By Luke Salkeld, Ryan Kisiel, Arthur Martin and Christian Gysin
Last updated at 4:48 PM on 22nd January 2011
- Neighbours say they believe suspect may have split from his girlfriend
- He went home two days after Jo was last seen alive
- DNA traces 'found underneath Jo's clothes'
- Police granted more time by magistrates to continue to question 32-year-old
The Dutch architect arrested on suspicion of the murder of Joanna Yeates recently split up with his girlfriend, it was claimed yesterday.
Vincent Tabak, 32, had lived with 34-year-old Tanja Morson in the flat next door to Miss Yeates.
But yesterday, as another witness spoke of hearing cries from the building on the night Miss Yeates disappeared, neighbours said they had not seen Miss Morson there for months, and suggested the relationship had come to an end.
Vincent Tabak with girlfriend Tanja Morson (circled) taking part in a 10k run. Neighbours believe the couple may now have split up
A police officer stands next to flowers placed outside the building where Jo Yeates lived while detectives and forensics officers continue their investigation of the property where Mr Tabak was staying
DNA TRACES 'UNDER JO'S CLOTHES'
DNA traces were found underneath Jo Yeates' clothes, it was reported today.
This indicates, for the first time, that she may have been sexually attacked.
Traces were allegedly discovered on her breasts, stomach and jeans, according to The Sun, all of which are thought to have been from the killer's saliva.
A source told the paper: 'The fact that DNA samples have been found on her bare body could well mean whoever murdered Jo tried to sexually assault her beforehand.'
If the reports are confirmed, these partial traces should be enough to rule out any suspects. But, it is believed, there is not enough there to prove guilt.
Until now, officers had said that there was no indication that Miss Yeates had been sexually attacked but said it was possible that the motive of the killer was sexual.
This week it emerged that detectives hunting the murderer had enlisted the help of the forensic laboratory which helped catch Rachel Nickell's killer.
Scientists were understood to be examining a 'partial' DNA sample found on Miss Yeates's strangled body. A police spokeswoman declined to comment.
Instead they recalled Tabak arriving and leaving the basement flat alone, with one commenting: 'The last time I saw her [Tanja] was around September.
'I assumed that they had split up as I hadn't seen her for so long.'
Another confirmed she had not seen Miss Morson for several months, while a third said: 'I'd seen the man but I hadn't really seen a girlfriend around in the weeks leading up to what happened.'
Yesterday, as detectives were granted extra time to question Tabak, Miss Morson turned up for work as usual at Dyson, in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, where she is a financial analyst. A colleague confirmed she was there, but was not taking calls.
Her father yesterday insisted that it was 'absurd' to suggest that Miss Morson and Tabak were no longer an item. But on the day Tabak was arrested he had been rather less sure about the status of his daughter's relationship with the suspect, saying: 'I do not know if he is her boyfriend or not. He's a boy, she's a girl and they are friendly with each other.'
Photos on Facebook show the couple had a fun and loving relationship. In one they pose in fancy dress at a summer festival and in another they are seen at a 10km run.
Neighbours on Canynge Road yesterday claimed Tabak had returned to his flat on the Friday Miss Yeates disappeared. It is understood he spoke to ex-teacher Chris Jefferies, who had helped her boyfriend Greg Reardon start his car before a trip to Sheffield for the weekend.
A neighbour said: 'When [Vincent] got home on his bike, Chris spoke to him on the drive and told him about what happened with the car.'
Meanwhile, more evidence of a disturbance on December 17 emerged. A resident living in the building directly behind 44 Canynge Road has told police he heard a woman screaming 'Help me' on the night Miss Yeates went missing. He heard the cries from his bedroom, which looks on to the ground-floor flats which are now screened with tarpaulin while forensic experts continue to examine them.
Partner: Vincent Tabak, who is an architect, pictured with girlfriend Tanja Morson at Stonehenge
Neighbours: Miss Yeates lived in the same block as Dutch architect Mr Tabak, 32
Across town: This aerial view of Bristol shows Canynge Road, Clifton, in the red circle on the left, and Aberdeen Road in Cotham, where a 32-year-old suspect was arrested, in the red circle on the right
Fun: Vincent Tabak and girlfriend Tanja Morson pictured having summer fun
The neighbour reported the incident to police before Christmas, when Miss Yeates was still being treated as a missing person. He was interviewed again after a murder inquiry began. He said: 'I was in my bedroom with the blind down when I heard someone scream "Help me" in a loud, high-pitched voice.'
