Jill Dando was a BBC journalist and presenter, famous for her role in popular shows such as Holiday and Crimewatch. On April 26, 1999, Ms Dando was fatally shot outside her home in Fulham, London, in broad daylight, with a single bullet to the head. Almost 20 years on, her murder remains unsolved, however, a new BBC documentary “The Murder of Jill Dando” is set to re-examine some of the key parts of the case. 

Initially, local man Barry George was convicted of the killing but he was cleared after a retrial in 2008.

Prior to his now-overturned conviction, Mr George had already attracted police interest due to a number of brushes with the law including convictions for indecent assault and attempted rape, and being found in the grounds of Kensington Palace – the home of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. 

He was discovered hiding in the grounds wearing a balaclava and carrying a poem he had written to Prince Charles. He was found by the royal protection squad but no charges ever came of the incident. 

Mr George, who was diagnosed as having Asperger’s syndrome before the trial, was sentenced to life in prison on July 2, 2001, following a year-long hearing for the Jill Dando murder.

If you’re in newspapers you’d be very interested to know who I’m related to

Barry George

During the case, it was claimed that he had also used the surname “Bulsara”, the same as Freddie Mercury’s real name – Farrockh Bulsara.

It was claimed Mr George adopted several pseudonyms, which started at school, where he apparently used the name Paul Gadd – the real name of Gary Glitter.

In 1980, after Mr George failed in his attempt to join the Metropolitan Police, he also posed as a policeman, having obtained false warrant cards, for which he was arrested and prosecuted. 

Later that year, he appeared in court again clad in glam rock clothing and once again stated his name to be Paul Gadd.

He is also said to have told people he was the cousin of the late Queen singer, Freddie Mercury.

In 2008, after he had been released, journalist Anne Cuthbertson recalled the “stranger who had walked her home”.

She wrote in the Telegraph: “Outside the Tube station, he had seemed friendly. ‘Nice flowers,’ he said, nodding at the bunch I had just bought.

“The conversation had been so normal at first, but soon I knew something wasn’t right.

“It was June 1994, I was just 22, new to London, and working as a secretary in a newspaper. 

“I was not to know the stranger’s background or that I was one of the numerous local women he pursued.

“‘Newspapers’, his face lit up when I answered his question about where I worked.

“If you’re in newspapers you’d be very interested to know who I’m related to.

“He waited for me to ask, and looked terribly pleased with himself before telling me Freddie Mercury was his cousin. 

“I smiled weakly – It was such a preposterous lie.”

Barry George was acquitted of murder on August 1, 2008. 

The Murder of Jill Dando airs on BBC One tonight at 9pm.

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