Boys leaved primary school, unable to read properly.
I think it's a national scandalism.
I don't think it's a national scandalism.
Yea, unto thee
thy name also...
On the radio they said it would just be a light dusting.
Turns out half the roads in Bedminster and Northfield are closed.
Not to mention Bishopston, Medland, Totterdown, Seamills.
More exam papers, is it?
- Thank you. - And a parcel.
Something nice?
Mind your footing on the way out.
See you tomorrow.
That is the olives and the goats cheese.
And some sourdough bread too, please, Janine.
- We've run out, I'm afraid, Christopher. - Already?
- It's a quarter past nine. - I know.
The sourdough bread stampede has preceded me.
Christmas choccie.
And just a reminder to everyone else
that next week in regards to the possible charitable cause
for next year's summer party, we have a representative
from the Salvation Army coming in to talk to us.
Today's match against perhaps the oldest...
Slow it down.
Slightly harder, Chris.
...and all the action."
Heading out?
Gonna grab a quick Nando's.
Did the plumber come?
- Everything get sorted out? - Yeah. Thank you.
Anything else, then, do let me know.
- Oh, Mr Jefferies. - Chris, please.
Chris. I wonder if you'd mind
if we did a little work down there in the flowerbed.
In the spring.
- What do you have in mind? - Some potted plants?
Maybe a herb garden?
We'll do it properly, I promise.
We're both landscape architects. Shouldn't be a problem.
You're not going to present me with an enormous bill.
No, of course not.
Have a good night.
What is a Nando when it's at home?
It's a chicken, a piri-piri chicken restaurant.
- It's really nice. - Yeah, it's good.
Well, have a wonderful evening.
- Thanks. Night. - See you.
...that story as Britain prepared for a perfect ice storm.
That's the sort of cliche of the day, isn't it, really?
I don't suppose you've got any jump leads.
No.
Have you tried the Tennesons in flat three?
No. They're away.
Oh, what about Vincent in flat two?
He seems like a jump leady sort of person.
Don't know him.
Goodness. He's your neighbour.
I'll come and introduce you. Why don't you... Actually, don't.
- I'll just go and get a coat. - That'll be great. Thank you, Chris.
Right.
- I put money on it. - What?
White Christmas.
Mind your footing here.
- Christopher, hey. - Vincent. Sorry to trouble you.
We were just wondering if you had any jump leads.
I'm sorry, I don't know the Dutch word.
Oh, you mean the thing to start a car?
- Yup. - No. I'm sorry.
Well, anyway, this is your neighbour Greg Reardon.
- Hey. - From flat one.
He lives with his girlfriend Jo.
- Oh, this is Tanja. My girlfriend. - Hi. How do you do?
- Nice to meet you. - Hi, Chris.
Hello, Tanja.
- So... Okay. Cheers. - Cheers.
Maybe Peter Stanley might know something.
Okay. Turn her over.
Yes!
Mate, thank you so much.
Keep her ticking over for about 15 minutes.
Better than that. I'm taking her all the way to Sheffield.
- That'll do it. - I'm away for the weekend.
Thank you so much.
- Drive carefully. - Cheers. Thanks.
- OK, Chris. - Thank you, Peter.
...inspired by Americans across the pond.
But she's back, she's ready to tour and she's playing in Bristol tonight.
Hello?
- Christopher. - Vincent. Good morning.
Sorry to disturb. I've got a few problems getting my car up the slope.
I wondered if you could perhaps give me a push.
Thank you, Vincent. You are very kind.
Don't mention it. What are neighbours for?
Do you know, we really...
Come on, admit it, Chris. You've been glued to it for weeks.
- You have. - I assure you.
- He doesn't have a television. - Yes, he does.
Until this conversation, I hadn't even heard of Strictly Come Dancing.
I can see it. It's over there.
Oh! Oh, no, that's not a television.
- It's a monitor. - Monitor?
On which I play my videos.
You can't be serious. No-one watches videos any more.
- Or DVDs. - Of what?
Of... of classic French cinema mostly.
So I can practice my French for my degree.
You'd need a magnifying glass to watch anything on that.
Well, I just move up close.
How close?
As close as is necessary.
No, I think you should all go home.
Oh, Christopher.
- We're having such a lovely evening. - We've got the cheesecake.
Those are very nice cheesecake.
Thank you. Please have some more.
- No, I can't. I can't. - It'll be no good tomorrow.
Oh, hi, Chris.
Everything all right?
I noticed I got a missed call from you at midnight last night.
It's Jo. We can't find her.
She... didn't go with you to Sheffield?
No. She stayed behind.
I got back last night. The hall light was on.
The cat was really hungry like he hadn't been fed.
I rang Jo's mobile. It's in the pocket of her coat.
Then I found her rucksack and in that...
her glasses, her purse and keys.
It's all just so unlike her.
Well, maybe she stayed with friends.
It's still early so not outside the realm of possibility that,
she had a late night and hasn't woken up yet.
That's what I'm hoping.
Well, anything that I can do, please let me know.
- I'm gonna go out now and look. - You, look?
Look where?
Anywhere. Just look for her.
- Christopher Jefferies? - Yes.
Could you confirm for us that you're the landlord of this building.
I am the landlord of two properties within the building
not of the whole building.
We were given your name and told you had keys to all the premises here.
As Secretary and Chairman of the management
company of the building, that is correct.
I do keep a copy of all the keys here, yes.
Well, at some point in the next couple of days
we are going to need you to help us with access to those premises.
Please.
Come again?
Please.
- Please. - Please.
Good morning, Janine.
Morning.
See? 9:01, I'm leaving nothing to chance.
Some sourdough bread, please, Janine.
I'm sorry. We've sold out already.
What?!
Your face!
You're the first one in.
There you go.
Christopher Jefferies?
We agreed three o'clock to collect the keys.
You are extremely late.
- Sorry. - We've also come to ask
a couple of quick questions if you don't mind.
