The April Jones trial has started

[NorthernLurker]

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.

I'm talking about playing in the street alone. I believe you know that. I don't know whether I would have left my child in the care of someone else by that age. Possibly not. That's my choice though.

The point is, she was not 'on the streets' - the area outside her house is like an extended garden. Secondly, if he had not taken April he would have taken another child. We know that the first child he approached was 10 - would you say a 10 year old shouldn't play outside??

It is very, very unfair to cast any blame on the parents just so you can feel that this would never happen to you.

As someone upthread said, pedophiles create opportunities.

What happened with that 10 year old? I believe she said she didn't want a sleep over and refused to go off with him. Not comparable.

She was not outside her house though, was she?

If it hadn't have been April, it would have been someone else? Nice.

5 is too young.

I'm really leaving now.

I think it's wrong to cast aspurtions over the parents parenting. We all do things differently, in different situations. Living in a small village i suspect they felt their daughter would feel safe, as most people would. I'm sure they are suffering enough as it is, and god only knows they probably regret letting her out that night themselves. Lets not talk badly of these parents, it's very wrong and lets not forget they could be reading it

victim blaming fucking victim blaming
one fucking person caused this
Mark Bridger
fuck off with blaming her parents they are going to suffer a lifetime of torment without sanctimonoius fuckers getting their sanctimonious tuppence worth on the internet.

'If it hadn't have been April, it would have been someone else? Nice.'

What do you mean nice? I am stating a fact. The police have said that they do not believe Bridger set out to target April specifically. He was determined to take a child that day.

'I don't know whether I would have left my child in the care of someone else by that age. Possibly not' - so how old is your child Kitty? Not five yet? Seriously - you're pontficating about this when you don't even know what it's like to raise a child of that age? That's pretty arrogant.

What hobnob said.

There is one thing and one thing only we can really say about April's parents: There but for the Grace of God go I.

Yes, absolutely - and yet some very stupid, smug people will NEVER understand that.

No the 'big factor', the only factor, in all those cases is criminal intent.

In this case it was 7pm not 2am. Lots of people around, a local area with lots of children playing and they allowed her out for a few minutes as a treat. The only thing that made that dangerous was Bridger's malign intent. I really don't understand why people need to keep harping on this topic. I say again - would you say that to April's mother?

There is one absolute truth in this case. If Bridger hadn't abducted and killed April, she would still be alive and well, just another anonymous five-year-old.

Knowing that, whose fault is her death? His, and his alone. There is only one "risk factor" for paedophilia and murder: the presence of a paedophile and murderer. Anything else is victim-blaming. And yes, those poor parents are victims just as April is.

I do hope they're not reading this thread.

Its not 'victim blaming' FFS, Of course Bridger is guilty here but examining the events and environment of a crime is not victim blaming its common sense.

People were very ready to tear Maddy's parents a new one over there neglect, why is this any different?
Like I said this happened to my own DF as a smaller child than here and would Strongly agree with everything I have said, which is a stronger case for my opinion than a few people bleating 'victim blamer'

Fgs I can't believe people are still blaming her parents! It was 7pmmshe was allowed out with friends as a treat! I am sure her parents bear themselves up enough without others blaming them as well.

There is nothing wrong with letting a five year old play out the front of their own house.

How cold can you get? The parents have no body to bury for heavens sake.
Lets try spelling this out one more time as you're plainly struggling for understanding as well as compassion. 7pm is a time on the clock. 5 yr olds do not turn in to pumpkins at 7pm nor do paedophiles only prey on children after dark. The time of day had nothing to do with this. It's the criminal who precipitated it.

That was to Octopus not 5madthings obviously

Octopus, this is nothing like maddies case ffs, how can you even compare it. Jeez, it was a small village in the middle of nowhere, you would think your child would be safe. Stop insulted the parents, they will be suffering enough without reading this shit for crying out loud!!!

at Octopus.

And Octopus have you been to that butcher's shop in Bootle Strand where James Bulger slipped away from his mum? I know exactly the shop as it was. It was a small rectangular shop, with the front completely open on a short end to the indoor shopping centre and a counter down one long side. There was always a long queue.

I can see exactly how a grumpy bored two year old can slip away from his mum. I can also see why his mum would think he couldn't get too far.

You cannot always factor into every decision you make, or eye you take off the ball, the presence of such evil. If you thought like that, you couldn't live your life. You'd never take your children out.

Ahem

Why are people so keen to mitigate the behaviour of those who do harmful things by transferring responsibility to others? Is it simply that they think they can ensure that bad things don't happen to those close to them? What a terrifying existence for them and those close to them...

Surely you don't think that all men are rapists and paedophiles? That's reserved for mythical-feminist, isn't it?

kitty

my DH is from a little island in the middle of nowehere, and kids play out day and night

I am from a large city and there is NO way I would let my DC play out (also 5) but in rural areas (globally) its VVVVV different, and we have to respect and acknowledge that

Octopus

Actually many of us thought, and continue to think, that the blaming of Madeleine McCanns parents was vile, unwarranted and tasteless. Your suggestion that everyone on here was ready to 'tear Maddys patents a new one' is completely incorrect.