Jo Yeates' landlord: "I've had no apologies since my vilification in the press"
THE Clifton landlord who was wrongly arrested for the murder of his tenant Joanna Yeates, revealed he has yet to receive a written apology from any of the editors or reporters responsible for his "vilification" in the national press.
Christopher Jefferies, won substantial libel damages from eight newspapers following their coverage of his arrest in connection with the architect's disappearance in 2010. He was released without charge while another tenant, Vincent Tabak, was later sentenced to life for murder.
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Christopher Jefferies
Sixty-seven-year-old retired teacher Mr Jefferies has now called for an independent press regulator, backed up by law, ahead of the long-awaited Leveson Inquiry report due out on Thursday. Speaking to The Observer, he said: "I have not had a letter of apology from any of the editors, any of the journalists. The editor of The Scotsman described it as a mistake. He didn't elaborate."
Coverage of the murder investigation by The Post was not among those that libelled Mr Jefferies.
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The Lord Chief Justice described reports on Mr Jefferies by some newspapers following Miss Yeates' disappearance as "vilification".
After giving evidence to the inquiry into press standards, Mr Jefferies voiced surprise at claims by a former Daily Star journalist after he quit the paper in protest at what he said was its anti-Muslim propaganda.
Richard Peppiatt told the inquiry that the newspaper shaped stories to fit its "ideological perspective" and that quotes and details of articles were regularly made up.
Mr Jefferies told The Observer: "I have not had much time for that end of the journalistic market place but I was rather shocked, despite what happened to me.
"But to effect, in a rather calculated way, to whip up a campaign against a whole section of the population that is vulnerable, is truly shocking."
David Cameron set up the Leveson Inquiry in July last year in response to revelations that the News of the World commissioned a private detective to hack murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone after she disappeared in 2002.
The report into the inquiry's first part, looking at the culture, practices and ethics of the press, will be published on Thursday, including recommendations for press regulation.
Comments
by MrsFJH
Tuesday, November 27 2012, 1:06PM
“The same guy who complained about media attention has put himself back in the spotlight. The irony!!!!”
by DockLobster
Monday, November 26 2012, 11:22AM
“Perhaps the ridiculously large amounts of cash were not enough then...
Perhaps he could donate them to charity?”
by monkeyspank
Monday, November 26 2012, 11:21AM
“He has been paid a considerable amount of money for his vilification by the press.
If I was him I would just be quiet and retain whatever dignity remains.
Joanna Yates was brutally murdered, and while what happened to Mr Jefferies was unfortunate and unfair it pales into insignificance when compared to what Joanna and her parents went through.
I know of Mr Jefferies and he IS an odd character, he is not doing himself any favors by banging the injustice drum non stop.
I think most people involved just want to move on now.”
by lolly60
Monday, November 26 2012, 9:25AM
“Maybe at the time he shouldn't of said to reporters he might know something about the poor girls last night and that he had seen her ,which I fact wasn't true .”
by bris28
Monday, November 26 2012, 8:42AM
“What happened to this man's legal action against the Avon and Somerset police force. Has he been quietly paid off by the force or has his action been dropped. Shouldn't we be told? Perhaps the Post or Radio B will tell us.”