Legal News
£20k appeal by April Jones murderer prompts backlash (17 December 2013)
Date: 17/12/2013
The man convicted of the murder of five-year-old April Jones is to launch an appeal against his sentence.
Mark Bridger, aged 47 – and the father of six children himself – received a life sentence in May for the murder of April, who was abducted from her home in the Welsh village of Machynlleth in October 2012.
April’s parents, Paul and Coral Jones, say they will attend the initial hearing at the Court of Appeal in London on 24 January.
The publicly funded appeal has prompted a backlash over the estimated legal cost of £20,000, plus court costs.
Convicted criminals are entitled to access to the courts and legal services while in prison, as well as Legal Aid.
Bridger is serving a whole life tariff, under which he will not be eligible for parole.
April’s mother has accused her daughter’s murderer of “torturing” her by launching the appeal against his sentence:
'He's just torturing my family with these legal battles,” said Mrs Jones.
It's like he's taunting us, like he wants to show he's got the upper hand.
“It’s disgusting,” she added. “He's in prison where he belongs and he should stay there.”
April’s body has never been found. Bridger claims he accidentally ran over April and maintains he cannot not remember what he did with her body because he panicked.
The initial hearing at the Court of Appeal will decide whether Bridger will be allowed to take the appeal against his sentence forward.