We've been taking statements from all your neighbours.
Mr Stanley said that on the Friday evening
you both help Mr Reardon jump start his car.
Correct.
And that was the last time you saw Joanna Yeates?
No. The last time I saw Jo was the
day before. The 16th.
When I checked to see if the leak in her
bathroom had been repaired satisfactorily.
You didn't see her on the Friday at all?
No.
How long has Miss Yeates been a tenant?
- Just over two months. - No complaints from your side?
- On the contrary. - How would you describe her character?
Very friendly.
An attractive person.
Not someone who'd be likely to just disappear?
No. But then I can't claim to know her well
and everyone is full of surprises, aren't they?
And contradictions.
How long is it that she has been missing?
Four days.
Would you just give this a quick look over for a review?
You're the first English teachers I've taken a statement from.
You'll have to forgive the bad spelling.
May I at least correct the spelling?
You can reach us on this number.
Should anything else come to you.
Hello?
What are you doing?
I'm working my way through Pierre et Jean.
In French.
Your house is all over the news.
The girl's parents are doing a press conference now.
For me, it's not the end.
It's what's happened to her in between.
I stood outside having a cigarette.
It was cold and I was thinking of my daughter.
Maybe she's out there somewhere by herself in the snow.
Frozen.
It breaks me, how no-one's there to hold her.
We still want her back.
We still want to hold her at least one last time.
Yes, you gave me your number in case I had any questions or
in case anything occurred to me
in conjunction with the disappearance of Joanna Yeates.
Something has occurred to me.
When I came home on Friday the 17th of December.
Is... is... is this really necessary?
I was walking through the gates of the main driveway
when I heard someone leaving by the side gate
on the other side of the building.
- Will he knock anything over? - She'll be fine.
Someone? One person or two?
It's hard to say.
It's more likely to have been two since I heard voices.
Could one of those voices have been that of a woman?
It certainly could have been but I... I can't say definitively.
Three 'I's. Def-ini-tively.
Christopher. Christopher.
The...
They... They've just found her.
- What? - Your tenant.
You... You did say she was your tenant, didn't you?
A couple were enjoying a Christmas morning walk with their dogs
when they found a woman's body. It was covered by snow.
But not, apparently, hidden.
The woman's body was found near a golf course
on the western side of the Avon Gorge, three miles from the flat
in Clifton Joanna Yeates shared with boyfriend Greg Reardon.
She disappeared after Friday night drinks with friends eight days ago.
Police think she did go back to the flat
because when Greg Reardon got back from visiting family on Sunday...
Christopher Jefferies?
- Yes. - Sky News.
We've been informed you gave a statement to the police
saying you saw people leaving on 17th December
and that one of them was Joanna Yeates.
I don't know where you got your information from,
it is a serious distortion of what I said to the police
and I have no further comment to make as that, no doubt, will be distorted.
I made some comment which was very, very, very much vaguer than that.
Are you able to give us any detail of what you told them?
I'm afraid not, no. Anything that I have said, I had said to the police,
and I am not prepared to make any comments to the media. Okay?
So you didn't see her that evening, then?
I certainly cannot say that I saw Joanna Yeates that evening, no.
Thank you very much.
This way, Mr Jefferies.
- Mr Jefferies. - Mr Jefferies.
- This way, Mr Jefferies. - Mr Jefferies.
- Mr Jefferies.
Mr Jefferies, it's the police.
We need your help.
Mr Jefferies!
- Christopher Jefferies? - Yes.
You're under arrest on suspicion of the murder of Joanna Yeates.
I'm... I'm... I'm what?
Wha... On... On... On what grounds?
You do not have to say anything but it may harm
your defence if you do not mention when questioned
something which you later rely on in court.
Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?
What evidence... do... do you have?
That'll be explained to you at the police station. Please get dressed.
May I make a phone call?
No, sir. You can do that at the station. Please get dressed.
Get dressed, please, sir.
A few minutes ago, just after 0700 hours,
police attended an address in Canning road, Clifton,
and arrested a 65-year-old man...
Is it the landlord?
A 65-year-old man on suspicion of the murder -
It is Christopher Jefferies?
He has been taken into custody...
At the police station...
At the police station where the...
Okay. So, Chris, the first thing we're gonna do is take your picture.
Just come through here.
If you'll just sit down on the chair there, please.
Yeah, on the chair there. That's it. Okay?
And if I could ask you to look straight into the camera please.
Okay. Straight into the camera.
Thank you. And...
Yep. That's it.
Great. Okay, thank you. Can you just stand up for me?
Yep. That's it. Yep.
Okay. Now we're gonna take your fingerprints, sir.
It's probably not what you're expecting.
It's probably not as you expect. We don't use ink any more.
OK. Give me your right hand.
Just pop that one on there like that.
We'll start with your thumb.
Just here on the left.
- Yep. - If you come in here, then.
If you take a seat on that chair. We're gonna take a DNA sample.
That involves taking a swab from the inside of your cheek.
And, I'm gonna use this swab to take that sample.
Okay, so if you can open your mouth for me. That's it. Thank you.
Just through there.
You can change into these.
The interviews will start as soon as your solicitor arrives.
- I... I don't have a solicitor. - One's on his way, apparently.
Very high powered from London.
Chilli con carne or pasta bake.
I beg your pardon.
It's for your lunch.
But it... it's ten in the morning.
Pasta bake.
Yes, I forgot that you had trained as a lawyer.
I was never any good
but at least I met a few of them who were.
And they all swear by this firm of lawyers.
They represent the most violent and vicious murderers in London,
so you're in good hands.
- Thank you. - Well, as your laziest former pupil
it's the least I could do.
Might I ask you another favour?
Of course.
Would you ring my gym and tell my personal trainer
that I probably won't be able to make our three o'clock session today?
If he's seen the news... I'm not sure he'll be expecting you.
Oh. Am I on the news?
