George 'laid flowers at Dando's house'

10 June 2008 01:35pm

The man accused of killing Jill Dando laid flowers near where she was shot, a court heard.

Barry George told staff at a local help centre he went to Miss Dando's house the day after she was shot on her doorstep, jurors were told.

George, a local loner said to approach local women to find out where they lived, told staff he hadn't kept an appointment because of the killing.

Jonathan Laidlaw, QC, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey that George said he hadn't kept his appointment as he'd been laying flowers at Jill Dando's house on behalf of his church.

George had gone to the Hafad disability centre after the murder on April 26, 1999 to establish a false alibi, it was alleged. An appointment was made for the next day but wasn't kept. On April 28, he returned but was "threatening and intimidating in his manner", said Laidlaw.

George, 48, of Fulham, west London, denies murdering Miss Dando, 37. George was first tried in 2001 and is now facing a retrial.

The prosecution alleges George was obsessed with celebrities and had pictures of television presenters among 4,000 undeveloped photographs of women in his flat. He was also said to claim to be the cousin of Freddie Mercury

During the week after Miss Dando's death, George had gone into the local housing department. "He said he thought it was sad Jill Dando had been killed and asked whether they had considered erecting some form of memorial in tribute to her," said Laidlaw.

When he was arrested a year later, George was said to have denied knowing about Miss Dando until after her death.

© The Press Association