Who killed Jill Dando and what theories are there about her death?

THE late Jill Dando was one of the best-known faces of British television.

Here we take a look at the life and career of the much-loved TV presenter and the theories surrounding her death.

Who was Jill Dando?

Jill Dando, born November 9, 1961, was an English journalist, television presenter, and newsreader.

From 1995 until she died she was the presenter of BBC’s Crimewatch and in 1997 she was awarded the BBC Personality of the Year.

Dando had been engaged to her fiance Dr Alan Farthing.

She died of a gunshot wound to the head outside her home in Fulham, West London, in 1999.

On the morning of April 26, 1999, Jill left Farthing’s home in Chiswick.

She returned alone, by car, to the house she owned in Fulham, West London.

But as Jill reached her front door at about 11:32am, she was shot once in the head.

Her body was discovered about 14 minutes later by a neighbour.

Jill was taken to the nearby Charing Cross Hospital where she was declared dead on arrival at 1:03pm.

Who killed Jill Dando?

Despite launching one of the biggest manhunts in the force’s history, more than 2,000 potential suspects, and a string of conspiracy theories, the killer has not been found.

Eventually, attention was focused on Barry George, who lived about half a mile from the journalist’s home and had a history of stalking women and sexual offences.

George was put under surveillance, arrested, and charged with her murder on May 28, 1999.

He was convicted at the and sentenced to life in July 2001.

Then, on his third appeal in August 2008, he was acquitted on the basis that evidence in the original trial couldn’t be taken into consideration.

It was a tiny piece of gunshot residue found inside his coat pocket which police suggested was the result of him firing the lethal shot.

But by 2008 the idea that a particle so small could be used as evidence had been discredited.

No one else has been charged with Jill’s murder.

Why was she targeted?

A new Netflix documentary airing on September 26, 2023 – Who Killed Jill Dando? – hopes to shed light on the cold case.

It comes as the theory that Jill was murdered by a Russian hitman in a case of mistaken identity emerged through bombshell French court documents.

Papers submitted to a Paris court allege Elite model agency boss Gerald Marie – who was accused of raping several women – wanted undercover journalist Lisa Brinkworth “dealt with” in revenge for her exposing his firm.

The documents claimed the French fashion tycoon hired an assassin who went on to kill the wrong target.

Legal documents seen by say Marie ordered a member of the Russian mafia to “deal with a problem”.

The documents continue: “Shortly thereafter… a BBC journalist, Jill Dando, was shot dead in April 1999.

“Indeed, these two journalists were in their 30s, were blonde with similar facial features and of the same height and stature.

“They lived close to each other and had people in common, including the husband of Jill Dando.”

What theories are there around her death?

Other theories include that it was an IRA attack.

There has also been speculation that the TV presenter’s murder was a hit by a London underworld gang after she reported on them for Crimewatch.

Others believe it was a revenge killing by Serbian warlords after the journalist fronted an appeal for Kosovan refugees.