Christopher, there's nothing else on the news.
And I am not prepared to make any comment.
Mr Jefferies. Hi. My name is Paul Okebu.
I work with Bambos Tsiattalou at The Stokoe Partnership.
Who?
I'm here to get you out.
And will stay as long as it takes. I am not leaving here without you.
- Thank you. - Shall we?
- It seems you have influential friends. - I do.
My name's Paul Connor. I'm a Detective Constable.
And I'm from the Major Crime Investigation Unit here in Bristol.
- This is my colleague. - Yes, thank you.
My name is also Paul. Paul Batty. I am also a Detective Constable.
And I'm based in the same unit Paul works.
Your legal representative, your solicitor is also present.
Would you like to introduce yourself?
Oh, yeah, my name is also... Paul. Okebu.
Well, so everyone's called Paul.
Not quite everyone.
And your full name?
Christopher Jonathan Edward Jefferies.
- Date of birth. - 9th of January, 1945.
What would you prefer me to call you during this interview?
Christopher or Mr Jefferies?
I'm perfectly happy with either. Which ever
you feel more comfortable with.
Well, I'd like to call you Christopher.
Is that OK?
- Okay. - How many flats are there in the building?
- Seven. - How many do you own?
Three.
You live at number five.
Yes.
And you also own flats number one and two.
That's correct.
Including the flat lived in by Joanna Yeates.
She lived in flat one.
Yes.
Has Joanna Yeates ever been to your flat?
No. I don't think, to the best of my knowledge,
she has ever been in my flat.
How would you describe Greg to us, then?
As... as pleasant, easy-going,
slightly bluff person perhaps.
- Bluff? - Yeah, yes. Bluff.
I don't know the word.
You don't know the word bluff?
Gracious.
A cheerful, straightforward,
unvarnished South Yorkshireman.
- Right. - I mean, I wouldn't describe him as
intellectually sophisticated necessarily.
But obviously an extremely competent professional man.
By that I mean he's not an academic
and I have spent my whole life with academics.
So you're saying he's not an academic.
I'm saying
he's not someone who strikes me as having primarily academic interests.
Rather, I think, a fairly sporty sort of person.
On the evening of Friday 17th, you helped Greg start his car.
With the use of jump leads.
- Correct. - Did you ask where he was going?
He volunteered he was going to Sheffield.
There was a mention of a family event.
And was the subject of Joanna Yeates mentioned at all?
Not at all. It wasn't mentioned by me or anyone else.
As I'm saying we were simply concerned with getting the car started,
not learning anything about who was doing what or for what reason.
So what was your understanding of what Joanna was doing?
I had no understanding of what she was doing because her name didn't arise.
- Did you wonder at all what she was doing? - No. Not at all.
In your statement you said you then went to the gym.
- That's right, yes. - And then went home.
Yes and I'm pretty sure that would have been
between half past eight and nine o'clock.
Okay and that's when you mentioned in your statement
then becoming aware of something else.
Yes.
What you thought was the sound of a
conversation between two people in the dark.
- A low conversation, yes. - Low?
Yes. Very low.
To the extent that I cannot be certain that it actually happened
which is why I was absolutely horrified to be told
that it had been stated on the media
that I had seen these people.
And then you went into your flat.
Yes.
Okay.
I want you to concentrate on that night of December the 17th.
Did you have contact with anyone else that night?
No.
Did you... leave your flat again,
- at all, during the course of the night? - No.
Did you leave your flat to go into the garden?
No.
Did you leave your flat to go into the another flat in the premises?
No.
Did you leave your flat to go anywhere?
No.
Did you leave your flat to go to Joanna Yeates's flat?
No, DC Connor, I did not. I went to bed.
Something which, given the hour, it's almost midnight,
we could all profitably do now.
Melissa.
Melissa?
What model's your Volvo?
It's an S40.
And is that the only car you own?
No. I have a second car.
A Chrysler Neon which,
I look after for a friend who lives abroad.
But you didn't offer the police the keys for the Volvo.
No, I did not.
- Why not? - Because I assumed it was
the keys for the Chrysler that they were interested in.
You did not deliberately not offer the keys to the Volvo?
No, I did not.
Have you cleaned the inside of either of those cars,
the Volvo or the Chrysler since teatime? 6pm on December the 17th?
No.
Have you got anyone else to clean the inside or outside of those cars?
No.
Okay.
Paul, have you got anything else or not?
Oh, yeah. Right.
Time now is 9:32
and I am suspending the interview.
- This is normal? - Yeah. Perfectly normal.
For an extension to hold you, they need a magistrate.
- It's cold. You might want this. - Thank you.
Oh, no, no, no. Thank you.
I'm not having you appear anywhere in a blanket.
Here.
- But thank you. - As her landlord,
Mr Jefferies was both known to the victim
and he had keys to the property.
He also knew the victim was alone that night.
Significantly, before his arrest, Mr Jefferies
gave the police two conflicting statements
so we would like the opportunity
to continue to hold and question him for a further 24 hours.
Granted.
Twenty years I've worked in criminal law.
I have never come across anything like this.
Do you know who Glenis Carruthers was?
- No. - Right.
She was a young woman murdered decades ago in Clifton.
Unsolved, apparently looked a bit like Jo.
They told me they wanted to question you
in connection with that case too.
I'd like you to describe your character to us.
How you see yourself.
I mean, does anything upset you?
When was the last time you got angry with someone, for example?
I tend not to get violently angry.
If I get angry, it's more snappily angry than anything else.
And how would you be when faced with a confrontation?
I would certainly wish in some way to defuse the situation
and not do anything to allow that situation to... get out of control. I...
do not like arguments. Arguments make me feel uncomfortable.
Have you ever been violent towards anyone?
No. Certainly not.
Do you take any illegal drugs?
Do you take heroin?
No.
Do you take cocaine?
No.
Okay. What about drink?
I habitually have the equivalent of
half a bottle of wine with my supper.
