Murdered TV girl Jill Dando was shot by a professi
Murdered TV girl Jill Dando was shot by a professional hitman who was working with an accomplice, jurors sensationally heard today.
(THURS)
The Old Bailey jury was hearing evidence in the defence of accused killer Barry George, 41.
The case against him was said to be hanging by the narrowest of threads and is based entirely on a tiny gunfire particle, said defence barrister Michael Mansfield.
The QC said: ‘Their case is based on a speck not greater than half a thousandth of an inch and invisible to the naked eye – by the end of our evidence it will have disappeared completely.
‘Without it, the Crown would have no case at all’
He argued that the picture which had been put to them over the last few weeks of the trial was wrong.
‘It was a completely different scenario,’ said Mr Mansfield.
‘The murder was committed in a professional manner by a professional hitman who planned and carefully executed.
‘There are a number of hallmark features that suggest this is the most likely explanation.
‘
Mr Mansfield first spoke about the ‘window of opportunity’ which he described as ‘extremely narrow’.
He explained how the killer had just 30 seconds between the 37-year-old Crimewatch UK host getting out of her car to the time her scream was heard by a neighbour.
He told jurors: ‘You may think he had to be waiting with a loaded gun within the vicinity of number 29 Gowan Avenue – he only had 30 seconds to get her.
‘No witnesses in Gowan Avenue have identified this defendant or anyone else hanging about in the half an hour before her death.
‘There must have been a hidden assailant with an accomplice.
‘
George, of Crookham Road, Fulham, denies murder and the trial continues.
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