5 Year old missing in Wales.

[petey]

I can't make head nor tail of this at all.  He pleads not guilty to all 3 charges, so he either didn't take her in the car, murder her and dispose of the body, or he did take her in the car, murder her and dispose of the body.  If he did not murder April, then all I can think of is he knows who she was with, and did nothing to protect her from harm.  Unless he is claiming insanity and saying he cant remember anything.  Can anyone else think of a reason why he would be "probably responsible"?  Did anyone see him on the news?  Was that patches he was wearing?

A possible explanation could be that she willingly came with him (therefore not guilty to abduction) and he allowed her / encouraged to play next to a fast moving river. She fell in. After initial attempts to get her out failed he did nothing and did not tell anyone what happened. Her body was swept away to an as yet unknown location.

This would mean he could plead not guilty to murder or disposal of her body but his inaction did probably cause her death.

Note this is pure speculation from me. Apologies if it offends anyone

[nugnug]

sounds like a reasonble explanation petey

only problem with it is he wouldent be probebly responsible he would be responsible.

but i understand what you mean it may be a varation on that.

[petey]

sounds like a reasonble explanation petey

only problem with it is he wouldent be probebly responsible he would be responsible.

but i understand what you mean it may be a varation on that.

If something similar did happen, he could still claim that he was not definitely responsible as he didn't physically push her into the river and in theory (ludicrous but he could claim it) he could say that he thought she would get out of the river further downstream.

[tyler]

What about if he is claiming some sort of breakdown/memory loss at the time of April's disappearance? Could that be a reason/excuse for him to plead not guilty?

[tyler]

MB is "conceding that he probably killed April".I'm definately guessing that he is going to allege that he had some kind of blackout/memory loss and "doesn't remember".

[nugnug]

are yes that could be it and that would be the only thing that would really fit with probably.

[Jo]

I can't really see how he's going to fight this with a view to be sucessful.
Say for instance, April walked off with MB and fell in the river and met her fate, if MB hadn't have asked her to walk with him, she wouldn't have been there and her being five years old isn't in a position to realise the potential danger she might be in, so even if MB physically didn't 'help' her in the water he is still responsible for the situation that occurred- April being lured to a situation which lead to her death, if that makes sense.

[nugnug]

hes a lifegaurd though i cant see him not rescuing someone who was drowning

[OnceSaid]

A possible explanation could be that she willingly came with him (therefore not guilty to abduction) and he allowed her / encouraged to play next to a fast moving river. She fell in. After initial attempts to get her out failed he did nothing and did not tell anyone what happened. Her body was swept away to an as yet unknown location.

This would mean he could plead not guilty to murder or disposal of her body but his inaction did probably cause her death.

Note this is pure speculation from me. Apologies if it offends anyone

When he was initially up in court, the judge said that she was aware of his "likely defence" due to what had been said in police interviews.  This was before he had even made a plea.  It is possible that he told a similar story to what you have suggested may have happened.

[OnceSaid]

MB is "conceding that he probably killed April".I'm definately guessing that he is going to allege that he had some kind of blackout/memory loss and "doesn't remember".

Hi Tyler, was the claim not that he was probably responsible for her death?

[Jo]

Of course, thats if April went in the water but I have no idea what happened. I seem to remember at the time the rivers were pretty swollen, I'd be doubtful of even a competent swimmer diving in if it was fast flowing and it being October or there abouts.

[OnceSaid]

I can't really see how he's going to fight this with a view to be sucessful.
Say for instance, April walked off with MB and fell in the river and met her fate, if MB hadn't have asked her to walk with him, she wouldn't have been there and her being five years old isn't in a position to realise the potential danger she might be in, so even if MB physically didn't 'help' her in the water he is still responsible for the situation that occurred- April being lured to a situation which lead to her death, if that makes sense.

I would like to think that if he is responsible in any way, even if it were a tragic accident, that he will do the right thing and accept responsibilty and not fight anything.

[Jo]

Me too. The parents need to know what happened to their little girl and they also need to know where to look for her, she deserves a respectful funeral and her parents some 'closure' if thats the right word, not that they'll ever get over it. I can think of nothing worse.

[petey]

I can't really see how he's going to fight this with a view to be sucessful.
Say for instance, April walked off with MB and fell in the river and met her fate, if MB hadn't have asked her to walk with him, she wouldn't have been there and her being five years old isn't in a position to realise the potential danger she might be in, so even if MB physically didn't 'help' her in the water he is still responsible for the situation that occurred- April being lured to a situation which lead to her death, if that makes sense.

It depends how you outline 'success'.

The situation I described would mean he is not guilty of murder and not guilty of manslaughter. If anything, he would be guilty of a much lesser charge.

[nugnug]

he still how can plead probably responsible.

i mean you ether accept responsibility or you don't.