A family and a community grieve for April Jones

Five-year-old April Jones disappeared on October 1, last year. Her body has not been found.

So, exactly a month after this trial began, the jury has decided Mark Bridger abducted April, murdered her and then did everything he could to cover up his heinous crime. It didn’t take them long to convict him, just four hours and six minutes.

It has been a difficult four weeks - some of the evidence hasn’t been easy to listen to. Journalists in court have all commented on the horrific nature of some of the images found on Bridger’s computer; the delicate age of the child witness who watched April get into Bridger’s vehicle needed careful consideration, just hearing her little voice really brought home just how tragic this case is and; hearing the 999 call Coral Jones made the night her daughter disappeared was extremely distressing. The voice of a panicked, frantic mother, who will now never see her child again will, I think, stay with me for a very long time

All that though, is nothing compared to what Coral and Paul Jones have been through this month, indeed the last eight months. One can only imagine how tortuous it must have been to sit in court day after day, listening to every detail of those fateful few days back in October. To relive that 999 call, to listen as forensic experts talked of her blood, her bone, her DNA found in Bridger’s house.

They too had to hear of the truly shocking indecent images of children found on his computer, sitting alongside photos of their own children. Perhaps most distressing of all for them though, is the determination of Bridger to stick to his story that he ran April over by mistake and forgot what he did with her body. Coral Jones left the court on numerous occasions as he continued to lie about what happened, just too unbearable to listen to.

April Jones went missing from near her home in Machynlleth in October, last year.

His unwillingness to tell the truth forced them to go through this trial on top of having to overcome the loss of their daughter. Not only has Bridger committed this horrific crime but he still refuses to give up any information about what he did with her, thereby denying April’s parents any sort of closure. They must now live with the knowledge her body is out there somewhere; they can’t simply lay her to rest or retrieve any peace from his tragic situation.

A church service was held for April in Machynlleth following her disappearance. Credit: Press Association.

The people of Machynlleth too are feeling their pain. The whole community came out to search for April, thousands of volunteers flocked to the local leisure centre to offer their services. For days on end the mood was upbeat and organised - they would find April. Sadly, that quickly changed when Bridger was charged with murder. Many of the community feel the town hasn’t been the same since. The Reverend Kathleen Rogers told me just a few weeks ago that a black cloud still hangs over the town and it will take a very long time for it to ever clear. They want justice,and perhaps today will give them a little of want they need.

Ribbons have adorned the town for months now - many tattered by the elements, others still pristine. But those small pink bows that became a symbol of her loss will now be taken down. A poignant moment perhaps, not a sign they will ever forget April but that they want to try and return to normal. What that normal is now, may well be a question the town’s residents ask themselves on a daily basis. At 47, Mark Bridger is unlikely to ever leave jail. For April’s parents it’s justice of sorts but they still lack the one piece of information they so dearly crave.