George 'overwhelmed' after acquittal
Barry George said today he was "overwhelmed" after he was cleared of the murder of Jill Dando.
George, 48, was found not guilty at the Old Bailey after a re-trial. An epileptic with mental disability, he was originally found guilty of murdering the TV star in 2001.
In a statement read by his solicitor Jeremy Moore, Mr George said: "I'm overwhelmed. I want to thank my family, my legal team ... my medical team and all the people who have supported me at Belmarsh, Whitemoor and Manchester prisons, and all my supporters."
Mr Moore said that Mr George's first words on being cleared were: "I can't believe it."
Mr Moore added: "We are obviously delighted with the outcome today that we feel is the only sensible verdict that the jury could have made on the evidence before them."
Dr Susan Young, a psychologist who sat with George in the dock throughout both trials, said his "eyes filled with tears" as the not guilty verdict was returned.
She said: "Mr George feels overwhelmed by the verdict as, throughout the trial, he did not dare to get his hopes up and he continually said to me in the dock he believed he would be convicted.
"His eyes filled with tears and he took a very deep breath."
She said George would now have to come to terms with what had happened and "make some important adjustments to his life".
His sister Michelle Diskin, who was also sitting in court, punched the air and cried "yes".
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