By Rob Cooper
Last updated at 1:14 PM on 6th January 2011
'The ordeal is almost over': Chris Jefferies is considering taking legal action against the police after he was arrested over the murder of Joanna Yeates, 25
Joanna Yeates's landlord, who was arrested over the disappearance of the landscape architect, is considering suing police for wrongful arrest.
Former English master Chris Jefferies has told friends he expects to be cleared of any involvement in the death 'within days'.
The 65-year-old, who was questioned by detectives for three days before being released on bail, wrote in an e-mail that 'the ordeal is almost over'.
He initially claimed he had seen Miss Yeates, 25, with two other people outside the flat she rented from him on the day of her disappearance.
He appeared to slightly alter his story and was arrested last Thursday.
Irving Steggles, a former university friend of Mr Jefferies, said the suspect was a man of high moral character and expected to be quickly eliminated from the investigation.
Mr Steggles was drawn into the case because one of the two cars seized by police outside the flat where both Miss Yeates and Mr Jefferies lived had belonged to him.
The 65-year-old pastor, who lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, had sold the silver Chrysler Neon to the retired teacher six years ago.
'Chris emailed me and said he was going to be eliminated from police enquiries in the next day or so,' he told the Daily Telegraph.
'He said: "The ordeal is almost over". He is preparing a case against the media and the police, I believe. This has completely shattered his life.
Police probe: The flat belonging to landlord Mr Jefferies, a retired schoolmaster. Miss Yeates lived with her boyfriend Greg Reardon two floors below the 65-year-old
'I have known him for 45 years - we were at Oxford together. He was always the most kindly and helpful man, of the highest moral character.'
The pastor, based at Birchleigh Baptist Church in the north eastern part of the South African city, also described the landlord as 'mildly eccentric but only mildly'.
The bachelor, who rented Miss Yeates the flat in Canynge Road, Clifton, taught at the prestigious Clifton College until 2001.
Mystery: Joanna Yeates (left) is thought to have been killed shortly after she was last seen on December 17. Mr Jefferies, pictured here in 1990, is currently the only man to have been arrested over her death and was released on bail
He went on to work in the English department at the University of the West of England in Bristol after leaving the school.
Mr Jefferies is currently staying at an unknown location as police forensic investigators continue to search his flat.
His flat is two floors above the one rented to Miss Yeates and her boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27.
Miss Yeates was last seen on December 17 after going for drinks with colleagues.
Her body was found on a verge on a country road in Failand, North Somerset by a walker on Christmas morning.
Mr Jefferies, who ran the local Neighbourhood Watch scheme, was described by neighbours as 'a pillar of society' in the days after his arrest.
He even helped organise an annual charity event which senior police officers, local dignitaries and the mayor endorsed and attended.
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