Dutch national Vincent Tabak has been charged with the murder of Joanna Yeates.
Tabak, 32, lived in the garden flat next door to tragic Jo, whose body was found on Christmas Day following her disappearance on December 17.
He was arrested on Thursday morning at a flat in Aberdeen Road, Bristol, where he was staying while detectives sealed off 44 Canynge Road for forensic examination.
Tabak was questioned for nearly three days before being charged on Saturday night and is due to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
This charge comes only three days after police erected a tarpaulin around the architectural engineer’s flat.
A statement released by Avon and Somerset Constabulary shortly before 9.30pm on Saturday said: ”Police investigating the death of Joanna Yeates have this evening (Saturday January 22) charged 32 year old Vincent Tabak with her murder.
”He will appear at Bristol magistrates court on Monday January 24 2011.”
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Jones, who lead the investigation, said: ”This evening we have charged Vincent Tabak with the murder of Joanna Yeates.
”I would like to pay tribute to Jo’s family and Greg for their assistance and dignity in the most difficult of circumstances. Their support to us has been invaluable.
”I would also like to thank the general public for their help and the information they continue to provide to the investigation, and the residents of Canynge Road for their co-operation and patience.”
Mr Tabak is an office workspace expert and is currently employed as a ‘people flow analyst’ at Buro Happold in Bath, Somerset.
The Dutch national was born in the village of Veghel near Eindhoven, the Netherlands, in February 1978.
He started studying for his six-year long master of science degree in Architecture, Building and Planning at Einhoven University in 1996, and graduated in 2003.
His PhD project ”User Simulation of Space Utilisation” looked at developing spaces within offices to aid movement and make the most of a building’s capacity.
Mr Tabak moved to Britain in 2007 to work at engineering firm Buro Happold in Bath, Somerset.
Since 2007, he has been working in SMART, the advanced analysis and simulation team, developing people flow projects, including schools and airports.
He moved into Flat 2 at 44 Canynge Road in 2009 and previously lived in Walcot Parade, Bath, the year before.
Mr Tabak shared the Canynge Road flat with his girlfriend Tanja Morson, a treasury analyst at Dyson in Malmesbury, Wilts.
Jo Yeates, 25, went missing after leaving drinks with work colleagues in the Bristol Ram pub at 8pm on December 17.
She visited a Waitrose, Bargain Booze and a Tesco store on her journey home, before making her way back to her flat through the leafy streets of Clifton.
But she was reported missing by her boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27, two days later on December 19 when he returned from a weekend in Sheffield with his family.
Her coat, keys and wallet were all found at her Canynge Road flat.
Dog walkers found the pretty blonde’s body on the roadside of Longwood Lane, in Failand, North Somerset, on Christmas Day – around three miles from her home.
Post mortem results found she had been strangled.
