Being a bit of a murder mystery fan, the case of Joanna Yeates, whose body was found on Christmas Day, has had me transfixed. Here is a murder straight out of P.D. James – with a dash of Agatha Christie thrown in.
We have an uneaten pizza (at least, uneaten by the victim, but who knows about the killer?), a missing snowboard case (the first thing Mr. Yeates noticed when he entered her Bristol flat), an obvious suspect (the eccentric ex public school landlord), a Dutch PhD student whose girlfriend is rumoured to have gone to the police with her suspicions, and even a connecting door (that's where Agatha Christie comes in).
More damning for the killer, we also have DNA, and the powerful and courageous contribution of the murdered girl's parents, who, rather than mourn and leave the investigation to the police, have taken the initiative, calling on the nation to get in touch with theirinner sleuth and help bring their daughter's murderer to justice.
"If you know something and you do not come forward, you are consciously hampering the apprehension of Jo's killer … Do you know anyone who hasn't been shocked or disturbed by the events surrounding Jo's murder? … We are sure that the killer will be brought to justice. When this happens, please think how you will feel if you knew the killer and you had questions in your mind, which you consciously refused to act on."
Nothing can bring your beloved child back, Mr. and Mrs. Yates, but you have conducted yourselves in a fashion which is itself a fitting tribute to her memory, and may set a template for future murder investigations.
We have an uneaten pizza (at least, uneaten by the victim, but who knows about the killer?), a missing snowboard case (the first thing Mr. Yeates noticed when he entered her Bristol flat), an obvious suspect (the eccentric ex public school landlord), a Dutch PhD student whose girlfriend is rumoured to have gone to the police with her suspicions, and even a connecting door (that's where Agatha Christie comes in).
More damning for the killer, we also have DNA, and the powerful and courageous contribution of the murdered girl's parents, who, rather than mourn and leave the investigation to the police, have taken the initiative, calling on the nation to get in touch with their
"If you know something and you do not come forward, you are consciously hampering the apprehension of Jo's killer … Do you know anyone who hasn't been shocked or disturbed by the events surrounding Jo's murder? … We are sure that the killer will be brought to justice. When this happens, please think how you will feel if you knew the killer and you had questions in your mind, which you consciously refused to act on."
Nothing can bring your beloved child back, Mr. and Mrs. Yates, but you have conducted yourselves in a fashion which is itself a fitting tribute to her memory, and may set a template for future murder investigations.
4 comments:
Apparently students at the university where he studied years ago are collecting for his legal expenses. It seems the Dutch are taking it pretty hard.
It would be interesting what the Dutch newspapers are making of it. On the one hand, the police appear to have cocked up by arresting the landlord (unless they were in it together - rather unlikely, I'd have thought), and, on the other, the second arrest comes after DNA has come into the picture. They must fear the worst.
I was certain that it was the dodgy weirdo landlord who dunnit.
Then when they splashed his face all over the papers and dug up those old school photos of him with blue hair, I thought to myself: "It's definitely him! Only an eccentric blue haired freak could do such a thing!"
So I was quite surprised when they let him go after three days of questioning.
The first thing I thought was: "Well, if he's not a murderer he's definitely a pedo."
You're wasted in Hong Kong, Mr T. They need you on CSI: New York.
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