Police arrest manover murder of Joanna Yeates

DETECTIVES yesterday arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of murdering Joanna Yeates.

The suspect was detained in the early hours after police investigating the 25-year-old’s death uncovered fresh evidence.

Soon afterwards specialist search teams moved into the neighbouring flat to where Yeates lived at 44 Canynge Road in Clifton, Bristol.

Dutch architect Vincent Tabak, 32, is registered as living at the address with his girlfriend.

Calls to his employers in Bath were referred to Avon and Somerset Police.

The force has not named the suspect, who is being held at an undisclosed location.

Workers erected scaffolding and green tarpaulin at the rear of the substantial converted Victorian property yesterday.

The screen covers the entrance to flat two, where Tabak lived, and the rear of Yeates’s rented home.

Police sealed off both ends of Canynge Road as officers in white forensic outfits arrived at the property.

Yeates’s father welcomed the latest development, which came almost five weeks after she disappeared.

Speaking at the family home in Ampfield, Hants, David Yeates, 63, said he was “pleased” the police investigation was “moving forward”.

The arrest was the second to be made by detectives since Yeates’s frozen body was found dumped in a lane on the outskirts of Bristol on Christmas Day.

She disappeared on Friday, December 17, after going for Christmas drinks with colleagues at her architectural firm.

Her boyfriend, Greg Reardon, 27, reported her missing after he returned to Bristol on December 19 following a weekend away visiting family in Sheffield.

It is understood they are investigating whether Yeates’s body was taken from her home in a large bag or suitcase.

The Sun reported that the line of inquiry arose because there were no drag marks on Yeates’ body or clothing.

It has also been claimed police found three separate foreign DNA traces on different parts of her body.

Yeates’s landlord, Chris Jefferies, 65, was arrested on December 30 and questioned for three days on suspicion of murder before being released on bail.