Jill Dando murder: Police re-examine CCTV footage

Detectives investigating the 1999 murder of BBC presenter Jill Dando have launched a fresh probe, focusing on CCTV footage from Putney Bridge Tube station. The Metropolitan Police are re-examining material from the night of the killing in Fulham, west London, as part of their ongoing efforts to find her killer.

The footage in question shows an unidentified man, known as Man X, walking along what is believed to be an escape route approximately 20 minutes after Ms Dando was shot dead on her doorstep. Cold-case officers have reportedly spent the last ten months locating and digitising the original CCTV recordings.

Advancements in Technology

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police stated that the investigation has undergone numerous reviews over the 27 years since Ms Dando's murder. These reviews aim to identify if new technological or forensic advancements could assist the case. "Recent advancements in CCTV enhancement technology have provided investigators with the opportunity to re-examine original footage from Putney Bridge train station," the spokesperson said. "This remains ongoing."

Investigators hope that enhanced images from the footage could help identify Man X and determine any potential link to the murder. Facial recognition experts have previously identified similarities between Man X and Milorad Ulemek, a 58-year-old Serbian assassin and paramilitary commander. Ulemek is currently serving a 40-year prison sentence in Serbia for war crimes.

Background to the Murder

Jill Dando, aged 37, was a prominent presenter on BBC programmes such as Crimewatch and Holiday. Her murder occurred in April 1999, shortly after UK planes had been involved in bombing Serbia. Within hours of her death, the BBC received a call suggesting the killing was in retaliation for a Nato attack on a Belgrade TV station. There was also speculation that Ms Dando may have been targeted due to her role in a BBC charity appeal for Kosovan refugees, which aired 20 days before her murder.

Ms Dando was killed by a single gunshot wound to the left temple as she was about to enter her home. The case gained further public attention with the 2023 Netflix documentary 'Who Killed Jill Dando?'.

Previous Acquittal

Barry George was arrested in 2000, a year after Ms Dando's murder, and subsequently convicted in 2001. However, his conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal in November 2007. Following a retrial, Mr George was acquitted by a jury in August 2008. He is now 66 years old.