We didn't just nab local nutter

I HAVE to accept the result of the retrial—but I agreed with the first jury's verdict. We carried out a thorough investigation and eliminated all suspects apart from one—Barry George.

We've faced criticism that we just picked the ‘local nutter' off the street and charged him with a murder we wanted solved. That is ridiculous.

A lot of the evidence against George was circumstantial, but it could not be ignored. He was a prolific stalker of women. He lived near Jill Dando and I believe he had a fixation with her.

When we searched his home we found an empty holster, gun magazines, condolence cards to Jill and rolls of film of hundreds of women.

He had convictions for attempted rape and indecent assault and he had been arrested in Kensington Gardens wearing camouflage clothing in possession of a rope and a knife.

Hair

This, coupled with his interest in ninjas, the SAS and guns, could not be ignored.

On top of this there was forensic evidence placing him at the scene. A particle of firearms residue in his coat pocket matched that found in Miss Dando's hair. Although this wasn't allowed as evidence in the retrial we say there is still no answer to why it was there. A fibre found on Jill's coat at the scene was identical to a pair of trousers owned by George.

When we found the photograph of Barry George wearing a gas mask and holding a gun, this became a significant part of our inquiry. These are not the actions of a normal person.

The evidence just kept building. But we did not allow ourselves to be blinkered into focusing on just one suspect. Every line of inquiry was followed up.

This was the most difficult case of my career. There was a lack of eye-witness accounts and limited forensic opportunities. And there were so many theories flying around—one that it was the work of a contract killer. But if it was, he would surely have fired more than one shot to make sure Miss Dando was dead. Also it is unlikely a professional would have got this close to the victim and risked leaving forensics.

The other theories were numerous: The killer was an ex-boyfriend, an obsessive, a stalker, the Russian Mafia, someone arrested through Crimewatch. All her boyfriends were questioned and had alibis. The Crimewatch theory was probably the only other theory that carried weight for me. But we investigated them all.

I believe most of the theories can be knocked down by the fact that video evidence from 191 CCTV cameras showed Jill was not followed.

Hedge

This week I went back to No 29 Gowan Avenue where she was shot dead. The street is still the same. The likelihood is that her killer was waiting crouched behind the hedge in the front garden—and jumped out just as she put the key in the door.

Stranger murders like this are the most difficult to investigate. And I know of no other investigation where there were so many potential suspects. Because of exhaustive enquiries and information from the public over 2,100 people were named as being involved.

Every avenue was pursued—but we kept coming back to George.

It has been shown he was a significant threat to women and holds an unhealthy attraction towards them.

Whether he continues to be a danger is not for me to say. What everyone must do is to accept the verdict.

IAN HORROCKS was second in command in the Dando investigation led by Det Chief Supt Hamish Campbell.