Landlord held over Yeates murder

A 65-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of landscape architect Joanna Yeates.

Police said the man was arrested just after 0700 GMT at an address in Canynge Road, in the Clifton area of Bristol, where 25-year-old Miss Yeates lived.

Miss Yeates’ body was discovered on Christmas Day, eight days after she disappeared. She had been strangled.

The arrested man is understood to be her landlord, Chris Jefferies, who lives in a flat above hers.

Miss Yeates was last seen alive on 17 December, when she was seen on CCTV visiting an off licence and two supermarkets near her home.

Her boyfriend, Greg Reardon, with whom she lived, reported her missing two days later when he returned home from visiting family in Sheffield.

Miss Yeates’ body was found in Longwood Lane, in Failand near Bristol, by a couple walking their dogs.

Mr Jefferies is being detained for questioning at a police station within the Avon and Somerset force area.

A police spokesman said: “Detectives investigating Joanna’s murder are continuing to carry out forensic examinations, and are also continuing to appeal for anyone with any information that can help the enquiry to call the Operation Braid incident room.”

Police are removing a silver car from the street where Joanna lived and are also focusing on a second vehicle in the street.

Miss Yeates’ keys, mobile phone, purse and coat had been left behind at her flat and forensic examiners have said there was no sign of a forced entry or a struggle at the property.

Mr Jefferies, 65, reportedly told police he saw three people, one of whom he believed was the landscape architect, leaving the Victorian block of flats.

The retired public school teacher said he spotted the trio shortly after 2100 GMT on 17 December, not long after Miss Yeates arrived home alone, as he parked his car in the street.

Mr Jefferies reported the sighting to police who have confirmed they are examining the evidence.

But speaking outside his home yesterday, Mr Jefferies denied he had told police he saw Miss Yeates leaving with two unidentified people.

Miss Yeates is known to have left the Ram pub, on Park Street, at about 2000 GMT on the night she disappeared.

Police have issued CCTV images of her then visiting a Waitrose store on The Triangle, a Bargain Booze shop, and a Tesco Express near her flat.

She bought a pizza at the Tesco store but while the receipt was found at her flat, no trace has been found of the food or its wrapper.

Crimestoppers has offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of her killer.

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