Why mark bridger is a suspect

He also denies concealing, disposing of or destroying her body, which has never been found. The prosecution has said his motive was sexual but Bridger says he accidentally knocked April over in his Land Rover, panicked, put the body in the vehicle and cannot remember what he did with it. Glyn, head of the primary school in Machynlleth, told the court that Bridger's daughter was a pupil at the school, and he was at a parents' evening on 1 October.

Speaking in Welsh, she told the jury that his appointment was for 5. She said Bridger was "always courteous at all times, charming … even charismatic" but she thought it was "odd" that she spotted him talking to a teenager for about 10 minutes.

It appeared odd. She added: "I know that Mr Bridger had a history of relationships with young mothers … It appeared strange to me that an adult was talking to a young girl from the secondary school. Explaining why she was struggling to remember some details, the headteacher said there had been "so much trauma" following April's disappearance. She said she saw Bridger a second time that evening when he came to her office to give her his new address — Mount Pleasant in Ceinwys, where April's blood has been found.

Glyn said he had leaned against the door frame rather than going into the office. She said it had been "a bit weird" and after dinner she went out again to see if she could see him but could not. The girl said she had seen April near both the locations where she spotted Bridger. In a police statement read to court, the girl's mother said she had called her daughter on her mobile at 5.

The girl told her this was Bridger. April was last seen at around 7. The jury heard a statement from the teacher of Bridger's daughter. Bridger had been at a parents' evening at her school on 1 October. The teacher, Eleanor Holt, said: "Mark seemed his normal self. Also read to the jury was a string of statements from people who told police they had seen Bridger on the evening April went missing.

Officers who went inside looking for April described the cottage as "uncomfortably hot" and smelling strongly of detergent, air freshener and cleaning fluids, the prosecution said. Clothes had recently been cleaned and Bridger - who denies abduction, murder and concealing the child's body - had shaved his head and trimmed his beard.

On the second day of the prosecution opening Elwen Evans QC said "lies and tears appear to come easily to the defendant" who she said was "forensically aware" and "manipulative". April's blood stains were found on the underneath of a carpet, on grouting on the floor tiles as well as on the washing machine. He had earlier been seen carrying a black plastic bag and acting suspiciously in a layby near his home. When challenged over his behaviour he said he "had stopped for a wee". Miss Evans said it was an explanation he used again later.

He told police that it was possible that April's DNA was on his penis because he had carried her and later gone to the toilet. A swab of his penis did not find any forensic material from the missing girl. However, some DNA which might have come from April was found inside the front crotch area of the track suit trousers which he was wearing when he was arrested, it was claimed.

He revealed that emails had been received from as far afield as South Africa and New Zealand - with a church in Texas even making a donation. But the hunt continued today, with investigating officers revealing police numbers on the ground were doubled this morning. Night-time search efforts have been suspended, with the shift in manpower being described as a change of "resources rather intensity". Superintendent Ian John, who was in court for Bridger's hearing this morning, paid tribute to mountain rescue volunteers "who have worked themselves to a standstill in the search for April".

Mr John, who has led the search for the missing schoolgirl, said: "We are upping our numbers to 18 teams which will be over officers. Welsh Secretary David Jones also hailed the "tremendous community spirit" of the people of Machynlleth. Addressing the Conservative Party conference, he asked activists in Birmingham to "spare a few thoughts today for April Jones, her family and the officers of Dyfed-Powys Police and the search and rescue services".

ES Money. The Escapist.