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Dando accused 'was local nutter' Dando accused 'was local nutter'
(about 2 hours later)
The man accused of shooting dead Crimewatch presenter Jill Dando was known as the "local nutter", a bar manager has told the Old Bailey.The man accused of shooting dead Crimewatch presenter Jill Dando was known as the "local nutter", a bar manager has told the Old Bailey.
Greg Dawson also said Barry George was "very well known" in Fulham, west London, where he and Miss Dando lived.Greg Dawson also said Barry George was "very well known" in Fulham, west London, where he and Miss Dando lived.
Mr Dawson said he had once asked the defendant to leave his bar because he was "being a pest" to customers and had followed his girlfriend. Mr George, 48, denies murdering the television presenter on the doorstep of her home in 26 April 1999.
Mr George, 48, denies murdering the television presenter on 26 April 1999. Jonathan Laidlaw QC, has now finished the case for the prosecution and the trial has been adjourned.
Mr Dawson said he often walked past Mr George's home and saw posters of the pop group Queen in the window. Mr Dawson, one of the last prosecution witnesses, said he had once asked the defendant to leave his bar because he was "being a pest" to customers and had followed his girlfriend.
He said he often walked past Mr George's home and saw posters of the pop group Queen in the window.
Asked if he had described him as the "local nutter" in his statement to police, Mr Dawson replied: "Yes".Asked if he had described him as the "local nutter" in his statement to police, Mr Dawson replied: "Yes".
'Beaten up''Beaten up'
Mr Dawson's then girlfriend Claire, now his wife, told the court she had been "quite frightened" by some of Mr George's behaviour.Mr Dawson's then girlfriend Claire, now his wife, told the court she had been "quite frightened" by some of Mr George's behaviour.
She said she was on her way to work at the wine bar in August 1998 when she met him at a bus stop. She said he looked scruffy, had stitches to his face and was wearing a jacket with Queen written on the back.She said she was on her way to work at the wine bar in August 1998 when she met him at a bus stop. She said he looked scruffy, had stitches to his face and was wearing a jacket with Queen written on the back.
"He told me he had just come out of hospital and had been beaten up twice," Mrs Dawson said."He told me he had just come out of hospital and had been beaten up twice," Mrs Dawson said.
"He said he was a relative of Freddie Mercury, his cousin or brother. When he started talking about Queen, I realised he was the guy who lived in Crookham Road who had posters in the window and played music quite loudly." I hid next door until he went away. I was quite frightened Claire Dawson"He said he was a relative of Freddie Mercury, his cousin or brother. When he started talking about Queen, I realised he was the guy who lived in Crookham Road who had posters in the window and played music quite loudly." I hid next door until he went away. I was quite frightened Claire Dawson
After that, she said she began seeing him every couple of days.After that, she said she began seeing him every couple of days.
"I felt a bit nervous. The increase in regularity made me feel quite strange," she said."I felt a bit nervous. The increase in regularity made me feel quite strange," she said.
On one occasion, she told the jury, Mr George was waiting outside when she got to work. He then followed her inside, telling other staff he was making a delivery.On one occasion, she told the jury, Mr George was waiting outside when she got to work. He then followed her inside, telling other staff he was making a delivery.
"I hid next door until he went away," she said. "I was quite frightened.""I hid next door until he went away," she said. "I was quite frightened."
Mrs Dawson said Mr George only stopped following her when her husband spoke to him.Mrs Dawson said Mr George only stopped following her when her husband spoke to him.
Mr Dawson told the court: "I went up to him and asked him to stop walking behind us and to leave her alone.Mr Dawson told the court: "I went up to him and asked him to stop walking behind us and to leave her alone.
"He seemed very surprised. Claire was quite upset by what happened. He went away.""He seemed very surprised. Claire was quite upset by what happened. He went away."
Miss Dando was murdered on her doorstep in Gowan Avenue, Fulham.Miss Dando was murdered on her doorstep in Gowan Avenue, Fulham.
Mr George, of Fulham, is being retried, having first faced trial for the killing in 2001.Mr George, of Fulham, is being retried, having first faced trial for the killing in 2001.