General Chat

Seems the landlord, he of the catweasel hairdo, is being interviewed by police over the murder of Joanna Yeates in Bristol. He has been arrested under suspicion of her murder.

It had to be someone close to Jo who knew her I thought all along or she wouldn't have left her keys etc on the table and gone out without a coat. How could this man, if indeed it was him, expect to get away with such an awful deed?

I hope things become clear very soon to ease the pain for her family so that they don't have to wait longer for the murderer to be found.

Lizx

I thought that he looked a bit funny when he was interviewed on sky news last night. Well he was not really interviewed they did try to but it seemed he did did not want to talk to the camera, I just did not like the look of him.

I hope for the sake of Jo's family that the police have got the right man, nothing can bring their darling daughter back, but knowing that the police have worked so hard over chistmas must help them.

lynn

I am amazed at the way he told police he saw some people leaving her flat then tried to say he didn't say she was with them, or words to that effect, said he had been misreported in what he said, and next thing you know he is under arrest! Maybe he wanted to be caught, seems odd, you would expect him to keep quiet.

A quick result if it is the correct person held, will make things easier for the family to cope with than a long drawn out search for the murderer but of course it will never make things right and the Yeates family will always be missing Jo.

So sad for the family, I would think that Christmas is off the calender for them from now on.

Lizx

Its a very sad and very sorry business. The landlord has been arrested, but not charged according to local radio, I assume they will be applying for an extension to question him or will release him later.

Whilst the whole thing is a terrible business, part of me hopes they have arrested the right man as its not nice walking back to the car after work in the dark, even though I work about 2 miles away from where it happened.

My thoughts are with the family who must be suffering terribly, and if this wasnt bad enough they will probably never be able to Celebrate Christmas again either :(

Unless that body carried his DNA (Jo's body that is) I think they may have difficulty pinning it on him. he owned the flat she lived in, more than a fair chance his DNA will be in her flat - the fact that it is/maybe will prove very little.

I'm not convinced they have the right person myself

I dunno Penny, he is a bit exentric but thats no reason to arrest him - but he did change his story which is worrying - at one point he told the police he saw her outside her flat with two or three other people, later he denied saying it. But again confusion isnt a crime. I just hope they find the evidence and charge someone soon.

It is a sad case, but if the landlord turns out to be the killer it just goes to show that you are more likely to suffer harm at the hands of family, friends or aquaintances than from a stranger.

If Jo's DNA is found in his car, that will be the evidence they need. I think they said his car had been clocked on the cameras on the bridge at the relevant time but that wouldn't be enough as he would have every right to cross the bridge. If he did it I am glad they caught him but so far he is innocent until proved guilty so we shouldn't jump to conclusions. He did seem a bit strange I must admit. Maddycow I sympathise with you, it must be frightening.

Well he is being held until Monday according to the news so there must be some grounds for that extension being granted. Another neighbour who helped Jo's boyfriend start his car to go away for the weekend, at the request of the landlord, has been interviewed by Police and things taken from cars and flats.

The police are also looking into an unsolved murder in 1974 of a young woman found strangled just a few streets from Jo's flat, but I understand the landlord bought his property from the College/school he worked for 20 years ago, so not sure where he lived before that.

I hope things get sorted out very soon to help the family come to some kind of closure - when an investigation drags out for months on end and no light at the end of the tunnel, it must make things so much harder for the family to cope with.

Lizx

Brian, I think it is a proven case that most incidents of whatever severity are by people known to the victim rather than a chance encounter.

Far too much violence in the world however it happens tho, heartbreaking to hear things on the news and frustrating that we can't make things right.

Lizx

I read ex in yesterdays papers that tennents have told the police that the landlord would not let any of his tennents put up nets at the windows and they would catch him looking in at them at odd times.

I hope that IF it is him the police charge him soon.

Landlord has been released on bail.

