I realise that the police have said the boyfriend is not currently being treated as a suspect, I personally think that is only temporary for the following reasons:
1) Language. The boyfriend used past tense in an interview when Joanne was only known to be missing. A big red flag that he has knowledge that she is deceased.
2) Timeline. The boyfriend's alibi seems to be a little sketchy at best. All that has really been stated is that he was 'away', and returned on the Sunday evening. Hopefully data from his computer and mobile phone can clear this part up. Certainly the
response of his half-brother to the media showed some sensitivity.
3) Story Cohesiveness. If the function at the pub that Joanne attended was work related, why didn't the boyfriend attend? Did they not work at the same place? If they're a couple why wouldn't they attend a work (or even work-based) function together?
4) Timeline. From the various reports it only took Joanne's parents 30 minutes in the apartment to be certain that she had been abducted. Everything I have seen indicates that the boyfriend was home for four hours before he thought it appropriate to contact police (I read in one post that he sat down and watched TV - I'm not sure if this has been verified). This doesn't seem to me like a viable time period.
5)
Non-verbal cues. From the photographs in
this article:
a] The boyfriend appears to be trying to hide as much of himself as possible when visiting the site where Joanne was found. From his hat, collar and sleeves, he seems to be ensuring as little as possible of him is visible, without making it too obvious that he is hiding. I suspect this may even be a subconscious/unconscious act on his part (rather than deliberate, ie; to deliberately make himself less recognisable to any possible witnesses), but either way it indicates he has something to hide. Yes, I realise it is cold, but look at all they other people, they are ALL dressed so their heads/faces are clearly visible.
b] In an earlier image, pre-discovery, where the boyfriend is crying at a press conference, the boyfriend's face actually looks like it may be a microexpression where he is attempting to hide a smile (his lips are certainly upturned), with the microsmile potentially betraying his pleasure at successful deception.
Each of these things on it's own may seem relatively inconsequential, but I think when considered together point to the fact that the boyfriend may have been involved. I will not be shocked if they announce he has been arrested/taken in for questioning.