The description of the cry follows reports from a woman at a party in a house opposite of two loud screams at around 9pm on December 17, shortly after Miss Yeates is believed to have arrived home. A pedestrian passing Canynge Road also heard screams.
Yesterday it was also reported that DNA traces were found underneath Miss Yeates's clothing, suggesting that she may have been sexually assaulted. Samples were found on the 25-year-old's midriff and jeans.
It was already known that police had obtained DNA from her body – but it was not known how many traces or where they were found.
He's innocent says family
The family of Vincent Tabak yesterday insisted he was innocent.
His brother, Marcel, said relatives in his native Holland were devastated to learn of the arrest. Speaking from his home in the village of Doornenburg, 60 miles east of Amsterdam, he said: 'He's a lovely man and I absolutely think they have got the wrong person.'
Tabak's widowed mother, Sonja, who is in her seventies, was said to be 'shattered' by the news.
She did not answer the door to her flat in a well-kept block in Arnhem, in the east of Holland, yesterday.
Tabak's ex-sister-in-law Paulie, who also lives in Doornenburg and is still very close to the family, said: 'He is definitely innocent. This is totally out of the blue. I cannot imagine that he could ever have done anything like this. He is a calm, intelligent boy.'
Tabak's father, who worked in the airline industry, died a few years ago as his son was completing his PhD.
All three are thought to have been from the killer's saliva, but have yielded only partial results. Sources said that they should be enough to rule out suspects over her murder – but probably not enough to conclusively prove anyone's guilt.
Until now, police have said there was no direct sign of Jo being sexually attacked. But they had stressed it could have been the motive.
A police source said: 'The fact that DNA samples have been found on her bare body could well mean whoever murdered Jo tried to sexually assault her beforehand.'
Yesterday forensic officers continued their search of a cordoned-off property on Aberdeen Road, Bristol, where Tabak was arrested on Thursday morning. The experts were carrying long ladders, suggesting they may have been checking the loft for clues.
Police have been given an extra 30 hours to question Tabak, giving them until late tonight either to charge or release him on bail.
Floor plan: Joanna Yeates's flat is seen in relation to the property of Vincent Tabak, which is being searched
Obscured: A green tarpaulin covers the rear of the property at 44 Canynge Road as the police team works
Aerial view: This image from above 44 Canynge Road (centre) shows the front of Jo Yeates's former home
WHY POLICE HAVE REFUSED TO REVEAL NAME OF LATEST SUSPECT
Police today took the unusual step of refusing to reveal the name of a suspect in Jo Yeates's murder investigation.
It is common practise for people to be named on arrest but the investigating team have refused to do so following controversial media coverage of a previous arrest. When Jo Yeates's neighbour Chris Jefferies, 65, was arrested, police felt the ensuing media coverage overstepped the bounds of what is legally acceptable.
There are strict rules on what media outlets can and cannot report under the Contempt of Court Act, which seeks to ensure a fair trial in any subsequent court proceedings.
Following Mr Jefferies's release without charge the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, warned newspaper editors about the dangers of publishing 'irrelevant or improper material'.
The government's senior law officer stressed that there was 'freedom of the press', but said newspapers had to comply with the Contempt of Court Act.
'We need to avoid a situation where trials cannot take place or are prejudiced as a result of irrelevant or improper material being published, whether in print form or on the internet, in such a way that a trial becomes impossible,' Mr Grieve said.
'I don't want to comment on the precise coverage, but I think it's important to understand that the contempt of court rules are there to protect the rule of law and the fair trial process and they require newspapers, and indeed anyone who is covering material, to do that in a way that doesn't prejudice the possibility of a fair trial taking place at a later date.'
The Attorney General added that newspapers were 'pretty familiar' with the contempt of court rules and asked them to make responsible judgement calls.
'I would simply ask them to reflect carefully on how they provide proper coverage on a matter of public importance while at the same time, mindful of how our legal system works, they can also ensure that a trial process – if one were ever to happen – would not be prejudiced by material being published that may be irrelevant to any case that comes before the court but could be seriously prejudicial to an individual who is standing trial.'
However, while more traditional media outlets have obeyed the letter of the law on this latest arrest, within hours of the arrest the internet was awash with rumours of a suspect's identity, including micro-blogging site Twitter.
Mr Jefferies is now said to be considering suing police for wrongful arrest after his reputation was arguably damaged by press coverage.
Police are keen to avoid the same happening with any current or future suspect, hence their warnings to the press.
As part of the statement released to confirm the arrest this morning, police gave a firm instruction to media outlets covering the case.
