Jury still out in Jo Yeates case

The jury in the trial of Vincent Tabak, the man accused of murdering his neighbour Joanna Yeates, is spending a second day deciding its verdict

Jo Yeates
Jo Yeates
(Image credit: Rex Features)

The jury in the trial of Vincent Tabak, the man accused of murdering his neighbour Joanna Yeates, is spending a second day deciding its verdict

The jury in the trial of Vincent Tabak, the man accused of murdering his neighbour Joanna Yeates, is spending a second day deciding its verdict.

Dutch engineer Vincent Tabak has admitted the manslaughter of Jo Yeates but denies murder charges.

TABAK ADMITS KILLING JOANNA YEATES

After hearing evidence from the prosecution and defence for the past two and a half weeks, judge Mr Justice Field gave a two-hour overview of the case on Wednesday and asked the jury to consider their verdict.

The jury at Bristol Crown Court heard again how landscape architect Jo Yeates was discovered with 43 injuries on her body and how Tabak gained access to her flat in Clifton before strangling her.

VINCENT TABAK BRANDED 'DISGUSTING' BY HIS LAWYER

Field told the jury: 'It is your task to decide if you are sure that when he strangled Joanna he intended to kill her or at the very least cause her really serious harm. If you are sure your verdict will be guilty. If you are not sure your verdict must be not guilty.'

The judge insisted that the six men and six women of the jury must be 'stringent' in their analysis and must not let emotions colour their judgment. He reminded them that whilst manslaughter was a serious offence, murder is a 'much graver one'.

Joanna Yeates' boyfriend, Greg Reardon, and parents Theresa and David watched on from the front row of the public gallery.

The trial continues.

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