Jill Dando

Jill Wendy Dando (9 November 1961 – 26 April 1999) was an English television presenter and journalist who worked for the BBC. On April 26, 1999, she was assassinated outside her home in London by a lone gunman.

Early life
Jill Wendy Dando was born on November 9, 1961 to Jack Dando (February 1918 – February 2009) and Winifred Mary Jean Hockey (August 1918 – January 1986). She has an older brother, Nigel, worked as a journalist for BBC Radio Bristol before retiring in 2017. Before working for the BBC, he worked as a journalist in local newspapers. Jill grew up in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. She moved to London in the 1980s.

Career
Dando worked as a journalist and newsreader. She presented the travel programme Holiday as well as Crimewatch. She was engaged to Alan Farthing for the last few months of her life.

Death
On the morning of 26 April 1999, Dando left her partner's home in Chiswick, London. She then travelled by car to the house she owned at 29 Gowan Avenue, Fulham. As Dando got to her front door at about 11:32 BST, she was shot once in the head. Her body was found about fourteen minutes later by neighbour Helen Doble. Police were called at 11:47. Dando was taken to the nearby Charing Cross Hospital where she was dead on arrival at 13:03.

Forensic firearm examination showed that Dando had been shot by a bullet from a 9mm Short calibre semi-automatic pistol. Police ballistics checks showed that a blank firing pistol illegally turned into a firearm was used.

Trial
Barry George was convicted of her murder in 2001. He was freed in 2008 when his retrial found him not guilty. Nobody else has been arrested for Dando's murder.

References

Related pages
Cold case
Image of Dando

Category:1961 births
Category:1999 deaths
Category:English journalists
Category:English murder victims
Category:English television presenters
Category:Murders by firearm in England
Category:People murdered in London
Category:Television personalities from Somerset
Category:Unsolved murders