Police review Dando murder case

Jill Dando was one of the most popular presenters on television

Scotland Yard is to review the unsolved murder of BBC TV presenter Jill Dando after the man convicted of the crime was acquitted.

Commander Simon Foy, head of its homicide and serious crime unit, will lead a team of specialist officers.

Miss Dando was shot dead on her London doorstep nine years ago. Barry George was acquitted after a retrial - ending eight years in prison.

Police appealed for new information and said a reward was still being offered.

After the verdict on Friday, Scotland Yard said it was disappointed but respected the court's decision.

We continue to appeal for any new information and keep an open mind in relation to this case Assistant commissioner John Yates

Assistant commissioner John Yates, head of Scotland Yard's specialist crime directorate, who attended a meeting with Mr Foy on Monday, said: "As with all unsolved murders, this case remains open and subject to review.

"A �50,000 reward from the charity Crimestoppers still remains available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Jill's murderer.

"We continue to appeal for any new information and keep an open mind in relation to this case."

He said there had already been "numerous reviews and assessments since 1999", including by the Met's internal review group, the Crown Prosecution Service, Criminal Case Review Commission and the Court of Appeal.

The latest review will carry out "further assessment and scrutiny, of the available evidence, to establish whether there are further potential investigative leads in this case."

Detective Chief Superintendent Hamish Campbell, who led the original murder inquiry, also attended the meeting.

Arrest

Mr George, 48, of Fulham, west London, was cleared of murdering 37-year-old Miss Dando, who was killed on 26 April 1999.

He was arrested a year after the shooting and was convicted in 2001.

A retrial was ordered after doubt was cast on gunshot residue evidence.

Forensic evidence about a tiny speck of gun residue found in Mr George's coat pocket after his arrest helped secure his original conviction.

But last year, the Court of Appeal ruled new scientific doubts over the evidence meant the conviction had to be quashed, and a retrial was ordered.

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