It read: 'Proceedings are active and everyone is reminded of the Contempt of Court Act and therefore you will understand that we cannot discuss any more details at this stage.'
A force spokesman said today yesterday: 'Police have this morning been granted extra time to question a 32-year-old man arrested yesterday on suspicion of the murder of Jo Yeates.'
Police believe Miss Yeates, 25, arrived at her flat on Friday December 17 after walking home from a pub where she had been drinking with colleagues.
Mr Tabak rented Flat 2 at 44 Canynge Road with his girlfriend, directly adjacent to Miss Yeates's Flat 1.
Yesterday a team of officers closed off Canynge Road and put up scaffolding and 12ft-high tarpaulin barriers around the two ground floor flats.
These were once connected via a door that was bricked up when the building was converted to flats.
Forensic experts also began a fresh search of a nearby flat which is home to one of Mr Tabak's friends.
Officers cordoned off a townhouse on Aberdeen Road, around a mile away, just after midday.
Last night they loaded three wheelie bins and a mountain bike from the house into an unmarked white transit van.
Another police vehicle marked 'Scientific Investigations' had earlier been parked outside the address, which is usually occupied by 31-year-old Emily Williams, who is currently in South America.
It is believed she was letting Mr Tabak stay while the police activity at Canynge Road made his flat uninhabitable.
Her street is in Redland, an affluent Bristol area popular with students and professionals, which borders Clifton.
Calls to Mr Tabak's office at the architectural firm Buro Happold Ltd in Bath were directed to the force investigating Miss Yeates's murder.
Yesterday her father, who this week made an emotional appeal to anyone who may have been hiding her killer to come forward, said he was pleased the investigation had made progress.
With his wife Teresa at his side at their home in Ampfield, Hampshire, and holding Miss Yeates's cat Bernard, he said: 'Both Teresa and I are very pleased an arrest has been made and the investigation is moving forward.
'Police informed us at 6am this morning that someone had been arrested on suspicion of Jo's murder, and their age.
'They told us before they made the announcement about the arrest and other than that we do not know much more.
'We are optimistic about the progress, but we have not been told the name of the person who has been arrested.'
He later added: 'I have never heard of Vincent Tabak, nor had Jo ever mentioned him. I have never met anyone who lives in flat two of Jo's block.'
Police guard: The 32-year-old suspect was arrested at this address in Aberdeen Road, Bristol
Search: Forensic teams scoured the address and are seen here checking the rubbish bins
COUNTDOWN TO ARREST
December 17
6pm: Jo leaves firm in Bristol where she worked with boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27, and joins colleagues in Ram pub
8pm: Leaves Ram for 20-minute walk home to Clifton
8.10pm: Pops into a Waitrose
8.40pm: At a Tesco Express a quarter of a mile from her flat she buys a pizza. Then some cider at a nearby off-licence
Police believe she returned to her flat in Canynge Road, which she shared with Mr Reardon
December 19
Mr Reardon reports Jo missing on his return from weekend away
December 22
Officers search the couple's flat, as well as the snowy Bristol Downs and Avon Gorge
December 23
Jo's parents reveal fears their daughter has been abducted.
Detectives say that at Tesco she bought a pizza but there was no trace of it in her flat
December 25
Her body is found in Failand, three miles from her home
December 30
Police arrest Jo's landlord Chris Jefferies on suspicion of murder
January 1
He is released on police bail
January 17
Land Registry documents show the killer could have entered and left Miss Yeates's flat without being seen by any of her neighbours
January 20
A 32-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder
It is not known whether Mr Tabak knew Miss Yeates and Mr Reardon before they became such close neighbours last year.
He had moved to Britain in 2007 to work in Bath and lived in the city before moving to the affluent area of Clifton in 2009 to set up home with Miss Morson.
She is a fitness fan. She has run for the Bristol-based Westbury Harriers club and both she and Mr Tabak have taken part in several ten-kilometre running events. Mr Tabak had previously refused to speak to reporters about the murder.
Miss Yeates had been strangled and her body dumped on the grass verge of a country lane in Failand, North Somerset.
Her body was clothed apart from a sock which was missing, while her phone, purse, keys, boots and coat were all found back at her 200,000 flat.
Police also found two bottles of cider, and the receipt for a Tesco pizza, which tests showed was not eaten by Miss Yeates, and has never been found.
Detectives have 24 hours to hold a suspect initially, but can apply for several extensions, as they did with Miss Yeates's landlord Chris Jefferies, the 65-year-old who was released on bail.
It is understood police are investigating whether Miss Yeates's body was taken from her home in a large bag or suitcase.
