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29 July 2011
Last updated at 09:48 ET
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.
Miss Yeates vanished after returning to her basement flat in Bristol's Clifton area on 17 December.
Her body was found on a grass verge about three miles away on Christmas Day.
Mr Jefferies was arrested on suspicion of murder on December 30 but later released without charge.
'Vilified' However, some press coverage in the aftermath was found to have cast doubt over his character.
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, told the contempt hearing that two articles in the Mirror had "vilified" Mr Jefferies.
They had asserted he had been involved in unacceptable sexual behaviour and was linked both to paedophile offences and a 1974 murder, he said.
"These articles would have provided Mr Jefferies with a serious argument that a fair trial would have been impossible," the judge added.
Likewise, the Sun had conveyed the impression Mr Jefferies was "a stalker, with an obsession with death".
The court is expected to rule on punishments for the publications later.
'Reminder' 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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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.
Miss Yeates vanished after returning to her basement flat in Bristol's Clifton area on 17 December.
Her body was found on a grass verge about three miles away on Christmas Day.
Mr Jefferies was arrested on suspicion of murder on December 30 but later released without charge.
'Vilified' However, some press coverage in the aftermath was found to have cast doubt over his character.
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, told the contempt hearing that two articles in the Mirror had "vilified" Mr Jefferies.
They had asserted he had been involved in unacceptable sexual behaviour and was linked both to paedophile offences and a 1974 murder, he said.
"These articles would have provided Mr Jefferies with a serious argument that a fair trial would have been impossible," the judge added.
Likewise, the Sun had conveyed the impression Mr Jefferies was "a stalker, with an obsession with death".
The court is expected to rule on punishments for the publications later.
'Reminder' 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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