Tabak girlfriend tells of sorrow for victim

Tanja Morson’s father has also said that a “guardian angel” had kept her safe from the man they now know to be a killer.

Miss Morson, 34, initially stood by her boyfriend, finding it impossible to believe he was a killer.

But Tabak had deceived and manipulated her.

She turned her back on him after he confessed to a voluntary prison chaplain in February that he had killed the 25-year-old landscape architect.

In her only statement, Miss Morson said: “I would like to extend my deepest sorrow and sympathy to the Yeates family for their loss.

“I am thankful to the judge, the jury, the barristers and solicitors for all their ongoing attention and professionalism.”

On Friday, Tabak was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years at Bristol Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of murdering Miss Yeates.

Miss Morson’s father, Geoffrey, who lives in Cambridgeshire said his daughter was still absorbing the verdict.

The Canadian 68-year-old lawyer added: “He fooled us. He fooled everybody. There was a guardian angel for us, but not unfortunately for Joanna.”

During sentencing Mr Justice Field described Tabak as “thoroughly deceitful, dishonest and manipulative”.

Mr Morson believes his daughter had a lucky escape from the man he had once thought would become their son-in-law.

Tabak and Miss Morson began seeing each other in November 2008 after she contacted him through the online dating site Guardian Soulmates.

They had set up home together in Canynge Road in Clifton, Bristol and Miss Morson had dreamt of marrying Tabak.