Yeates killing reports broke law

29 July 2011 Last updated at 09:21 ET

Mr Jefferies was the subject of media scrutiny after he was arrested

Two newspapers broke the law when reporting the investigation into landscape architect Jo Yeates’ killing, the High Court has ruled.

It said reports in the Daily Mirror and the Sun about early suspect Christopher Jefferies were in contempt of court.

Mr Jefferies, who was “entirely innocent”, had earlier accepted “substantial damages” from eight newspapers over separate libel claims.

He accepted an undisclosed sum and public apology, his lawyer said.

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, told the contempt hearing that two articles in the Mirror and one Sun report would have presented a substantial risk of prejudicing Mr Jefferies’ defence, had he faced trial over the killing.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve welcomed the judgement and said it acted as “a reminder to the press that the Contempt of Court Act applies from the time of arrest”.

The act aims to prevent potential jurors from becoming influenced by press and broadcast reports.

Mr Grieve’s office said the publicity could have affected the ability to gather evidence and establish identity if, for example, a witness who had read the coverage refused to assist with the investigation or the person’s defence.

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