Ex tenants have also said that he would let himself into their flats using spare keys when they were out.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12103905
A man arrested over the murder of landscape architect Jo Yeates has been released on police bail.
Her landlord Chris Jefferies, 65, was being questioned by Avon and Somerset Constabulary after being arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday.
In a statement on its website, the force said: "A 65-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on police bail."

Det Ch Insp Phil Jones issued a renewed appeal to the public for information.
"Firstly I would like to reassure the public that this investigation is very much ongoing," he said.
"We have a team of over 70 police officers and staff working tirelessly to bring the person responsible for Jo's death to justice.
"I would once again urge anyone who may not have called us to make contact with one of my officers and provide us with any information you may have. You may think your information is insignificant but please let us decide."



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12100015
The attorney general is considering issuing a notice to remind the media that coverage of the arrest in the Jo Yeates murder inquiry must be fair.

Miss Yeates' landlord Chris Jefferies was arrested on Thursday, five days after her body was found in snow three miles from their Bristol flats.

The Contempt of Court Act restricts publication of information that could seriously prejudice a future trial. Attorney General Dominic Grieve said if necessary he would take action.
In an interview for BBC Radio 4's World At One on Friday, Mr Grieve said: "We are considering what I've seen in newspapers today, and we will try to take such action as is right to ensure that the course of justice is not in any way impeded."

Mr Grieve - the government's most senior legal officer - said it was not only newspapers which had to be careful about the sort of material published.
"Newspapers are under a legal obligation, indeed all media is under a legal obligation, in fact everybody who puts something on the internet is under a legal obligation, to observe the principles of the Contempt of Court Act," he said.

Letting himself in when tenants were out is illegal, they should give I think it is 24 hrs notice that they want to go in and why there is a need.

In the statement of the boyfriend, he seems to stand up for the landlord.
Quote:
''Jo's life was cut short tragically but the finger-pointing and character assassination by social and news media of as yet innocent men has been shameful.

''It has made me lose a lot of faith in the morality of the British Press and those that spend their time fixed to the internet in this modern age.

''I hope in the future they will show a more sensitive and impartial view to those involved in such heart-breaking events and especially in the lead-up to potentially high-profile court cases.

''I hope you all have a happy new year. We look out into 2011 with a fresh approach to life in Jo's memory and hope that, for her sake, justice is found swiftly.''

Given that he has now been released on Police bail, the evidence against him must be flimsy to say the least. I am increasingly of the opinion that the media should be banned from passing opinion whilst investigations of any kind are underway.

Is what is being said on this thread any different to what the media is doing. Guilty because he looks a bit odd, didn't want to talk to the media, don't like the look of him etc? May well be him......or not.

S

Good Morning to All, and a Happy New Year.
I sincerely would like to think that not all the '70 policeman team', were deployed on the questioning of the Landlord, and that they had not been stood down and were carrying on their searches.
To me, and it is just my opinion, the questioning of the Landlord was taking too long, and I was becoming doubtful of his guilt.
It is to be hoped that, whilst this infinitely long questioning was going on, the detectives still had their 'finger on the pulse of things', and bring in the real suspect. Someone must have been 'resting on his laurels', thinking he would get away with it, now the Landlord had been pulled in.
I hope this makes sense.
All The Best
Julia in Derbyshire

Makes perfect sense Julia.

This is the paragraph that we should all be aware of.


Mr Grieve - the government's most senior legal officer - said it was not only newspapers which had to be careful about the sort of material published.
"Newspapers are under a legal obligation, indeed all media is under a legal obligation, in fact everybody who puts something on the internet is under a legal obligation, to observe the principles of the Contempt of Court Act," he said.

Good Morning Ann, and Happy New Year
Yes, I agree. We must all be ever vigilant in what we say in this matter.
Take Care
Julia in Derbyshire

Off to make my first foray of the year, in the garden centre. Well, I do get a nice ride out, and a lovely lunch.