Geoffrey Hardyman, a neighbour of landscape architect
Joanna Yeates, has told a court he did not hear any screams on the night she died.
My Hardyman told Bristol crown court that suffering from a cold he had gone to bed at 11pm – after the time of Miss Yeates’ death – on the night of December 17 2010.
Joanna Yates was killed in her flat by 33-year-old Dutch engineer Vincent Tabak. Miss Yates’ snow covered body was found on Christmas Day last year, about three miles away from where she was last seen alive in Clifton, Bristol.
Tabak denies murder but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
In a statement read by defence counsel Dean Armstrong, the court heard how My Hardyman a retired teacher, heard no sounds from Miss Yeates’ ground floor flat and was ‘unaware of any activity outside’ the property.
‘I sat in my flat all day Saturday and Sunday and was unaware of anything out of the ordinary outside of my flat,’ the statement continued.
The court was told that Mr Hardyman only became aware of Miss Yeates’ disappearance after being informed on the Monday morning by her landlord Christopher Jefferies.
After the statement had been read to court, the defence case was formally closed by William Clegg QC.
Jurors will return to court tomorrow when closing speeches will be made by Nigel Lickley QC and Mr Clegg.
