Joanna Yeates's murderer Vincent Tabak could serve part of his life sentence in the Netherlands, a leading lawyer claims.
The 33-year-old Dutch engineer was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in jail after a jury found him guilty of throttling the 25-year-old.
But Tabak could request to be moved to his native country under international prison transfer rules.
Lawyer Andrew Gregg, a past chairman of the Bristol Law Society, told the BBC a treaty exists between Britain and Holland which would mean Tabak could be moved to a jail in the Netherlands.
Mr Gregg, from Bristol-based Gregg Latchams, said: "Whether that happens is a matter for the authorities."
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said it would not comment on individual prisoner's circumstances.
Miss Yeates's family said they wished Tabak's life to become a "living hell" as his perversions for violent pornography and prostitutes were revealed for the first time. Her parents David and Teresa - who were too distraught to attend court - said in a statement how they "regret that capital punishment is not a possible option".
Her relatives added: "The best we can hope for him is that he spends the rest of his life incarcerated where his life is a living hell, being the recipient of all evils, deprivations and degradations that his situation can provide."
The Dutchman is also facing further questioning by police over fresh allegations relating to material discovered on his computer hard drive.
Avon and Somerset Police have refused to give any more information on what Tabak may be questioned about.
