Re: April Jones
 

No, the man has been held and is Accused. He may be innocent, but I don't imagine he is.
However until he is formally charged then tried and convicted he has to be considered innocent. It's how our justice system works.

I was annoyed that some of our members have already decided that Jimmy Saville was guilty of many crimes, with no evidence just say so and this man is not.

I am sure once due process is done Bridger, I am sure, will be spending a long time in a prison.

For the record Wallop, when I heard of her disappearance I prayed for her safety. The last time I prayed was when I was a child over 30 years ago. So I do have respect for them.

Re: April Jones
 

Yes he could be another Colin Stagg perhaps. The media is very emotive showing photos of the child missing then this guys mug shot - makes people feel angry and want to see action. The news has not said they have any DNA or any evidence at all. Just that this guy was at parents event attended by the missing kids parents and saw her given extra-comendation!

Re: April Jones
 

Absolutely right, but of course the media have already decided who's guilty.
Of ourselves the Police, will wait as long as possible before bringing charges, helping build their case

Re: April Jones
 

we probably all presume he's guilty,so why have the police arrested him so quickly ?

Re: April Jones
 

My son in law was CSI on that case, the evidence was overpowering

Re: April Jones
 

This is one of the problems in cases such as this. The pressure on the police to solve the case quickly is intense. Sometimes this "forces" them to make an arrest without having done the often painstaking investigating. Sometimes they manipulate evidence ... I know this is illegal, but they feel the heat from the mob. This happenened in Canada with a similar case: the rape and murder of an eight year old girl. They arrested the wrong man ... he was convicted. Problem is ... and it is a serious one ... the real killer is still out there.


Guy Paul Morin: One of the best known wrongly convicted person exonerated in Canada

Of cours, there is probably a hell of a good chance that he is guilty.

Re: April Jones
 

He has been charged on the advice of the CPS, with murder, child abduction and trying to pervert the course of justice. Apparently there is sufficent evidence for the charges to be made

Re: April Jones
 

I know they probably can't for legal purposes but I wish they would elaborate on 'sufficient evidence', though I guess that would be unfair on her family to have it pubic knowledge yet. I do struggle with comprehending the justice system and their ablities to charge without solid evidence, although I guess if it were my child I would most likely see it from a completely different perspective.

Re: April Jones
 

The CPS will have instructed them that they have a reasonable case to bring to trial. Giving out the evidence will be prejudicial to his defence. Using the comments in this thread alone, it's already going to be difficult enough to find a jury that aren't armed with a prejudice to string him up. To disclose details now would make it very easy for his defence to argue that the jury cannot reasonably judge on evidence alone without being prejudiced by media reports. Which would mean that the case would be prolonged unnecessarily.

In the long run it's better for the family that we don't know, because the trial will be held so much quicker.

Re: April Jones
 

Thank you Guinness that makes sense.

Re: April Jones
 

From what I read in your papers, the cops had to bust him. Either that, or let him walk. I believe they had an hour left to go when they arrested him.

Re: April Jones
 

What started out as a wonderful day being given a glowing school report which led to a treat of being allowed to play out a little later with friends will haunt her parents forever.

Years ago we were led to believe that the abolishment of capital punishment would encourage an immediate confession from those who took a life because the threat of the noose had been taken away. The police believe they have the perpetrator, but as we can see it's taken several days for the forensic search to be concentrated on one specific place. Thus on the face of it the premise of immediate confessions is a false premise.

Re: April Jones
 

Am I alone thinking the police have arrested this man too quickly ? I am the first to admit I am a doubting Thomas , but I really do feel uncomfortable at the speed this man has been arrested. One or two things puzzle me. IF this man really did take April ( and I am not saying he didn't ) would he take her in front of other children ? surely living in a village everybody knows everybody, the other children said April got in a grey van . Yet police took a blue range rover from his garage.Things just don't add up to me,however I do trust forensics and hope they have done their job right. One day I think Crimewatch will reveal how this crime was solved, I look forward to it, meanwhile , this man has to go to court and the jury do their job. Maybe we will learn more then.Meanwhile I hope April is found .

Re: April Jones
 

Good points. When Huntley was nicked over the Soham murders - they released the reasons why in the press, that they found clothing from the girls in some bins at Huntley's house. So why in this case have they not revealed what evidence they have to hold and charge this character?

Also surely if he's been caught for several days why has he not divulged what he's done with the girl?

Re: April Jones
 

maybe they only have "little" evidence, and dont want to release any details

and if he has done it, then if no body is found a conviction will be harder to come by.