When was the last time you were drunk?
I don't think I've been drunk since...
university when I was an undergraduate at about the age of 19.
This would have been in Christmas 1963.
That was the year I was born.
Maybe that's why he was drunk.
Are you in a relationship at the present time?
No.
When was the last time you were in a relationship?
- If you mean a sexual relationship? - Yes.
I have...
never had a...
permanent or...
long-lasting sexual relationship.
- Never? - No.
So, Christopher...
when was the last time you had sex with someone?
You don't have to answer that, Christopher?
You're a single man.
Living alone.
Yes.
What interests you sexually?
- Is that relevant to this inquiry? - I'd like to know.
When your client looks at Joanna Yeates...
what does he see?
I saw a young woman.
I certainly had no sexual interest in her.
No sexual feeling for her... whatsoever.
Or...
indeed, for Greg, for that matter.
If that's what you're thinking.
So far, the retired teacher Chris Jefferies
is the only named suspect and officers have been questioning him
since he was arrested yesterday morning.
Through the day, police forensic teams
have been searching Jefferies' flat in Bristol
and the one below which he rented to Jo Yeates and her boyfriend.
Our correspondent John Kay has been following the day's events.
New Year's Eve. But at this Victorian mansion block tonight
the sombre search goes on.
- Morning, Christopher. - Good morning, Paul.
- Happy new year. - Happy new year.
Food any better?
Yes. Muesli.
And in a proper bowl too but the bed, until two days ago,
if asked, I would have described that...
as a window ledge.
Well...
Today's the last day they can hold you.
By 9pm tonight they either have to charge you or release you.
Right now, they haven't laid a glove on you.
They've got nothing. Nothing.
If it were a boxing match,
we'd be going to the last round and they'd need a knockout.
So... be prepared.
Things could get a bit rough today.
I'd better finish my muesli, then.
Did you go to Jo's flat on the night of the 17th of December?
No. I did not.
Did you go to that flat because you knew she was gonna be there alone?
No, I did not.
You ever been out in the middle of the night?
- In your car? - No.
Never? Never, ever?
Well, I suppose it is just conceivable
that I might have gone out to get some petrol.
But... I certainly don't recall doing that.
Okay.
So what you're saying to us now...
is that it is conceivable that you may have gone out
in the night of the 17th, 18th of December?
You're not being very specific, are you?
And yet you described yourself as a meticulous person.
If I went out in a car later that evening, which I have no recollection of at all,
I cannot conceive of any reason for doing so
except to get some petrol.
And I think you'll find I said methodical.
And my recollection was that petrol was purchased during the day
- on the 17th and during the day... - Officer, yeah, I'm sorry to interrupt.
You're asking him to recall a specific incident of more than two weeks ago.
Which you've had an opportunity to look at the papers in relation to
which my client hasn't had the opportunity to consider himself.
Do you have any evidence Mr Jefferies went out to buy petrol that night?
No.
In that case I fail to see the purpose of the question.
The purpose of the question is quite simple, Christopher.
It's that you haven't mentioned to us at all until this point
during these interviews that you have potentially
gone out during the course of that night.
I am trying to assist you
in suggesting that the only conceivable reason for me going out
in a car would be to purchase some petrol.
Mr Tabak has been spoken to.
Vincent... Vincent Tabak?
Yes, Vincent Tabak called us from Holland.
And he says that the position of the car, the Volvo,
was different on the morning of the 18th.
Which is the Saturday when you asked him for assistance,
to where it was on the 17th. The day before.
Where... Where was it before on the 17th?
Well, he said it was facing in.
In its normal position.
Well... Why ever would he say that? It wasn't.
So, tell us, then.
The position of the car when Vincent Tabak came out to assist you on the 18th?
Well, it was... it was facing out.
Which is why he was able to push from the back
and I was able to drive straight out.
We need to find out what happened to Jo.
Of course.
We need to find out what happened in that flat.
- Well, of course. - And we need to get... the truth.
Well, of course.
Now, the scene at Jo's flat suggested that she'd not been home long
before she was assaulted.
Now, if you had any involvement whatsoever in that assault...
now is the time to tell us.
I've told you again and again that I have not the slightest involvement.
You're an intelligent man.
I mean, you'll have gathered by now that
we're making enquiries into your background in detail.
Yes.
Please, don't make the mistake of ignoring
the fact that we are also intelligent people.
We have experts and scientists examining the scene.
- Examining your car. - Of course.
Now, you've described yourself as meticulous...
Matter of fact.
- Methodical. - Well, they too are meticulous,
matter of fact and methodical.
So if you've had any involvement...
then you tell us.
Now.
As I have already said to my solicitor...
I am 100% innocent
of any involvement in the disappearance of Jo.
100%.
OK.
Time now is 13:09 and we will, this time, suspend the interview.
We'll come back to you.
It's outrageous.
He has sat here for three days
listening to this unsubstantiated rubbish.
He's answered every question,
behaved with exceptional good grace.
And dignity.
You have nothing.
No evidence, no forensics, no motive.
No proof.
From the first moment I saw him, I knew he was innocent.
All you have to do is look at him.
I mean, how much do you weigh, Christopher?
Nine stone? Ten?
Yeah, I mean, he hasn't got the strength to have done it.
Suffocate a fit, young landscape gardener putting up a fight?
Carry her body to the car. I mean, it's madness, the whole thing.
You should know, from your training, that no man his age with his profile
would kill a fit, young woman with his hands.
He'd used an object, a weapon, to compensate for his lack of strength.
And there was no weapon. Why?
Because it wasn't him.
- Are you all right? - Yes, I think so. How about you?
They're here.
I know,
Papillon.
Come on. In you come...
Papillon.
Some outdoor shoes.
- Size? - Seven and a half.
Anything else?
Some black jeans. 32 waist.
An electric razor?
- Can't it be normal wet razors? - Not if I'm to use them.
And some hairspray.
