THE murder of Jill Dando in 1999 still lingers in the memories of many Britons.
She not only became one of the most recognisable faces in the country by fronting some of the BBC’s most popular news shows, but her murder also remains an unsolved mystery.
Who was Jill Dando?
Jill Dando was born November 9, 1961, in Somerset.
She was educated at a comprehensive school in Worle, North Somerset, and then completed Cardiff Metropolitan University’s journalism course.
She began her career working as a trainee reporter at Somerset regional newspaper the Weston Mercury before going on to create a big name for herself.
Jill had a stellar career, having fronted BBC’s Breakfast Time, Breakfast News, the BBC One O’Clock News, and the Six O’Clock News.
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At the time of her death, she was the presenter of BBC’s Crimewatch.
By 1997, the talented star was at the height of her career and even won BBC Personality of the Year.
When was Jill murdered?
On the morning of April 26, 1999, Jill left her fiance Alan Farthing’s home in Chiswick.
She returned alone, by car, to the house she owned in Fulham, West London.
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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.
During the murder investigation the police turned their attention to Barry George, who lived about half a mile from Dando’s house.
He had a history of stalking women, sexual offences and other antisocial and attention seeking behaviour.
George was put under surveillance, arrested and charged with her murder on May 28, 1999.
He was tried at the Old Bailey, convicted, and on July 2, 2001, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Concern about this conviction was widespread on the basis that the case against George appeared thin.
Two appeals were unsuccessful, but after discredited forensics evidence was excluded from the prosecution’s case, George’s third appeal succeeded in November 2007.
The original conviction was quashed and a second trial lasting eight weeks ended in George’s acquittal on August 1, 2008.
No one else has been charged with Jill’s murder.
When was Jill’s funeral?
Jill’s funeral took place on May 21, 1999, at Clarence Park Baptist Church in Weston-super-Mare.
She was buried next to her mother in the town’s Ebdon Road Cemetery.
A memorial garden designed and built by the BBC’s Ground Force team was constructed in the town’s Grove Park and was opened on August 2, 2001.
Was Jill Dando married and did she have any children?
At the time of her death, Jill was engaged to gynaecologist Alan Farthing.
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They announced their engagement in January 1999.
Their wedding was due to take place in September 1999, which was five months after her murder.
