013 17:32

For shame those blaming the parents . I hope to God you never feel the utter despair and devastation that they will feel for the rest of their lives. One person is to blame in all of this Mark Bridger.

feeltheforce · 30/05/2013 17:38

What really frightens me is that a guy that was pretty well liked and judged normal, never on the police radar, was actually a dangerous and predatory paedophile. How many other communities are harbouring these kind of men? and how many more children will be taken? Why can't the powers that be get a grip on those accessing extreme porn on the internet, track them down and stop them?

Smudging · 30/05/2013 17:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lovecat · 30/05/2013 17:59

Kitty and Angers, you should be ashamed of yourselves, what spiteful vindictiveness to try and lay blame at the parents' door.

I doubt you will be, though, as it takes a certain thickness of skin and sense of self-righteousness to even form those thoughts, let alone take the time to post them on an internet forum Angry

LIZS · 30/05/2013 18:06

He may have a whole life sentence but so do her parents, bet a day doesn't go by when they wonder what if they hadn't let her go out that teatime :(

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 30/05/2013 18:14

Victim blaming is never acceptable or at least it shouldn't be.

CremeEggThief · 30/05/2013 18:23

I hope this evil fucking piece of shit gets what's coming to him inside. I really do.
I just wish I had the opportunity to spit in his face. Disgusting excuse for a human being.

The hurt he has inflicted on April, her family and that whole community will last for much longer than his life span. This is a case where the law just can't go far enough :(.

INeedThatForkOff · 30/05/2013 19:43

CremeEgg, I hear you there. I've always wholeheartedly believed in the innocent until proven guilty mantra, even early in this case. And then came the first day of the trial and the appalling weight if the evidence against him. Justice simply can't be done in this case.

Original poster
NorthernLurker · 30/05/2013 21:30

I think justice has been done. He had the opportunity to present a defence and a jury of his peers found him guilty. What we don't get is vengence. I'm a mother. What I would like is for him to suffer as he made her suffer, as her parents will suffer - and that's why I'm pleased the law doesn't it leave it up to me or to them. That said, Bridger will be spending the rest of his life in a restricted space with very dangerous men who've nothing to lose. Many of whom are parents too. Justice has been done.

OP posts:
onepieceoflollipop · 30/05/2013 21:38

21.30 NorthernLurker, yes agree entirely with what you said.

discussed this (briefly) with dd1 (9) earlier today. Told her that this man is now locked away for ever so he cannot harm other children (dd2 is 5)

RIP April Jones.

Thoughts and prayers with her parents, cannot begin to imagine their grief and loss.

fromparistoberlin · 30/05/2013 21:58

justice has been done

i cant even imagine how its affected their community

her parents
local families
and HIS kids, did he not have 6 kids? I guess locally, what a horrible scar it will place on his family too

duelling, i do get that but given his internet history.....I dont think it could have been an accident??

fromparistoberlin · 30/05/2013 22:00

"Why can't the powers that be get a grip on those accessing extreme porn on the internet, track them down and stop them?

I agree so so much and have posted same, are you telling me those cyber genuises that run our world could not work this out? I bet they coul, easily

bico · 30/05/2013 22:09

I agree that justice has been done. Heartbreaking for April's family and also for the lost innocence of a generation. I listened to a report this afternoon that said no children play outside any more in Machynlleth. I can't imagine that and I really think that sums up the effect this case has had on a community that has been changed forever.

KD0706 · 30/05/2013 22:41

I have just read April's mums victim impact statement (guardian website) and wept.
I cannot believe people are on here blaming the parents for what happened to that little girl. I agree with those who have said you should be ashamed of yourselves.

CremeEggThief · 30/05/2013 23:52

I agree the law went as far as it could, but it just can' t go far enough in this case :( :( :(.

scrappycrappy · 31/05/2013 00:09

The pity is that these monsters are protected in prison.