April Jones parents' agony over body
The parents of five-year-old April Jones have spoken of their fear that killer Mark Bridger may never reveal where their daughter's body is.
Paul and Coral Jones said there is "no way" that Bridger will tell them where their daughter is – and they will not give him the satisfaction of asking.
Bridger, 47, kidnapped April from near her Machynlleth home before sexually abusing her, murdering her and then disposing of her body last October. He will spend the rest of his life in jail after a jury yesterday found him guilty of abducting and murdering April.
Mrs Jones said: "It's the not knowing that's the hardest part. It's my worst nightmare come true.
"We haven't got a body to give April a proper burial and that breaks my heart.
"Lots of people have questioned him, but he's refused to tell us all along. If he's lied to police, barristers, the judge, there's no way he will tell me where my little girl is."
Police believe Bridger dismembered April's body before dumping the body parts at various locations in the hills, rivers and forests surrounding his home in Ceinws, near Machynlleth, after traces of her blood were found all over his rented cottage, along with bone fragments.
The couple hope the coroner will give them the bone pieces in order to carry out a symbolic funeral, it was reported today.
Mr Jones said: "It's all we've got and it's looking like all we'll ever get. It's so, so hard."
He added: "It was just a sexual fantasy for him at the end of the day, and our April paid for it with her life."
One of the most distressing parts of the trial for the couple was having to hear Bridger say their daughter's name, and refer to her as "little April".
Mrs Jones said: "He's put a hole in our heart. He ripped a happy family apart. He's evil."
Bridger, 47, was described by Judge Justice Griffith-Williams at Mold Crown Court as a pathological liar who harboured sexual and morbid fantasies about young girls. Bridger had denied abducting and murdering April and perverting the course of justice, but the jury of nine women and three men convicted him unanimously in four hours and six minutes.
Mr and Mrs Jones wiped tears from their eyes in the public gallery before making their way into the court room proper to hear the sentencing. Bridger closed his eyes and looked up as he was read the verdicts, while he nodded at the judge while being sentenced.
Bridger had claimed he had run over April as she played outside her home on the Bryn y Gog estate in Machynlleth at about 7.15pm on October 1 last year. But in reality he lured her into his Land Rover and brutally killed her in a sexually motivated attack.
