UK UK - Jill Dando, 37, Fulham, London, 26 Apr 1999

[Novosti]

But those are all post hoc rationalisations which go from the fact that he got away for a significant period to the conclusion that it must have been professional. If you look at it element-by-element it doesn't stack up. Noone would have sat in an ops room and planned to do it at a house she rarely and randomly visited, and with easy views to the street; in broad daylight; involving physical touching; with a substandard unique weapon and ammunition; in distinctive clothing; and with a muddled and slow pedestrian exit (as per witnesses). None of these choices could realistically have been arrived at by considered planning, and comparison of options.

Just to add on the single shot point, I think this a bit unclear as an indicator. Generally where special forces or experienced paramilitaries have conducted an assassination, the MO involves multiple shots - for the obvious reason that it makes the intended result more likely (people surviving single head shots happens). And that's obviously easier with the automatic or semi-automatic weapons that those attackers would typically use. On the other hand a single shot is obviously lower profile.

In other ways, single shots are more typical of untrained or inexperienced shooters - either because they don't have access to automatic weapons, are unable to perform the reloading properly on the spot, or are unaware of the chances of non-lethal outcomes with a single shot.

 

[Inspector Evans]

The weapon, the ammunition, the physical touching / range, the choice of time of day, the choice of location, exit without transport, lack of facial disguise, distinctive clothing. Very few elements were consistent with military or paramilitary training, or even criminal experience.

Completely different case but Alan Decabral was shot dead just over 25 years ago in the middle of the day when he was sat in his car in a Kent retail park.

Alan P Decabral - Unsolved Murder 2000 - Warren Retail Park, Ashford, Kent - Alan P Decabral Unsolved Mysteries UK

Alan Decabral was shot while sat in his son’s car in the car park of Halfords in Ashford, Kent on 15 October 2000.

www.unsolved-murders.co.uk

I think we know who ordered that killing but again very public space with surely plenty of people going about their daily business close by.

Guess if you do a killing like that quickly enough it won't register with plenty of people engaged in their own mind as you don't expect to see a public execution walking out of the front door in the morning.

 

[Novosti]

Completely different case but Alan Decabral was shot dead just over 25 years ago in the middle of the day when he was sat in his car in a Kent retail park.

Alan P Decabral - Unsolved Murder 2000 - Warren Retail Park, Ashford, Kent - Alan P Decabral Unsolved Mysteries UK

Alan Decabral was shot while sat in his son’s car in the car park of Halfords in Ashford, Kent on 15 October 2000.

www.unsolved-murders.co.uk

I think we know who ordered that killing but again very public space with surely plenty of people going about their daily business close by.

Guess if you do a killing like that quickly enough it won't register with plenty of people engaged in their own mind as you don't expect to see a public execution walking out of the front door in the morning.

UK gangland killings are often pretty unprofessional and chaotic. Two other examples would be the killings of Kevin Carroll and Olivia Pratt-Korbel. Often all the one who orders it values is the willingness of another lower-ranked criminal to carry it out. Access to weapons is often ad hoc and opportunistic. And the assassins would usually only have handled firearms once or a handful of times in their life.

So this kind of MO is much more consistent with the murder of Jill Dando than one done by anyone with firearms and operations training. But it raises different questions - OCGs normally strike their rivals, or former members that betray them etc. - a BBC journalist is an extraordinary stretch.

 

[forensicswannabe]

Whoever did the killing I don't think we will ever actually find out who or the why because I don't see anyone confessing and that's the only way I can see this being solved now almost 30 years down the line.

 

[Inspector Evans]

UK gangland killings are often pretty unprofessional and chaotic. Two other examples would be the killings of Kevin Carroll and Olivia Pratt-Korbel. Often all the one who orders it values is the willingness of another lower-ranked criminal to carry it out. Access to weapons is often ad hoc and opportunistic. And the assassins would usually only have handled firearms once or a handful of times in their life.

So this kind of MO is much more consistent with the murder of Jill Dando than one done by anyone with firearms and operations training. But it raises different questions - OCGs normally strike their rivals, or former members that betray them etc. - a BBC journalist is an extraordinary stretch.

Oh yes I've never thought there was any Crimewatch link with JD whatsoever so wasn't mentioning it for that point. More these type of shootings don't always take place in the dead of night in an isolated alleyway or field. Plenty still occur in daylight in public places for reasons you state.

I still believe someone badly wanted her dead or at least not around for the forthcoming changes in her life and that Monday there were boots on the ground to make it happen. Rather than a random person walking around looking to shoot someone and they spotted Jill Dando across the street.

It was slightly more planned than that I suspect.

 

[Novosti]

Oh yes I've never thought there was any Crimewatch link with JD whatsoever so wasn't mentioning it for that point. More these type of shootings don't always take place in the dead of night in an isolated alleyway or field. Plenty still occur in daylight in public places for reasons you state.

I still believe someone badly wanted her dead or at least not around for the forthcoming changes in her life and that Monday there were boots on the ground to make it happen. Rather than a random person walking around looking to shoot someone and they spotted Jill Dando across the street.

It was slightly more planned than that I suspect.

So I agree that the MO is plausible. But the idea of a gangland killing doesn't have any other supporting evidence.

With George, we had at least four main categories of evidence against him. The firearms particle. At least four witness sightings of him at the location that morning (admittedly of varying certainty and reliability). Lies and false alibis relating to his movements that day. And character and behaviour evidence (supplemented by post trial knowledge of his offending record).

My personal view is that the sum total of that evidence isn't enough for a safe conviction. But it amounts to a pretty convincing case that it would not be a good use of police resources to seriously look for anyone else. That is just the way the justice system works sometimes - rightly.