Bristol Magistrates have extended the length of time that Avon and Somerset Police can hold their Joanna Yeates murder suspect in custody without charge.
A brief statement on the Force's website says: "Police have today, Friday December 31, been granted more time to question a 65-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday December 30, by Magistrates."
The man in custody is retired teacher Chris Jefferies, who was Joanna's landlord before her death.
So what does that actually mean? The legislation governing police custody is the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. For Magistrates to authorise a continued period of detention without charge they must be satisfied it is "necessary to secure or preserve evidence relating to an offence for which (the suspect) is under arrest or to obtain such evidence by questioning".
So the police must still think they have a chance of unearthing enough evidence to charge Mr Jefferies.
The police haven't given many details, but the Magistrates could have extended Mr Jefferies' period of detention without charge by an additional 36 hours. After that time, which would expire at 7 am on Sunday (2nd, January 2011), the police would have to either seek a second extension from Magistrates (taking Mr Jefferies' period of detention without charge to the absolute maximum of 96 hours since his arrest) or release him without charge.
I remain sceptical.
In fact, as I hinted yesterday, I'm not convinced it's him.
A brief statement on the Force's website says: "Police have today, Friday December 31, been granted more time to question a 65-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday December 30, by Magistrates."
The man in custody is retired teacher Chris Jefferies, who was Joanna's landlord before her death.
So what does that actually mean? The legislation governing police custody is the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. For Magistrates to authorise a continued period of detention without charge they must be satisfied it is "necessary to secure or preserve evidence relating to an offence for which (the suspect) is under arrest or to obtain such evidence by questioning".
So the police must still think they have a chance of unearthing enough evidence to charge Mr Jefferies.
The police haven't given many details, but the Magistrates could have extended Mr Jefferies' period of detention without charge by an additional 36 hours. After that time, which would expire at 7 am on Sunday (2nd, January 2011), the police would have to either seek a second extension from Magistrates (taking Mr Jefferies' period of detention without charge to the absolute maximum of 96 hours since his arrest) or release him without charge.
I remain sceptical.
In fact, as I hinted yesterday, I'm not convinced it's him.
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