Mark Bridger charged with the murder of April Jones

Machynlleth - April Jones is still missing and is now presumed dead. Mark Bridger, the only suspect to date, has now been formally charged with her murder.

April Jones disappeared from her Machynlleth home earlier this week. The 5 year old suffers from cerebral palsy and needs medication. The police and other authorities have concluded reluctantly that wherever she has been taken by her abductor, she is now dead. Mark Bridger was arrested early on in the investigation, initially on suspicion of kidnapping April, then, after the custody time limit ran out, this became a murder investigation. They had until 5pm today either to release or charge him, and have opted for the latter. He will appear before magistrates in Aberystwyth on Monday. Meanwhile, the search for April, or her body, continues. Unlike the USA, the legal authorities do not comment extensively on the guilt or otherwise of suspects until after any criminal trial, and the police certainly do not deliver a sermon in lieu of a press briefing as in the recent case of Cassidy Goodson. Therefore, nothing more can be said at this time, and probably there will be nothing much to report either until April's body is found or Bridger stands trial.