It has been 25 years since British journalist Jill Dando was shot and killed on the doorstep of her London residence.
Jill, who was 37-year-old on the time of her demise, was generally known as ‘the golden woman of British tv’ and her demise led to an outpouring of grief from the nation.
Quite a few occasions are going down in her residence city of Weston-super-Mare to have a good time her life on the twenty fifth anniversary of her demise.
Her homicide on the morning of 26 April 1999 sparked one of many largest prison investigations within the UK because the seek for the Yorkshire ripper – however the case stays unsolved.
Jill Dando went from a budding print journalist in Weston-super-Mare to turn out to be a BBC star so cherished she was repeatedly dubbed ‘TV’s Diana’.
In 2023 a Netflix sequence referred to as Who Killed Jill Dando retraced her steps on the morning of the homicide and examined the police investigation that adopted.
It featured interviews with investigators, journalists, legal professionals and a few of her closest family and friends.
Who was Jill Dando?
Jill Dando was a profitable BBC journalist who died after being shot on the doorstep of her residence in Gowan Avenue, Fulham, on 26 April 1999. Her homicide stays unsolved.
She was born in Weston-super-Mare and began her profession there as a journalist for the Weston Mercury newspaper.
She began working for BBC within the mid-Eighties the place she labored for BBC Radio Devon and Highlight in Plymouth.
She moved from regional tv to nationwide exhibits in London within the late Eighties, reaching big success whereas presenting breakfast tv, the 6pm information and exhibits together with Vacation and Songs of Reward.
On the time of her demise, Jill Dando co-presented BBC One’s Crimewatch with Nick Ross.
What occurred to Jill Dando?
Jill Dando’s lifeless physique was found on the doorstep of her West London residence at round 11.47am on 26 April 1999.
She was rushed to hospital however was pronounced useless by medical groups at round 1pm that day.
Her reason for demise was a single bullet wound to the pinnacle.
Her next-door neighbour reported seeing a person, who they described as tall and aged round 40, strolling away from the scene. That is considered the one sighting of her alleged killer.
Jill Dando’s funeral was held at Clarence Park Baptist Church in Weston-super-Mare on 21 Could 1999.
1000’s of individuals lined the streets of the seaside city as her coffin handed by means of and round 2,000 folks gathered outdoors the church itself.
Who killed Jill Dando?
Jill Dando’s demise sparked one of many largest prison investigations in British historical past, however to today the case stays unsolved.
Police are thought to have interviewed greater than 2,500 folks and brought greater than 1,000 statements in relation to her demise.
An area man, Barry George, was convicted and jailed for her homicide within the early 2000s.
Nevertheless, after spending eight years in jail, he was acquitted following a profitable attraction and re-trial.
No different suspect has ever been charged with Jill Dando’s homicide.