Elnett.
Extra hold.
I really don't know why I can't go myself.
Because you'll get lynched, that's why.
Who'd recognise me?
Christopher, after Elizabeth Windsor,
yours is about the most recognisable face in the country.
Of course.
You haven't seen them.
Seen what?
- The papers. - Well, no.
I was in custody, remember.
Why are you looking at me like that?
What?
Come on in.
Would you like me to stay with you?
Whatever for?
You're frightening me now.
I really can't see what would be so bad.
I tell you what, I'll be just outside.
It's... monstrous.
I'm afraid the... television wasn't much better.
What about the school?
You said that the...
headmaster had...
said some nice things.
I could do with some cheering up.
I think it's important that we all recognise
that nobody has been charged with anything as yet.
But I can confirm that Mr Jefferies
taught English at Clifton college
for a number of years.
He retired in 2001 which is nearly ten years ago now.
And I've been headmaster here for six years
and I've certainly never met Mr Jefferies.
And there would be very few people on the teaching staff
and pupils who will have ever met Mr Jefferies.
Because it is a number of years ago.
And although he lived locally,
he had no formal contact with the College since he retired.
- Do you know if he left... - What's he talking about?
-was there any disciplinary...
-No one remembers me.
I worked there for 34 years.
Half... Half of my colleagues are still there.
I'm sure he was... put under terrible pressure.
Are you all right, Christopher?
Anything I can get you?
No, thank you.
I'm fine.
Good night, then.
Do I really have to do that in person?
Can't... can't do that over the phone?
It's always a lot easier to do this sort of thing, face to face.
Okay. When and where?
No, it's okay.
Okay. Thank you.
Here he comes.
- Mr Tabak. - Hi. Call me Vincent.
Thi is my girlfriend Tanja.
DC Thomas. Pleased to meet you.
We wanted to follow up on a couple of things
in the statement you gave us about Mr Jeffries when you called us.
Okay.
And we'd also like to take a DNA sample.
Why?
Well, it's quite routine. Just to rule you out.
Okay. You didn't say anything about a DNA sample.
Well, everyone else has given one.
You're entitled to refuse, of course. It's, er, just a formality.
- Shall we? - Okay, fine.
So, Tanja was at a party.
I had some work to finish off so I stayed at home.
And didn't leave the house again that night?
No.
Except to go to Asda.
- I'm sorry? - I went to Asda to buy some beer.
You didn't mention this in your statement.
That's because my previous statement was about Jeffries' character
and why I believe he killed Joanna Yeates.
What time did you go to Asda?
Eight or nine o'clock.
- The footage will make that clear. - What footage?
The CCTV footage.
Don't all supermarkets have that?
So, I went home
then watched TV and waited for Tanja to tell me to pick her up.
At 1.30am?
Yeah, that's right.
And Mr Jeffries came to your door the following morning at what time?
8.30, nine o'clock?
Asking you to help move his car that got stuck in the snow?
That's right.
When you went to help move the car, which way was it facing?
In, towards the house.
You said you'd seen the car the previous night facing which way?
The other way, out, away from the house.
Leading you to believe it had been moved overnight?
That's correct.
What were your impressions of Mr Jeffries that morning?
Well, he seemed nervous, anxious.
At the time, I thought it was because
he was in a hurry to get somewhere, but now I know otherwise.
What do you mean by that?
Well, you know, it turns out he had a busy night.
Charles?
- Hello? - Christopher, it's Paul Okebu.
They've arrested Vincent Tabak.
DNA found on Jo Yeates' body matches Tabak's.
It seems the police
have a new prime suspect.
It's good, Chris.
It's very good.
I do hope you're going to do something about it all.
- About what? - Fight back.
Sue the newspapers for damages, take on the police in a civil action.
Did they at least apologise?
Who the police... No. About that...
I don't think they think they've done anything wrong.
They arrested a perfectly innocent man and locked him up for three days.
True, but I'm sure that they consider
their actions to be entirely reasonable.
That doesn't explain why they're refusing to release you from bail.
Or worse. How the newspapers suddenly knew you were the prime suspect.
That had to be information leaked to them by the police.
Yes, but lawsuits would be expensive
and they would be public.
Why would I want to put my head above the parapet...
again?
And... suffer all those
vile attacks,
about my appearance?
You wouldn't need to...
if you made one or two changes.
Why do you wear your hair like that?
Like what?
- That. - Well,
I can assure you it is...
entirely a result of accident and not design.
So when did it happen?
What?
The accident.
Well, I suppose when I first noticed that it was
no longer there in the same quantity and thought
that the longer it was
the more it would look like there was
more of it.
Oh, Christopher.
Why?
Want me to come in with you?
- Thank you. Bye-bye. - Thank you very much. Bye-bye.
- Good morning. - Good morning, Janine.
I didn't recognise you.
It's still the same old me.
Paul.
I understand your frustration, Mr Jeffries,
but... this was a decision taken by the entire committee.
Because of the unfortunate circumstances you find yourself...
What unfortunate circumstances?
I was wrongly arrested and now
rightly released without charge.
The board has decided to withdraw its invitation for you
to continue the examination and
moderating work you've been doing for us.
Why?
We feel it would be sending out the wrong signals
to have you turning up to do face to face oral examanitions with students.
What, because Iwould murder them?
Weirdo! Mr Jefferies!
Are you in the mood for a riddle?
Go on.
I am nothing without an answer.
What am I?
- You are a question. - Good.
And the answer is
anyone and everyone, regardless of cost.
What is the question?
Who shall I sue?
Louis Charalambous is an expert in defamation and privacy
and is head of the press law team here.
Louis successfully represented Robert Murat.
Who is that?
The man libelled in the Madeleine McCann case.
But perfectly normal man in his early 30s,
albeit one still living with his mother in a house in Praia da Luz,
where Madeleine went missing. A Sunday Mirror journalist
tipped off local police after she thought
there was something suspicious about him.
