Joanna’s killer ‘confessed to jail chaplain’ murder trial jury is told

JOANNA Yeates’s killer confessed to a chaplain after refusing to answer any police questions during a three-day grilling, a court has heard.

Vincent Tabak was on suicide watch in prison when he is said to have told the Salvation Army’s Peter Brotherton: “I have got something to tell you that is going to shock you.”

Tabak then reacted angrily as Mr Brotherton told him he would not be able to keep the admission secret, the chaplain said.

Jurors at Bristol Crown Court yesterday were told that Tabak confided in Mr Brotherton after refusing to tell police whether he had made any sexual advances towards Miss Yeates.

Detectives questioned the 33-year-old Dutch engineer for three days after arresting him on 20 January. He was said to have constantly replied “no comment”, before he was charged with murdering Miss Yeates, 25.

But Tabak, who had been under 24-hour supervision at Long Lartin prison, was said to have told Mr Brotherton of his plan to “plead guilty” on 8 February. The chaplain had shaken hands with Tabak before he made the confession.

Appearing in the witness box, Mr Brotherton said he decided he could not keep the information secret, because Tabak was not religious.

Mr Brotherton, who has been visiting prisoners since 1975, said “there was a little bit of anger” in Tabak’s voice after the chaplain said he would have to pass on the information.

“I’m not going to tell you anything else,” Tabak was said to have told Mr Brotherton.

Tabak was being held in a cell with a clear glass door in the health unit at HMP Long Lartin when he made the appointment with Mr Brotherton.

Tabak, who admits manslaughter but denies murder, was said to have made the confession on their third encounter.

“He went to his cell to get his mug so he could have his water,” Mr Brotherton said. “I shook hands with him and said: ‘How are you?’. He said ‘So, so’.”

When Tabak told him he had something to tell him that was going to “shock you”, Mr Brotherton was said to have replied: “You tell me and we will see.”

After Tabak said: “I am going to change my plea”, Mr Brotherton asked him: “Are you sorry [for] what you have done?”

Tabak was said to have replied: “Yes.”

During cross-examination, Tabak’s QC, William Clegg, claimed Mr Brotherton’s comments differed from a statement he gave on 16 February.

Mr Clegg said: “Let me suggest to you there was no suggestion of ‘changing my plea’. ‘I am going to plead guilty’ – that’s what he said.”

Miss Yeates’s mother, Teresa, wept earlier as a picture of her daughter’s body was shown to the jury. She was comforted by her husband, David, as the harrowing photograph was shown.

The mortuary image showed the landscape architect lying fully clothed in the foetal position with her pink top pushed up, exposing her bra.

As Mr Yeates supported his wife, he looked over his shoulder from the public gallery towards Tabak, 33, in the dock.

The Dutch engineer kept his head bowed and placed his hands on the top of his head.

The image was shown during the evidence of forensic scientist Tanya Nickson, who examined bloodstains found on a wall next to where Miss Yeates was found on Christmas morning on Longwood Lane, Failand, North Somerset.

The case continues.