Jo Yeates's mum offers to do reconstruction

Jo's body has been released to her family so funeral preparations can begin.

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Joanna Yeates' Body Released To Her Family

1:13pm UK, Monday January 31, 2011

Katie Stallard, West of England correspondent
The body of Joanna Yeates has been released to her family so that they can begin to plan her funeral.

Joanna Yeates

Joanna Yeates' body was found on Christmas Day

The information emerged during a preliminary hearing for Miss Yeates' neighbour, Vincent Tabak, who is accused of killing the young architect some time between December 16 and December 26.

The Dutch engineer appeared at Bristol Crown Court via videolink from HMP Long Lartin, in Worcestershire, as a timetable for the trial was set out.

Michael Fitton QC, representing Tabak, told the court that pathologist Dr Nat Carey had "consented to the release of the body of the deceased".

The developments come as new pictures of Miss Yeates with her boyfriend Greg Reardon and her friends were released by Crimewatch.

The television programme had reconstructed her final moments to prompt witnesses to come forward.

Joanna Yeates with her boyfriend Greg Reardon and a friend

New pictures of Joanna Yeates (left) with her boyrfriend Greg and a friend

In court, Tabak was shown on a screen, seated at a table with his hands clasped in front of him, and wearing a red jumper and dark trousers.

He appeared calm and relaxed as proceedings were relayed to him.

A plea hearing was set for May 4, and Tabak was told that a provisional trial date had also been fixed for October 4 at Bristol Crown Court.

However, the judge, the Hon Mr Justice Treacy, stressed this was subject to "further consideration".

He told Tabak: "Your next appearance in court will be May 4 - do you understand?"

Tabak replied: "Yes, I understand. Thank you."

The accused made no application for bail and was remanded in custody at the end of the hearing.

Trilingual Tabak lived next door to Miss Yeates with his girlfriend, Tanja Morson.

He was the second person to be arrested after Miss Yeates' body was found dumped by the side of a road on Christmas Day.

Her boyfriend Greg Reardon had reported her missing six days earlier.

A post-mortem revealed the 25-year-old had been strangled.

A 66-year-old man remains on police bail on suspicion of Miss Yeates' murder.