martes, 4 de enero de 2011

Joanna: More than one killer? - The Sun

TRAGIC Joanna Yeates may have been murdered by more than one attacker, police say.

And they have not ruled out a sexual motive to the crime.

Officers, who have received 1,300 tip-offs, revealed they were hunting a light-coloured 4x4 seen on the night Jo, 25, vanished near where her body was later found in Bristol.

The police chief in the murder hunt has promised he will solve the mystery - as his officers desperately scrutinise new leads.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Jones outlined the mountainous task his team faces as he admitted he still did not know where and when Jo was strangled.

He said his 70 officers were sifting through 1,300 tips and scraps of information that have poured in from the public, and had already watched 100 hours of CCTV in the hunt for clues.

Since Jo's body was found they have established 900 lines of inquiry - with 239 of them rated as "high priority".

Mr Jones said: "I can assure you, we are determined to solve this crime and bring Jo's killers to justice. No stone will be left unturned."

spacer
When asked if his use of "killers" indicated multiple suspects, he added: "I think that phrase emphasises the fact that I am not making any assumptions in this case. I am keeping an open mind."

Mr Jones said officers were now urgently trying to trace a light-coloured 4x4 that was seen on December 17, the night Jo vanished, near the remote Longwood Lane.

Eight days later on Christmas Day, Jo's snow-covered body was found in the lane by dog walkers.

Mr Jones said: "This 4x4 may be completely unconnected but I urge anyone in that car or any other driver in the vicinity that night to come forward."

Jo's 65-year-old landlord Chris Jefferies is the only named suspect in the murder inquiry so far.

The ex-public school teacher was arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday and bailed on Saturday.

Mr Jones said: "That person has been released on police bail and is therefore still a suspect."

Before his arrest Mr Jefferies allegedly said he may have seen Jo with two strangers near the entrance to her flat in Clifton, Bristol, on the night she vanished.

Neighbours said he told them he spotted three people at around 9pm, 15 minutes after Jo is believed to have arrived home from Christmas drinks with workmates.

Mr Jones said officers were still investigating Mr Jefferies' reported sighting but would not comment on whether it had fuelled a "multiple suspects" theory.

The DCI also said he could not rule out the possibility Jo's attacker or attackers had broken into her flat.

He added: "I'm satisfied Jo got back to her flat but I am not going to speculate whether she let someone into the flat, whether someone was already there or whether someone broke in.

"These are all lines of inquiry my team are pursuing.

"At this stage there is no evidence to suggest that Joanna was sexually assaulted.

"However I have not ruled out the possibility that there may have been a sexual motive."

Mr Jones admitted there were still significant gaps in his officers' knowledge of landscape architect Jo's last hours.

He said the frozen state of her body has delayed potentially vital forensic evidence.

Mr Jones also said a pizza and two bottles of cider Jo bought as she headed back to her flat on December 17 were still vital clues.

Advertisement

Police have not found either the pizza or its wrapping despite searching through 293 tons of rubbish from the area.

Yesterday forensic teams searched a large green rubbish bin outside Mr Jefferies' flat in Canynge Road.

A website set up by Jo's boyfriend Greg Reardon to collect cash for the Missing People charity has raised more than 1,500.

Many donors have left tributes to Jo.

Robert Tanti, an ex-housemate of architect Greg, said: "Jo, you were instantly likeable. You will forever live in our memories."

e.nash@the-sun.co.uk

No hay comentarios:

Publicar un comentario