Mark Bridger: I didn't murder April Jones

Mark Bridger, 47, made the claim to police during his fifth interview, on October 4 – three days after April had disappeared.

Bridger had then been formally arrested on suspicion of the murder of April and for possession of child pornography. He denies murder.

After a break during the interview, he stated: "I didn't murder the little girl, I didn't murder her. It was an accident."

Bridger said: "When you came in before and said you were arresting me on suspicion of murder. . . I was initially relieved because at that point I honestly thought you had found her."

"You know where she is," the officer said.

He replied: "I don't know where she is. In my mind I've obviously put her somewhere and I can't get that back." Bridger told police that in the early hours of the day after April disappeared in Machynlleth, he was back at his house in Ceinws.

Mold Crown Court heard yesterday that Bridger told police in interviews: "I can't remember whether I slept or whether I just blanked out."

At the end of the interview, which took place on October 3 he said of her parents: "I would like to say to Paul and Coral, I never meant for this to happen, I never meant to put them through this. I have got kids of my own, I have known them for years."

Bridger often appeared to be crying and looked to the floor as the evidence was read out.

In another interview on October 3, he was told the police had a witness who saw April "talking to a man" and then getting into a Land Rover which then drove off. He said that account was wrong and claimed that a child of April's size would not have been able to get in without help.

Asked about the indecent images found on his laptop, he said he had been researching the adolescent development of one of his daughters.

The trial was adjourned until Monday.