Joanna Yeates' Body Released To Her Family3:41pm UK, Monday January 31, 2011
Katie Stallard, West of England correspondent
The information emerged during a preliminary hearing for Miss Yeates' neighbour, Vincent Tabak, who is accused of killing the young architect some time between December 16 and December 26.
The Dutch engineer appeared at Bristol Crown Court via videolink from HMP Long Lartin, in Worcestershire, as a timetable for the trial was set out.
Michael Fitton QC, representing Tabak, told the court that pathologist Dr Nat Carey had "consented to the release of the body of the deceased" a week ago after carrying out a post mortem.
The developments come as new pictures of Miss Yeates with her boyfriend Greg Reardon and her friends were released by Crimewatch.
The television programme had reconstructed her final moments to prompt witnesses to come forward, but the scenes were not shown following Tabak's arrest.
Joanna Yeates with her boyfriend Greg Reardon and a friend
New pictures of Joanna Yeates (left) with her boyrfriend Greg and a friend
In court, Tabak was shown on a screen, seated at a table with his hands clasped in front of him, and wearing a red jumper and dark trousers.
He appeared calm and relaxed as proceedings were relayed to him.
A plea hearing was set for May 4, and Tabak was told that a provisional trial date had also been fixed for October 4 at Bristol Crown Court.
However, the judge, the Hon Mr Justice Treacy, stressed this was subject to "further consideration".
He told Tabak: "Your next appearance in court will be May 4 - do you understand?"
Tabak replied: "Yes, I understand. Thank you."
The accused made no application for bail and was remanded in custody at the end of the hearing.
Trilingual Tabak lived next door to Miss Yeates with his girlfriend, Tanja Morson.
He was the second person to be arrested after Miss Yeates' body was found dumped by the side of a road on Christmas Day.
Her boyfriend Greg Reardon had reported her missing six days earlier.
A post-mortem revealed the 25-year-old had been strangled.
A 66-year-old man remains on police bail on suspicion of Miss Yeates' murder.
Michael Fitton QC, representing Tabak, told the court that pathologist Dr Nat Carey had "consented to the release of the body of the deceased" a week ago after carrying out a post mortem.So on the 24th January 2011 Dr Carey authorised the release of Joanna Yeates body!
We have had no application for bail at this point.... we now know that Dr Vincent Tabak was still using Paul Cook and Micheal Fitton QC..
Back to my earlier question... Did Clegg get the files from Fitton and Cook?? what was held in these files... Dr Carey's examination was obviously held there... Did Clegg receive the files from Cook and Fitton?? Did they interview any witness's??
Within 4 days of Dr Vincent Tabak being charged Joanna Yeates body has been released... With no Evidence that Dr Vincent Tabak is responsible, no investigation been carried out, by the Defence Councel, not having enough time to do this... they allow for Joanna Yeates body to be released???
Did Dr Vincent Tabak have any say in this ?? Did they get his consent??
Within the time frame that Cook and Fitton represented Dr Vincent Tabak he had been moved prisons 3 times within 48 hours from Bristol, to Gloucester , from Gloucester to Long Lartin... what access did they manage to get of their client?? At any time??
Dr Vincent Tabak hasn't accepted any responsibility... he hasn't had access to his family or girlfriend, he hasn't had time to know what the best course of action should be....
Lets just think about what that is saying... article date: 31st January 2011
A week previous.....................................................: 24th January 2011
So 2 days after Dr Vincent Tabak has been charged, no evidence that Dr Vincent Tabak committed this crime... No Bail applied for, nothing even establishing Dr Vincent Tabak's whereabouts for that weekend... Nothing establishing where or when Joanna Yeates had been killed... Dr Carey , whom The Defence of the time appear to have used, decides to let the body of Joanna Yeates go....
The 24th January 2011 being Dr Vincent Tabak's first day in court, where he appeared at Bristol magistrates, where nothing had been decided whatsoever....
I think all that happened that day was that Dr Vincent Tabak agreed his name was Dr Vincent Tabak.... and that was it..... My God.... a bit quick of the mark.....
Looks like the case was done and dusted before he had time to speak to anyone.... Did Paul Cook or Micheal Fitton QC actually even speak to Dr Vincent Tabak??
The evidence at that time would have been minimal... They hadn't time to inquire or cross reference anything....
Who actually sent Dr Carey to perform this examination???
This case is mighty weird..... (imo) Why was Dr Vincent Tabak not allowed to apply for Bail??? Why would he not want Bail???
As I say.... It appears that everything was done and dusted early on..... weird!!
https://web.archive.org/web/20101227084703/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Joanna-Yeates-New-CCTV-Pictures-Of-Architect-Who-Disappeared-A-Week-Ago-In-Bristol/Article/201012415868004http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Joanna-Yeates-New-CCTV-Pictures-Of-Architect-Who-Disappeared-A-Week-Ago-In-Bristol/Article/201012415868004