22:34
Tieng Anh Vui
The former landlord of murder victim Jo Yeates has been sent a letter by police saying "sorry" for distress he suffered during the probe into her death.
Christopher Jefferies was arrested after the 25-year-old was found dead in December 2010, but eliminated from the inquiry several months later.
Avon and Somerset Police said it should have issued a statement straight away indicating he was no longer a suspect.
Mr Jefferies has said he was "vilified" by the media following the arrest.
His detention over the murder sparked massive press interest, and he later successfully sued a number of newspapers for libel.
Ms Yeates, who lived in Bristol and rented a flat from Mr Jefferies, was killed by neighbour Vincent Tabak.
Tabak was jailed for a minimum of 20 years after being found guilty of her murder by a jury at Bristol Crown Court in October 2011.
'Discuss lessons'
In the letter to Mr Jefferies, dated 5 August, the new Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset, Nick Gargan, said: "I write formally to acknowledge the hurt that you suffered as a result of that arrest, detention and eventual release on police bail in connection with the murder of Joanna Yeates in December 2010 and which was the subject of huge media interest.
"I accept unequivocally that you played no part in the murder and that you are wholly innocent of the crime."
The BBC's Jon Kay said it was highly unusual for police to send a letter of exoneration stating the total innocence of a former suspect.
In 2012, Mr Jefferies told the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics that he had been told police had "inadvertently leaked" information about him after he was arrested, which led him to be "shamelessly vilified" by the press.
Although Mr Gargan did not refer to this in his letter, he accepted that the force had failed to "make it clear publicly" that Mr Jeffries was no longer considered a suspect when he was released from bail on 5 March 2011.
"While it is not normal practice to make such a public statement, in the circumstances of the exceptional media attention your arrest attracted I acknowledge we should have considered this and I am very sorry for the suffering you experienced as a result," he said.
However, he also stressed that "we believe your arrest was an integral step in this challenging and complex investigation".
Mr Gargan added that "all DNA, fingerprint and photographic evidence" regarding Mr Jefferies had been destroyed.
He also said he would like to meet Mr Jefferies to "discuss any lessons" the force could learn from his experience.
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