Tabloids Face Charges Over Jo Yeates Coverage

Two national newspapers are facing contempt allegations over their coverage of the killing of landscape architect Joanna Yeates.

The High Court gave Government lawyers permission today to pursue contempt proceedings against the publishers of The Sun and Daily Mirror.

It relates to articles published after the death of Miss Yeates, 25, of Bristol, in December, and the arrest of Miss Yeates's landlord Chris Jefferies.

A lawyer representing Attorney General Dominic Grieve told the High Court in London that two Mirror articles and one Sun article might have prejudiced a trial.

Mr Jefferies was later released without charge, the court was told.

Judge Lord Justice Moses said there was clearly an "arguable" case against the newspapers and gave permission for contempt proceedings to go ahead.

The hearing was adjourned to a date to be fixed.

Lawyers said outside court that two High Court judges would probably be asked to decide whether the newspapers were in contempt at a hearing in London, which would probably last two days.

A 33-year-old engineer has admitted killing Miss Yeates.

Dutchman Vincent Tabak pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder at a hearing earlier this month.

Tabak, who lived next door to Miss Yeates in Clifton, Bristol, is due to go on trial accused of murder at Bristol Crown Court in October.

Miss Yeates disappeared on December 17 after going for Christmas drinks with colleagues.

Her frozen body was found on a roadside verge in Failand, north Somerset, on Christmas Day.