April Jones Murder : Mark Bridger is Guilty

30 May 2013, 13:33 | Updated: 31 May 2013, 07:35

April vanished while playing on her bike near her home in Machynlleth, mid-Wales, on October 1 last year and her body has never been found.

A jury of nine women and three men convicted 47 year old Mark Bridger  of abducting and murdering April and of unlawfully disposing of and concealing her body with intent to pervert the course of justice. The disappearance of April, who had cerebral palsy, sparked a massive outpouring of support for her family, with hundreds of people joining in the search.

The jury returned the unanimous verdicts following four hours and six minutes of deliberations. From the dock, Bridger, wearing a blue shirt and spotted tie, looked nervous before the verdicts were read. He closed his eyes and appeared to hold back tears as the guilty verdicts were read. April's parents Paul and Coral , who have attended every day of the month-long trial, were following the verdicts from the public gallery, on a balcony overlooking the court room. Mrs Jones appeared to wipe away tears as the verdicts were announced. The verdicts were greeted with complete silence from the public gallery.