| UK news | The Observer
A 32-year-old neighbour of landscape architect Joanna Yeates has been charged with her murder in Bristol at Christmas, Avon and Somerset Police said tonight.
Vincent Tabak, a Dutch architectural engineer who was arrested on Thursday, will appear at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Monday accused of killing the 25-year-old.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Jones, who led the police inquiry, said tonight: "I would like to pay tribute to Jo's family and Greg for their assistance and dignity in the most difficult of circumstances."
"Their support to us has been invaluable."
Yeates' father hadsaid earlier today that his daughter and her boyfriend Greg Reardon had never mentioned Tabak. "As far as I know their paths never crossed," said David Yeates.
He added: "It would be good if the person they have arrested is the right one this time simply because then we wouldn't have to go through it all again. I have nothing personal against this man – I don't know him. We are just waiting now."
Tabak works in Bath for a company called Buro Happold, and moved to Bristol in 2009 from Bath. Police began searching his property, next door to Yeates' flat, on Thursday after setting up a tarpaulin supported by scaffolding outside the property in Clifton, Bristol.
Police had been granted a 30 hour extension to continue questioning Tabak in advance of their decision to charge him yesterday. Yeates' landlord, Chris Jefferies, was arrested on December 30 in connection with the murder but was later released on bail.
Yeates was last seen alive on Friday 17 December. She left the Ram pub near Bristol city centre, where she had been drinking with colleagues and walked back to her flat, stopping at three shops. After a search, her body was found on a rural roadside verge three miles from her home. She had been strangled.
“Chris Jefferies, 65, a former public schoolteacher from whom Ms Yeates and Mr Reardon rented their flat, was arrested on suspicion of murder on 29 December, but was released on bail three days later. He denies any involvement with Ms Yeates’s death.”
ReplyDeleteHe denies any involvement with her death – well of course he would.
When are the police going to bring him back in? I cannot believe they have left this freak back on the streets to do his evil.