Cleared George ‘overwhelmed’by Dando verdict

BARRY GEORGE said he was “overwhelmed” after he was cleared of the murder of Jill Dando.

Mr George, 48, was found not guilty at the Old Bailey after a retrial. An epileptic with mental disability, he was originally found guilty of murdering the TV star in 2001.

In a statement read by his solicitor Jeremy Moore, Mr George said: “I’m overwhelmed. I want to thank my family, my legal team... my medical team and all the people who have supported me at Belmarsh, Whitemoor and Manchester prisons, and all my supporters.”

Mr Moore said Mr George’s first words on being cleared were: “I can’t believe it.”

Mr Moore added: “We are obviously delighted with the outcome that we feel is the only sensible verdict that the jury could have made on the evidence before them.”

But he added: “This is not a time to celebrate. Barry George, an innocent man, has spent eight years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Those eight years could have been better served by the police in searching for the real killer.”

But Scotland Yard expressed disappointment at the verdict. Commander Simon Foy, head of homicide and serious crime, said: “We are disappointed by the verdict but especially disappointed for Jill’s family and friends.”

However, while he said he respected the decision of the court, he did not offer any apology to Mr George or his family.

“It would not be appropriate to comment any further at this time, except to say that we will be reflecting on the verdict and considering how best to proceed.”

Barry George’s sister Michelle Diskin said: “We’re really delighted to finally have justice.”

Mr George’s first appeal was rejected but a second appeal, in November last year, resulted in the conviction being quashed and a retrial ordered. The second trial began on June 9 this year, with the judge ruling out evidence that a single particle of firearms discharge residue was found in the pocket of Mr George’s coat.

The judge, Mr Justice Griffith Williams, was told that the speck, although of the same type as found on the victim, could have come from other sources.

Yesterday, a jury rejected the prosecution case that Mr George was the killer who shot Ms Dando, 37, through the head on her doorstep in Fulham, west London.

Police face the embarrassing task of renewing the search for the gunman nine years after the popular Crimewatch presenter was murdered in April 1999.