Parents see Joanna killer in court

Joanna Yeates' parents David and Teresa Yeates arrive at Bristol Crown Court
12 April 2012

The parents of landscape architect Joanna Yeates have come face to face for the first time in court with their daughter's killer.

David and Teresa Yeates were at Bristol Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing for Vincent Tabak.

The couple have not seen Tabak in person in court before as the defendant has appeared by videolink from prison at the previous hearings they attended.

They arrived and left court hand in hand, accompanied by two police officers.

Tabak, a Dutch engineer, has admitted the manslaughter of Miss Yeates, a 25-year-old graduate, but denies her murder.

The charge states that Tabak "unlawfully killed" Miss Yeates between December 16 and December 19.

The greying 33-year-old wore glasses, a white shirt, blue tie and grey suit for the 30 minute hearing before Judge Martin Picton.

Miss Yeates' parents sat in the second row of the public gallery and Mrs Yeates occasionally looked over her shoulder towards Tabak.

The hearing was being held to finalise arrangements for the four-week trial, which is due to begin on October 4 before Mr Justice Field. The case was adjourned until the trial and Tabak was remanded into custody.

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

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