Dando judge will accept majority verdict

The judge in the Jill Dando murder trial has told the jury he is prepared to accept a majority verdict.

Mr Justice Gage gave the majority direction after the jury had deliberated for more than 20 hours.

One of the seven women jurors has been discharged by the judge after suffering a family bereavement.

The jury has now retired again to consider its verdict.

Mr Justice Gage told the six women and five men that he was prepared to accept any verdict on which at least 10 of them were agreed, but stressed that they should not feel under any time pressure.

"I ask you once more please to retire and continue to try to reach a unanimous verdict, but if you cannot I will accept a majority verdict, that is a verdict on which at least 10 of you are agreed," he said.

"You must have as much time as you need. You must not think that you are under any pressure of time at all."

Barry George, 41, unemployed from Crookham Road, Fulham, south-west London, denies murdering Miss Dando on April 26, 1999.

The TV presenter was shot through the head in the doorway of her home in Gowan Avenue, Fulham, west London.

George denies being at the scene when the murder was committed.