The line of inquiry arose because there were no drag marks on Miss Yeates's body or clothing.
And last week her final text message was revealed.
She invited a male friend out for a drink on the night she was murdered.
But he was busy at a Christmas party and did not reply for an hour - by which time she was not answering.
After the Avon and Somerset Constabulary announced the arrest, Detective Chief Inspector Phil Jones said: 'I would like to thank the public for their continued support for the investigation and the information they have provided to us.
'I would also like to pay tribute to Jo's family and to Greg who continue to be unfailing in their support to me and my team at what is an incredibly difficult and painful time for them.'
Fiction and fact: The Joanna Yeates Crimewatch lookalike (left) carries a pizza at Tesco, imitating Joanna's last actions on the night she disappeared (right)
Dutchman called 'beanpole' with a love of sailing
Carefree: Vincent Tabak on a relaxing sailing trip
Relaxing on a sailing holiday, architect Vincent Tabak looks like any adventurous young man. Enjoying the outdoor life, he appears carefree and happy.
But yesterday this lanky and talented Dutchman was at the centre of the Joanna Yeates mystery after he was arrested on suspicion of her murder.
To his former neighbours in Bath, Somerset, 32-year-old Mr Tabak – who is 6ft 4in tall – was known as a 'mild-mannered beanpole'.
Indeed, on the street where the sailing enthusiast lived until 18 months ago, news of yesterday morning's arrest was met with astonishment.
One resident said: 'I cannot believe he has been caught up in this murder inquiry.
'He was a very nice and considerate young man. We were sad when he left. He was very personable and polite.'
Mr Tabak moved into the one-bedroom flat three-and-a-half years ago when he started work at Bath-based engineering consultancy, Buro Happold.
The neighbour, who didn't wish to be named, said the 'quiet and helpful' man would often invite friends and family from Holland to his rented home in fashionable Walcot Parade.
In 2009, Mr Tabak moved into Flat 2 at 44 Canynge Road with his girlfriend, lawyer's daughter Tanja Morson, 34.
Jo Yeates lived at No 4 with her boyfriend, Greg Reardon.
'She (Miss Morson) was an occasional visitor and he told me that he wanted a bigger place they could share in Bristol,' said the former Bath neighbour.
The couple's sailing holiday took place several years ago and Mr Tabak uploaded his photos onto the internet to share with friends.
He was born in February 1978 in Veghel, a town with a population approaching 40,000 north of Eindhoven, to parents Sonja and Gerald and he has several sisters and a brother.
Fluent in Dutch, English and German, after school in 1996 he began studying at Eindhoven University of Technology, where he gained a degree in architecture, building and planning.
Between 1999 and 2003 Mr Tabak worked as a research assistant and part-time teaching assistant at the university before embarking on a PhD on 'User Simulation of Space Utilisation' – a research project looking at developing a system exploring links between buildings and the movement of humans within offices.
Education: Vincent Tabak's CV shows his language and computing skills, as well as his work on 'human behaviour in the built environment'
In his thesis the Dutchman had warm words of praise for his partner, saying: 'I want to thank my girlfriend Tanja Morson for her support in the last difficult month of my PhD. I am very happy that she entered my life.'
Mr Tabak – who on a CV lists his interests as hiking and travelling in south and north America and Asia, photography and sailing – moved to Britain in 2007 and started working at global consulting engineers Buro Happold that September as a 'people flow consultant'.
Projects the company has been involved in include the recent re-design of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford and the 220million restoration of London's Savoy hotel.
Last night the company was referring all inquiries about Mr Tabak – whose unusual Facebook photograph is his elongated shadow cast on grass – to Avon and Somerset Police.
Mr Tabak's girlfriend, Miss Morson, works as a treasury analyst for Dyson in Malmesbury, Wiltshire.
Her father, Geoffrey, declined to discuss developments yesterday at the 1million detached home in one of the most exclusive roads in Cambridge.
The Canadian citizen, who has worked in the U.S. as a lawyer, said: 'I don't know anything. I don't know the young woman who was reported to be murdered, although I am very sorry about what happened to her.
'Tanja's mother, Elisabeth, expressed concern at his welfare, saying: 'We saw what happened to the landlord and don't want to see that happen to our lovely Vincent.'
Explore more:
- People:
- Rachel Nickell,
- Vincent Tabak,
- Greg Reardon,
- Dominic Grieve,
- Chris Jefferies,
- Joanna Yeates
- Places:
- London,
- Bristol,
- Cambridge,
- Bath,
- Amsterdam,
- The Netherlands,
- Asia
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