Papers fined over Joanna Yeates landlord stories

Published on Friday 29 July 2011 15:18

Two newspapers have been fined by the High Court over articles that created "substantial risks to the course of justice" in the wake of the killing of landscape architect Joanna Yeates.

Three leading judges in London handed out a 50,000 penalty to the Daily Mirror and one of 18,000 to the Sun after they were found guilty of contempt of court.

Contempt proceedings were brought against the publishers of the two tabloids by Attorney General Dominic Grieve, QC, over stories published after the arrest of Miss Yeates's landlord, Christopher Jefferies, on suspicion of her murder in December 2010.

The fines were imposed by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, Lord Justice Thomas and Mr Justice Owen, who ruled that the newspapers were in contempt over reports about Mr Jefferies, a retired schoolmaster.

Miss Yeates, 25, who lived in Clifton, Bristol, disappeared on 17 December, 2010 after going for drinks with colleagues. Her frozen body was found on a roadside verge in Failand, Somerset, on Christmas Day.

Mr Jefferies was arrested on 30 December. He was subsequently released without charge.

A 33-year-old engineer has admitted killing Miss Yeates. Dutchman Vincent Tabak has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but denies murder.

Tabak, who lived next door to Miss Yeates, is due to go on trial accused of murder at Bristol Crown Court in October.

Lord Judge said there was no doubt about the identity of the man who killed Miss Yeates "or that Mr Jefferies is innocent of any involvement in it".

He added: "By way of emphasis, he is not simply presumed in law to be innocent of the killing.

"As a matter of fact and reality he is innocent.

"He is not facing trial, and will never face trial."

However, at the time the articles were published he was under arrest and proceedings against him were active.

After the ruling, Mr Grieve said: "When Mr Jefferies was arrested these two newspapers completely lost the plot.

"They just went on this extraordinary frolic - vilifying Mr Jefferies in a way that was, frankly, outrageous."

Earlier, at separate High Court proceedings, Mr Jefferies accepted substantial undisclosed libel damages from eight newspapers over allegations made against him over Miss Yeates's death.

Mr Jefferies did not attend court for the settlements against the publishers of the Sun, the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror, the Daily Mail, the Daily Record, the Daily Express, the Daily Star and The Scotsman.