Yeates Murder Trial nears end - Sky News Australia

Updated: 15:25, Wednesday October 26, 2011

The defence case for Vincent Tabak in the Joanna Yeates murder trial has finished after the final witness was called.

Joanna Yeates' upstairs neighbour, retired schoolteacher Geoffrey Hardiman, gave evidence at Bristol Crown Court on Monday.

He told the court he had met Miss Yeates and her boyfriend a few times and that they seemed 'nice and friendly'.

Mr Hardiman also said he had spoken to the landscape architect about her cat and that he liked to see it out in the garden.

The jury heard he had gone to bed with a cold on the night of the killing and had not noticed anything unusual.

Mr Hardiman added that he had not known Miss Yeates was missing until her landlord, Chris Jefferies, told him on December 20.

His testimony brought the case for the defence to a close. The jury will hear closing speeches on Tuesday.

Tabak admits killing Miss Yeates last December but claims it was manslaughter and denies murder.

The prosecution has to demonstrate that he intended to kill or at least seriously harm Miss Yeates to secure a murder conviction.

They claim this was exactly what Tabak intended and that the killing was sexually motivated.

It is claimed the Dutch engineer was sexually aroused as he strangled his victim in her own flat on December 17.

Tabak's defence insist this was not the case and that he was invited into Miss Yeates' apartment that night.

The court was told he misread her friendliness and tried to kiss her, prompting her to scream.

It is claimed he panicked and accidentally strangled her as he tried to stop her screaming and calm her down.

Tabak admits he removed her body, which he put in a cycle bag and then put in his car boot before driving to Asda.

He later dumped the body in a remote spot, where she was discovered by dog walkers on Christmas Day.

In the witness box, the defendant wept and apologised to the Yeates' family for 'putting them through hell'.

The trial continues.