Tabak ‘strangled Yeates to stop her from screaming’

VINCENT TABAK claims that he strangled Joanna Yeates for 20 seconds after she screamed when he put his arm around her, a British court heard yesterday.

Brief extracts from Tabak’s defence statement were read out to a jury for the first time as the pathologist who inspected her body was re-examined by the prosecution.

Tabak, who admits manslaughter but denies murder, claims he initially put his hand over her mouth to stop the screams, Nigel Lickley QC told Bristol Crown Court.