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Christopher Jefferies claims police leaked information | Christopher Jefferies claims police leaked information |
(40 minutes later) | |
Jo Yeates's former landlord has accused police of leaking information about him to journalists after he was wrongly arrested on suspicion of her murder. | Jo Yeates's former landlord has accused police of leaking information about him to journalists after he was wrongly arrested on suspicion of her murder. |
In a statement, Christopher Jefferies said "information had been deliberately leaked" after his arrest. | In a statement, Christopher Jefferies said "information had been deliberately leaked" after his arrest. |
Daily Mirror editor Richard Wallace told the Leveson Inquiry into press standards that police had given off-the-record briefings on Mr Jefferies. | Daily Mirror editor Richard Wallace told the Leveson Inquiry into press standards that police had given off-the-record briefings on Mr Jefferies. |
Colin Port, the Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police, denied the claims. | Colin Port, the Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police, denied the claims. |
He said the force was "actively challenging" Mr Wallace's allegations. | He said the force was "actively challenging" Mr Wallace's allegations. |
The force said it would not be issuing a further statement about Mr Jefferies' allegations. | |
'Flagrant breach' | 'Flagrant breach' |
Mr Jefferies accepted a libel payout from eight national newspapers, including the Daily Mirror, over false claims they made against him following the murder of his tenant. | Mr Jefferies accepted a libel payout from eight national newspapers, including the Daily Mirror, over false claims they made against him following the murder of his tenant. |
The statement from Mr Jefferies' lawyers added leaks by "as yet unidentified individuals" were in "flagrant breach of their duty". | |
"Our client strongly believes this to be the case, as there was information within the public domain which was only known to those privy to the investigation material. | "Our client strongly believes this to be the case, as there was information within the public domain which was only known to those privy to the investigation material. |
"Our client is of the view that this information had been leaked and we share that view. | "Our client is of the view that this information had been leaked and we share that view. |
"There needs to be an independent inquiry into this potentially criminal conduct on the part of officers from Avon and Somerset Police, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service. | "There needs to be an independent inquiry into this potentially criminal conduct on the part of officers from Avon and Somerset Police, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service. |
"As regards any legal action against Avon and Somerset Police for wrongful arrest, this is a matter which remains under review." | "As regards any legal action against Avon and Somerset Police for wrongful arrest, this is a matter which remains under review." |
Barry Hughes, from CPS South West, said: "There is no truth whatsoever in the serious allegations made against the CPS by the solicitor acting for Mr Jefferies. | |
'Serious claim' | |
"I am not aware of any evidence given to the Leveson inquiry to date that has suggested that any members of the CPS have leaked information to journalists. | |
"I am disappointed that a firm of solicitors should make such a serious claim without referring the matter to the CPS directly." | |
Mr Jefferies, who owned Miss Yeates's flat at 44 Canynge Road, Bristol, was questioned by detectives for two days before being released. | |
Dutch national Vincent Tabak was later convicted of Miss Yeates's murder. | Dutch national Vincent Tabak was later convicted of Miss Yeates's murder. |
During his trial it was revealed that Tabak had implicated Mr Jefferies by telephoning police and making false allegations against him. | During his trial it was revealed that Tabak had implicated Mr Jefferies by telephoning police and making false allegations against him. |
Tabak was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in jail for killing the landscape architect. |