This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6958183.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Jill Dando killer refused bail | Jill Dando killer refused bail |
(10 minutes later) | |
The man convicted of murdering BBC TV presenter Jill Dando has been refused bail ahead of an appeal hearing. | The man convicted of murdering BBC TV presenter Jill Dando has been refused bail ahead of an appeal hearing. |
In November, Barry George's second appeal against his conviction will be made at the Court of Appeal. | In November, Barry George's second appeal against his conviction will be made at the Court of Appeal. |
The Criminal Cases Review Commission has said that at George's trial too much emphasis was placed on a speck of firearms residue found on his clothing. | |
George was convicted in 2001, two years after the BBC presenter was shot dead on her doorstep in Fulham, west London. | George was convicted in 2001, two years after the BBC presenter was shot dead on her doorstep in Fulham, west London. |
George, 47, a convicted sex offender, was jailed for life. | George, 47, a convicted sex offender, was jailed for life. |
He was convicted after a jury heard forensic scientists had found a single speck of residue from the gun used to kill Miss Dando, 37, in the pocket of his coat. | |
In July, the review commission said: "The weight placed on that evidence at the trial, and presumably by the jury, was inappropriate, was incorrect". | |
'Not persuaded' | |
At the High Court on Wednesday, Mr Justice Treacy refused the bail application made by George's new legal team, led by Edward Fitzgerald QC. | |
Jill Dando was shot dead on her doorstep in April 1999 | Jill Dando was shot dead on her doorstep in April 1999 |
"I am not persuaded at this stage that this is one of those rare cases where I can take the view that I could order the release on bail because the appeal will be successful," he said. | |
During the bail hearing, prosecution lawyers said November's appeal would be resisted and that the conviction was entirely safe. | |
There was "no doubt" the particle of firearms discharge residue found in George's coat pocket was of the same sort discharged from the murder weapon, the prosecution added. | |
Lawyers for George said their client's appeal was "very strong to the point of being unanswerable". | |
George has always denied the murder and in 2002 he took his case to the Court of Appeal for the first time and lost. | George has always denied the murder and in 2002 he took his case to the Court of Appeal for the first time and lost. |
At his trial, the jury heard that he lived close to Miss Dando. | At his trial, the jury heard that he lived close to Miss Dando. |
They were also told he was a loner who was obsessed with guns, celebrities and the BBC, where he had worked as a messenger in 1976. | They were also told he was a loner who was obsessed with guns, celebrities and the BBC, where he had worked as a messenger in 1976. |