After a three week hearing, the jury in the case of Joanna Yeates’ death has returned a guilty verdict
After a three week hearing, the jury in the case of Joanna Yeates’ death has returned a guilty verdict.
The six men and six women of the jury at Bristol Crown Court returned a 10-2 majority verdict, after three days of deliberation, finding Vincent Tabak guilty of Joanna Yeates’ murder.
Tabak, who lived next door to Jo Yeates in Canynge Road, Clifton, had admitted to manslaughter by strangling but insisted that her death had been an accident.
TABAK ADMITS KILLING JOANNA YEATES
The 25-year-old landscape gardener’s body was found on Christmas Day last year, covered in snow and abandoned in a country lane.
Vincent Tabak, the 33-year-old Dutch engineer, lived in the adjoining flat to Yeates and tried to kiss her after she made what he described as a 'flirty comment.' The jury were told how Yeates then screamed and Tabak put a hand around her neck in an attempt to stop her.
The well built, 6’4” Tabak claimed he used 'moderate force' but that after a short time, Yeates felt limp and collapsed to the floor.
VINCENT TABAK BRANDED 'DISGUSTING' BY HIS LAWYER
It has now been revealed that police found pornographic films on Tabak’s home and work computers featuring women being choked. There were also naked images of a woman who looked strikingly like Joanna Yeates. Police say that Tabak may have moved from 'observer to perpetrator' after viewing the films.
This information was kept from the jury during the trial to avoid prejudicing their decision but after the verdict had been delivered, the judge, Mr Justice Field, gave consent for it to be made public.
Sentencing is yet to be confirmed but Tabak faces life in prison.
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