He tried to help the police as much as he could,
but all he got for his troubles was to become their first formal suspect,
or aguido.
The tabloids went crazy. They claimed he was a sexual predator.
His... His blindness in one eye was even exploited.
One newspaper reported when he was at school
he popped out his glass eye and rolled it around the playground.
That is a little unusual.
- Only one problem. - Oh. What was that?
He doesn't have a glass eye.
One journalist offered his ex-wife 200,000 euros
to say he was a paedophile and that...
his home had a secret chamber in it.
Well, she refused to do so, but look, the whole experience
came close to destroying the lives of Murat and his family.
Sound familiar?
How did this dreadful story end?
We sued the newspapers responsible and won £600,000 in damages,
a record figure.
What... What I mention that in case you are interviewing other law firms.
I want to speak to a priest.
You know who I am? You know why I'm being kept here?
Yes.
And you probably also know that so far I've said nothing,
not to the police
and not to my lawyers,
but...
but I want to say something to you.
Meanwhile, Vincent Tabak, the man charged
with the murder of Joanna Yeates,
has admitted to a chaplain in Long Lartin Prison, Worcestershire,
that he did kill the landscape architect
and will plead guilty to manslaughter but not murder.
Well, the good news is with Tabak now having admitted killing Jo Yeates
and your innocence being beyond all doubt,
I think we have every reason to be hopeful that a legal action for defamation
could be successful.
Now, the bad news is
that you and I are going to have to go through all these allegations again,
one by one, to establish if there's any truth to the newspapers' claims.
- Okay. - In the meantime,
my associates will go out and try to build up
a more balanced profile of you
by doing some of the more thorough
asking around that the newspapers should have done.
Sure.
Tell me. How many years were you a teacher at Clifton College?
- Unpleasant? - Rude.
Christopher? Oh, no.
What do people in the school think of him?
Clever, eccentric, and very professional.
Popular in common rooms.
Christopher was a very, very special teacher,
but God help you if you were ever late for anything.
Did you ever behave in an inappropriate
- or sexualised manner with your students? - No.
Never made any lewd or sexual remarks to them?
No.
Did you ever invite any of them back to your house?
For teaching, yes, all the time.
But no, never alone.
Did you ever take your temper out on any of your students?
Throw any books or pens across the... Did you force students
to hold hands while reciting poetry?
Did you ever enter flats without tenants' knowledge or permission?
Have you ever invaded the privacy of your tenants in the past
and refused to allow them to close their curtains?
Do you look through the windows of your tenants?
Are you a peeping tom? Did you deliberately dye your hair blue?
How ridiculous. I might have used a henna shampoo for a while,
which had the unfortunate side effect of giving my hair a slight blue tint.
- What? As blue as this? - No, that's ridiculous.
No, they've exaggerated that terribly.
Is it accurate to describe you as a snob?
A snob?
No.
Morning, I was wondering would you have five
minutes for me to ask you one or two questions?
- Yes of course, why don't you come in? - Thank you.
- How long have you known him? - A long time now. Nine, ten years.
- You play the harpsichord? - Moderately,
but with great conviction.
- Elitist? - I'd prefer it if people weren't stupid.
- A loner? - You'd have to ask my friends.
Were you aware of pupils referring to you as Mr Strange?
No.
Do you know anything about the murder of Glenis Carruthers?
Who?
The young woman who was killed in the area 34 years ago.
Yes, my first victim according to the papers. No, nothing.
I hadn't even heard of her until Paul Okebu mentioned her name.
Have you ever been close friends with a convicted paedophile?
No.
Did you ever touch peoples' hands, be they students or otherwise, and say
"Oh, you're very sweaty, that means
you've been sexually active recently"?
I'm sorry.
Christopher, we have to do this.
In a dark suit, this was not the first time that David and Teresa Yeates
listened to the man who killed their daughter talk about that night.
He never intended to kill her he said and then he panicked when he had.
He claimed he felt guilt, that it would haunt him for the rest of his life
and described his decision to abandon Joanna's body later
that night in the country. They would sit in silence side by side as...
He was in complete control at all times and knew what he was doing...
When I say 'start' said the Barrister to Vincent Tabak, I want you to say 'now'
when you think the incident ended.
'Start' said Mr Clegg. Mr Tabak shut his eyes.
The court fell completely silent.
After a few seconds with his eyes still shut
he started rubbing his forehead leaning to the right slightly.
- A few seconds more passed complete silence -All rise!
And then he said 'Now'.
So, on the fatal night, Tabak's girlfriend goes to a party
he's due to pick her up later.
He returns to his flat. Passing a window, he sees his his neighbour, Jo Yeates,
who waves him a casual greeting.
But he misinterprets the greeting and believes she's invited him in.
Jo would never have done that. She was completely committed to Greg.
I know but once inside, they chatted and presumably she said something
innocent, friendly, which he misinterpreted as flirtatious,
so he tried to kiss her.
She screams, he puts his hand over her mouth and apologises,
which only makes her scream more. He panics,
puts his hand over her throat, harder, tighter,
only to find she'd gone limp and dropped to the floor.
So far, in my book, there's no premeditation to murder.
That's not why he entered her flat.
- Mr Charalambous? - Yes?
- They're ready for you now. - Thank you.
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
Hello?
Having reviewed the evidence, the lawyers representing the newspapers
have just informed me their clients accept they seriously defamed you.
That's a de facto admission of guilt,
which means they will settle and pay damages. Congratulations.
Thank you.
They're as keen as I am to get this settled as soon as possible
but I think that you should be there in person to receive your apology.
Where?
The Royal Courts Of Justice.
I know you value your privacy
and you've been to hell and back on this,
but I think it's important.
You owe it to yourself, Christopher.
After what those buggers did to you, you deserve an apology.
The train at platform 19
is the 10.30 First Great Western service
to London Paddington,
calling at Bath Spa,
Chippenham...
