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Dando killer wins right to appeal New Dando appeal 'to be granted'
(about 2 hours later)
Barry George, the man serving a life sentence for murdering the television presenter Jill Dando, has won the right to a new appeal, the BBC understands. Barry George, the man serving a life sentence for the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando is to win the right to a fresh appeal, the BBC understands.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission is expected to announce that it will refer the case back to the Court of Appeal.The Criminal Cases Review Commission is expected to announce that it will refer the case back to the Court of Appeal.
The decision is thought to be based on doubts about forensic evidence concerning a speck of firearms residue.The decision is thought to be based on doubts about forensic evidence concerning a speck of firearms residue.
George was convicted two years after the BBC presenter was shot once in the head in Fulham, west London, in 1999. George was convicted in 2001, two years after the BBC presenter was shot dead on her doorstep in Fulham, west London.
This new material casts serious doubts upon the evidence that was presented at trial Jeremy MooreBarry George solicitor A convicted rapist, 47-year-old George was jailed for life.
A convicted rapist, 41-year-old George was jailed for life in 2001.
He has always denied the murder and in 2002 he took his case to the Court of Appeal and lost.He has always denied the murder and in 2002 he took his case to the Court of Appeal and lost.
At his trial the jury heard that he was a near neighbour, a loner and obsessed with guns, celebrities and the BBC, for which he had worked as a messenger in 1976. We have submitted very strong grounds which we feel cast serious doubts on the safety of the conviction Jeremy MooreBarry George solicitor
He was found guilty by a majority verdict of 10 to one after the jury heard that forensic scientists found a single speck of residue from the gun used to kill Miss Dando, 37, in the pocket of his coat. At his trial, the jury heard that he was a near neighbour, a loner and obsessed with guns, celebrities and the BBC, for which he had worked as a messenger in 1976.
He was found guilty by a majority verdict of 10 to one after the Old Bailey jury heard that forensic scientists found a single speck of residue from the gun used to kill Miss Dando, 37, in the pocket of his coat.
George's solicitor says the original case against him gave too much prominence to this piece of evidence.George's solicitor says the original case against him gave too much prominence to this piece of evidence.
Jeremy Moore said: "Well, the evidence at trial, we feel, was extremely weak and really it rested solely upon the forensic evidence in the form of the firearms discharge residue evidence. Jeremy Moore said there was now fresh evidence which suggested George's coat may have been contaminated through the air, rather than by a firearm, as well as new information on his psychiatric state at the time of the killing.
He said he was confident the commission would allow George the right to appeal.
"We have submitted very strong grounds which we feel cast serious doubts on the safety of the conviction."
High-profile presenterHigh-profile presenter
"Without that evidence it is unlikely that he would have been charged and it is extremely unlikely that he would have been convicted. This new material casts serious doubts upon the evidence that was presented at trial." George's lawyers have said previously that they think the presence of armed officers and their involvement in his arrest was responsible for the gunshot residue.
His lawyers have said previously that they think the presence of armed officers and their involvement in his arrest was responsible for the gunshot residue.
Passers-by and neighbours gave conflicting accounts of men seen in the neighbourhood at the time of the shooting.Passers-by and neighbours gave conflicting accounts of men seen in the neighbourhood at the time of the shooting.
And before George was found guilty, some thought the murder might have been the work of a professional hitman or an obsessive fan. But Mr Moore said new witnesses have since come forward to say firearms officers were at the scene - a claim denied by police and prosecutors.
Before George was found guilty, some thought the murder might have been the work of a professional hit man or an obsessive fan.
Described as the "Golden Girl of television", Miss Dando presented BBC programmes including the Six O'Clock News, Breakfast News, Crimewatch and Holiday.Described as the "Golden Girl of television", Miss Dando presented BBC programmes including the Six O'Clock News, Breakfast News, Crimewatch and Holiday.