Barry George Cleared-NOT GUILTY........

[Snowy-girls]

Have just heard this on the radio-he is a little snippet from Sky News,there is no other info at the moment----------------

Barry George - who spent seven years in jail because of an invisible speck of dust he could have picked up anywhere - has been cleared of killing TV presenter Jill Dando.
She was shot dead on her doorstep in April 1999.

Scientists matched the particle found in the pocket of his cashmere overcoat to firearms residue combed from Dando's hair.

It put George at the scene - and helped convict him of the horrific murder.

But when his lawyers fought to remove the evidence from the prosecution case there was nothing to link him directly to the shooting - and today he walked free after a second trial.

George, 48, was many things - a loner, a military-obsessed fantasist, a stalker who followed women through West London on roller skates and a sex offender.

But the jury found he was not a killer.

 

[wils]

Wow

 

[Chilly]

Wow thought they'd still find him guilty.

 

[natalielongstaff]

Wow thought they'd still find him guilty.

i never thought he did it ! the whole thing seemed too organised to me

 

[Pinky166]

Wow thought they'd still find him guilty.

Me too...surprising.

 

[PoppyAnna]

I'm surprised but I think this case more than any other really had me torn - I could never make my mind up about him. I have to say, to me, he was an odd guy, He was once found hiding in the grounds of Kensington Palace wearing a balaclava and carrying a knife, a poem to Prince Charles stashed in the pocket of his combat fatigues. I think he was more of a stalker type, but that doesn't make him a killer.
He fits more the profile of a locally known loner who was easy to place in the street - but that's all.
What now? Must be awful for her family.

 

[tennisfan]

I'm surprised at the outcome. If the only evidence found was linked to him, what can the police do now.

I feel for her family, after all these years they thought the killer was locked up.

 

[Haworthfamily]

I'm shocked, DH came in front room just now to tell me.
Imagine being locked up for 7 years and then allowed to be free?!?!?!
If it was the US he'd be sueing them for wrongfully jailing him.

Who did do it then? have they got any other suspects, I'm assuming this re opens the investigation?

 

[PoppyAnna]

I think their original idea of it being somebody that had a gripe against her due to her Crimewatch presenter status seem a bit far fetched at the time but like Natalie mentioned it all seemed too organised......
Sadly, (for the police and her family)it's back to the drawing board.

 

[shellbell]

I was shocked at this also, i thought they would find him guilty again.

 

[mandymouse]

I was shocked at this also, i thought they would find him guilty again.

Me too

 

[Minniespal]

i never thought he did it ! the whole thing seemed too organised to me

Me too. After all of these years, it would seem the killer has gotten away with it.

 

[CustardTart]

The poor man - if he really didn't do it, how terrible to be locked away for so long... This is bitter-sweet really, as I also feel for Jill Dando's family - can't imagine they'll ever find out who did it now so no hope of closure for them...

 

[Snowy-girls]

I too am torn by all of this,i still don't know whether he is guilty or not.Although i am more pushed towards Guilty because of this evidence....
This speck that was found inside his pocket(gunshot residue)was a 100%match to the gunshot residue found when they 'combed' Jill's hair.His lawyers said that he could have picked this up anywhere,and that it could have come from different sources.
How can they work that out as to him NOT being the killer or near enough to the killer/murder scene.The residue was inside his pocket?????.He must have been pretty darn close to her surely???.x.

 

[Belle68]

I have mixed feelings on this case too, If he didnt do it then fair enough although the evidence and his character are a little strange.
So what happens now? are the police going to reopen the case and look for who ever did do it?
My heart goes out to Jills family with this as its back to the beginning for them.