- All right? - No.
We'd better go.
- Anything from Christopher? - Not yet.
It's strange.
School teachers are never late.
Hi, Nigel. How are you doing? Good to see you.
My Lord, in this action I appear for the claimant,
Christopher Jeffries, a retired school master of good character,
who taught English at Clifton College for 34 years.
Mr Jeffries was arrested on the suspicion
of the murder of Joanna Yeates
and subsequently released without charge.
Following his arrest, the newspapers represented today
published various articles
which suggested there were strong grounds
to suspect Mr Jeffries had killed Joanna Yeates.
Several of them went on to make scandalous allegations
that he acted in an inappropriate, over-sexualised manner...
...in his capacity as a landlord of two flats
in the building where he lives.
Some of the articles went on to suggest that he was...
...responsible for an unsolved murder...
...the defendants are here today to acknowledge
that the allegations which were published about Mr Jeffries
are entirely untrue
and to apologise to Mr Jeffries
for the seriously defamatory articles...
...have also agreed to pay substantial damages.
My Lord, my client The Sun...
- The Daily Mirror... - The Sunday Mirror...
- The Daily Record... - The Daily Mail...
- The Daily Star... - The Daily Express...
The Scotsman apologise to Mr Jeffries
for publishing false allegations about him
and very much regret the distress our publication caused,
agreed to pay substantial damages,
and to pay his legal costs to the Claimant.
A full apology will be printed in the newspaper tomorrow morning.
Why didn't you go?
Why weren't you gloating on the steps of the courtroom?
Savouring the moment of your triumph?
I was about to do just that.
I'd even boarded the train,
but...
But what?
Then I realised the last thing I wanted was to appear...
triumphalist in any way.
Especially with this tragedy at the heart of it.
What a load of, I mean forgive me, utter bollocks.
Excuse me?
Yes, the loss of Jo's life is tragic,
but what those papers did to you is still terrible.
The fact you survived it all is astonishing,
the fact you turned it around is miraculous.
- You should be triumphalist. - It's not appropriate.
It's too soon and my face would be all over the front pages again.
You don't seriously believe any of those things they wrote about you?
Well, no.
- Then why think anyone else would? - Because...
they did.
I mean, let's be honest.
When the papers came out people judged me.
They... They couldn't look me in the eye.
Why? Because...
at some level the allegations, as
dreadful as they were,
must have rung true.
My face...
fit.
Why?
Look,
at school when you taught me
you were always known as an eccentric, even then.
I always took pride in the fact that
in this country we're rather good at tolerating eccentrics,
celebrating them even,
but in this case we let ourselves down.
There's nothing dark or sinister about you.
You're the most decent, law-abiding man I know.
You've never even had a parking ticket, for God's sake.
You're just...
different,
an odd number, not even,
which is why it's so important that instead of hiding away now
you step into the limelight.
I don't want to be a victim on a podium.
Oh, Christopher, this is being a victim.
Bottles of wine in the afternoon, the curtains closed.
- Guilty! - What?
They've found Vincent Tabak guilty.
- Of manslaughter? - Murder.
- Hello? - Christopher, have you heard...
Sorry. My other phone's ringing. Just a second.
...are words that have been written by David and Teresa Yeates.
They're representative of their thoughts and their feelings
as they've gone through this whole process day after day
We never considered this trial as a process of justice for Jo.
The last four weeks have been
more stressful and intense than we imagined.
We came here with little hope or expectation
of hearing what happened on 17th December.
But needed to see him, and to hear what he had to say.
We saw no emotion or remorse or regret for what he did to Jo.
We felt that all emotion expressed by him was false.
All we heard were words of self pity.
The capital punishment is not a possible option for his sentence.
The best we can hope for him is that he spends
the rest of his life incarcerated
where his life is a living hell.
Jo was not allowed to start her own family,
have children and achieve her potential.
We will never get over our loss,
how she was murdered and the total lack of respect
with which...
The Tabak's defence has always been that he'd seen Jo
through the ground-floor window,
she'd beckoned him inside flirtatiously,
so at one point during the cross-examination,
the prosecution asked Tabak to show the court
the beckoning gesture that she had given him.
And do you know what he did?
She didn't beckon him at all.
She just waved hello.
There's more and more stuff coming out now
that wasn't admissible during the trail.
And Tanja knew nothing of this, his girlfriend?
Not a clue.
He managed to fool everybody.
The things you can get away with if you look... normal.
Listen, Christopher,
I... I got a phone call today
from a friend of mine, a solicitor at Collyer Bristow.
And he wondered if you might consider appearing
at the Leveson Inquiry.
His firm is representing all the core participants.
What is the Leveson Inquiry?
It's been set up in the light of the phone hacking scandals
to see whether current press regulation is effective.
Clearly not, and to make recommendations,
on how it might be improved.
What do they want from you?
My story as told by me in my own words.
I've told them I couldn't do it.
Why not?
Well, I'm not a crusading activist.
I'm a retiring, retired...
- You retired too early. - I was 55.
Hid himself away.
Absolute nonsense. I was leading a full and active life.
Of course. Letting out flats and serving
on a neighbourhood watch committee?
And studying for a degree in French
and acting as Deputy Chair on the Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society,
and many, many, many other things.
I can see that my being a responsible citizen
is a source of some amusement to you.
Now is the time to be responsible, Christopher.
Think of all the other Christopher Jeffries out there
and all those to come.
- They need a different person. - You already are a different person.
Just to inform you the express cafe is open, we serve
hot drinks, light refreshment, freshly-made sandwiches, hot and cold snacks
and we also have a selection of various wines and spirits.
Christopher. I... I'm grateful you could make it this time.
Well I can see this a very, very important thing to do.
How was your trip?
As they said, they're supposed to have a room set aside for people who testify.
Probably around here somewhere. Hello, Ben.
Right.
Thank you.
I'm gonna have to take this.
