Barry George, the man wrongly convicted of the murder of BBC personality Jill Dando, has been charged with rape and indecent assault. George, 65, spent eight years in prison for Dando’s 1999 killing, but was later acquitted in 2008 after a retrial.
The charges allege that a woman was sexually assaulted on two occasions between September 6-12, 1987 in west London. The victim, now in her 50s, is said to have come forward recently.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police Service stated that the charges resulted from an investigation by Met detectives, with ongoing support for the woman involved. George is scheduled to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, October 29.
Jill Dando, known for hosting BBC programs like Crimewatch and Holiday, was a prominent TV personality at the time of her tragic death. She was engaged to gynaecologist Alan Farthing and was preparing for her upcoming wedding in September 1999. Notably, there was no sexual motive in Dando’s murder.
Barry George came under police scrutiny in 2000, following an investigative focus that linked him to the case. George, who has various medical conditions including brain damage and epilepsy, maintains his innocence and currently resides in Ireland.
Recent investigations, including a Daily Mirror report, have uncovered potential links between the Serbian security services and Dando’s unsolved murder. New evidence suggests involvement of convicted assassin Milorad Ulemek, currently serving a prison sentence in Serbia. Calls to reopen the case have been echoed by MPs and legal experts, urging further investigation into Ulemek’s possible connection to the crime.
