Killer ‘might have kept Joanna’s missing sock’

Murder victim Joanna Yeates could have been strangled with her own sock which her killer might have kept as a trophy.

Police believe the missing grey ski sock may hold the key to solving the murder of the landscape architect whose snow-covered body was found on Christmas morning.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Jones, who is leading the murder inquiry, has not ruled out the possibility the 25-year-old’s killer may have used the sock to strangle her or that they kept it.

Miss Yeates was found dead in Longwood Lane, Failand, North Somerset, wearing just one sock. She was not wearing her coat or boots either but those items were recovered from her flat in Canynge Road, Clifton, Bristol.

Holding up a box containing a similar long, ski-style size five grey sock, Mr Jones said: “I am here this morning to talk to you about a missing sock. When Jo was found on Christmas Day morning in Longwood Lane, although she was fully clothed, she was not wearing her jacket, she was not wearing her boots and she was only wearing one sock.

“The jacket and the boots have been found at her home address. That would indicate that Jo had returned home. However, at this present time the sock has not been found. It hasn’t been found at Longwood Lane and it hasn’t been found at her home address. It is described as a light grey sock with lighter detail on the toes, heel and shin.”

The detective said he was “keeping an open mind” about whether the killer or killers could be keeping the sock as some sort of trophy or whether Miss Yeates was strangled with it.

Following the appeal for the missing sock – the type bought in an outdoor shop – a man approached police outside Miss Yeates’s flat and handed over a grey sock.

The sock was put into an evidence bag but later police said at this stage it was not the sock they were looking for.

Mr Jones also confirmed that the killer or killers may have tried to put Miss Yeates’s body over a wall into the quarry on Longwood Lane but instead left her on the grass verge.

Mr Jones would not confirm directly that police were using a criminal profiler but said his team were receiving assistance from various expert sources.

Meanwhile, Avon and Somerset Police has been accused of censorship after an ITV news crew was stopped from entering a press conference called to discuss developments in the Joanna Yeates murder investigation.

The police force complained to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom about a report shown on ITV’s News at Ten on Tuesday night which criticised their investigation.

A spokesman for the force described the report as “naive and irresponsible”, adding: “A live murder investigation has been under way now for just twelve days and the media have played an important role in helping us to appeal for witnesses. While we appreciate the support we have received so far from most of the media we must step in if we feel coverage will hamper the investigation. Our primary aim will always be to secure justice for Joanna.”

He refused to say whether ITV news would be allowed into subsequent briefings.

A spokesman for Ofcom confirmed a complaint had been received.

An ITV News spokesman said the decision to bar them from yesterday’s press conference was hugely disappointing.