- Will you be all right? - Absolutely fine.
Yeah, okay. Yeah. No Sarah, the problem is...
You're the murdering landlord?
I'm joking. I mean, I know that it wasn't... it was the...
Danish guy.
Dutch.
You had a haircut.
Yes.
- I almost didn't recognise you. - That's the general idea.
- To be anonymous. - To be incognito.
Anonymous means without a name
and my haircut didn't depriveme of my name, only my hair.
Right.
Well, the press were right about one thing.
You do sound like a school teacher.
Well I suppose that would be an interesting observation to make
for someone who hadn't been one for 34 years.
Right.
- Steve. - Christopher.
How do you do?
And in which capacity are you here, Steve?
Are you a lawyer?
No, I'm not a lawyer.
I'm an actor.
And a comedian.
In fact, up until this moment, I would've said quite a famous one.
I'm sorry, light entertainment isn't really my field.
I'm also what they call...
a core participant, so I'm a fellow victim.
So were you accused of murder, too?
No, no. No, just... I mean, everything but...
and some of it true. No, just camped outside my house,
hacked my phones, door-stepped members of my family,
just run-of-the-mill abuse.
Goodness.
They'd say because I'm famous I'm fair game,
but that's horsesh. t, and it's very good people like you are here,
because, you know, you being a normal person,
I mean in so far as the press went into every aspect of your life
and I don't think they turned up so much as an overdue library book.
In fact, from what I read, you're something of a model citizen.
Albeit one who, you know, had...
a silly haircut.
To be in the limelight
is not really in my nature.
I leave that to esteemed professionals, like you.
I don't want to let anyone down.
Well, even esteemed professionals like me
get nervous in situations like this.
In fact, when I do get nervous, I find it helps
to imagine everyone as being stark-bollock naked.
Right.
We're off.
- Ready? - As much as I'll ever be.
Oh, wow. Hi. Big, big fan.
- Thank you. - Yes. Tropic Thunder... Yeah.
Murder At The Museum.
Night At The Museum, but don't worry about it.
Night. Yes. Yes. Alan Partridge. Ha-ha.
- Ha-ha. - Smell my cheese.
I'd like to call now Mr Christopher Jeffries.
I swear by almighty God the evidence I shall give
shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Another theme you touch on it's fair to say in paragraph 22 of your statement,
portraying you as a sexually-perverted voyeur...
Yes. I mean, it was... it was certainly suggested
that there may well have been some sort of sexual motivation
before the murder of Joanna Yeates
and, at the time, obviously, I was suspected of that murder.
- Go on. - On the other hand, it was,
- the... - They're naked, all of them.
Suggested in some of the articles
that I was gay,
so that presented a bit of a problem as far as that particular line...
Until the Press Complaints Commission or any other regulatory body
has the powers to fine newspapers
or to order them to make
financial compensation to their victims...
I asked him about the morning of December 30th last year,
when police knocked on his door and arrested him.
First, your clothes are taken away,
then your possessions
are taken away.
All these extraordinary falsehoods are woven around
this now almost...
personality, this identity...
I don't think it would be too strong a word
to say that it was a kind of rape
that had taken place.
I believe that the recommendations must be implemented in full
if we are ever to have a press that works in the public interest
and make some of the abuses suffered by...
With this sort of whirlwind all around you,
what does that do to you as a person?
What happened to me...
happened.
What happened to the McCanns...
happened.
What happened to Robert Murat...
happened.
Now it is no longer acceptable
for newspaper owners to control
the press complaints... system.
And as things stand
it seems...
And there's a talk show in Northern Ireland that have invited you.
Obviously, they'll pay for your travel and a hotel.
And I've also asked for an appearance fee, too.
There's also a request for a meeting with Nick Clegg
in London about the implementation of the Leveson Report.
And the Glasgow Literary Festival have been in touch.
They want to book you early for April 2013.
You'll make sure I get my travel expenses up-front this time?
Yes.
And you won't put me into another one of those Travel Lodges.
There's nothing wrong with Travel Lodges, Christopher.
Yes, well, of course, you've never had to stay in one, have you?
I heard you'd started going there.
Word gets around.
Is it as good as ours, then?
The Bread?
No, no,
nothing like.
- It's cheaper, though. - Not enough to make a difference,
but it has one principal advantage.
- What's that, then? - It's more...
anonymous.
I owe you an apology.
- Whatever for? - You know what for.
For the things I allowed myself to think,
for stupidity, total...
- It's fine. - It isn't fine.
I judged you as everyone else did. I should've known better.
I feel totally ashamed of myself.
Anyway.
I am here on behalf of...
all of us, all of Bristol.
I'm so sorry. I'd be totally delighted
if you'd come back to our shop every day, like you used to.
There'll be a free loaf for you at 8.45 every morning.
For a month.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Yeah.
Can I help you?
Greg.
The herb garden Jo had in mind.
Rosemary, sage,
thyme.
It's lovely.
I wanted to write to you,
but I... I didn't have an address.
What would you have said?
Thank you.
- What for? - The kind words you said in public
when I was arrested,
about not jumping to conclusions,
and you did it
at the most difficult time for you
and didn't need to.
You can't just stand by and do nothing when stuff like that's going on.
I've enough to regret as it is.
Going away that weekend.
What if I hadn't come to you for jump leads?
I wouldn't have gone to Sheffield, I'd have stayed here with Jo
and none of it would have happened.
- Hi, Chris. - Hey.
Good morning.
New tenants?
Yes.
- Our flat? - Yeah.
Do they know?
- Did you tell them what happened? - Yes.
They still rented it?
Yeah.
How long was it on the market?
Less than 24 hours.
Right.
Come whenever you like, Greg.
You're welcome any time.
You look well, Christopher.
I'm still the same person I always was.
No, you're not.
No, you're right.
- I'm not. - I'm glad one of us came out of it well.
I say that with no bitterness.
Look after the plants for her.
I will.