Film to examine Dando evidence

The murder shocked the nation

The BBC is preparing a documentary that will examine new evidence in the murder of presenter Jill Dando.

It will focus on the findings of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which is examining evidence presented by lawyers for Barry George.

He has always denied the 1999 murder and in 2002 took his case to the Court of Appeal, but lost.

The BBC would not comment on the programme's content, saying it was in the "very early stages" of development.

In March George's lawyers presented their case to the commission, which has the power to refer it back to the Court of Appeal if there is a real prospect the conviction will be quashed.

His solicitors said that he was not capable of committing the crime because of his mental disabilities.

Doubts raised about his conviction

A second plank to their case was that two new witnesses said they saw armed officers at the scene when George was arrested, contrary to what police have insisted.

This was significant because the only forensic evidence that linked him with the murder was a particle from gunshot residue, his lawyers said.

The third part to the appeal was previously undisclosed psychological profile reports which suggested the person responsible was of a very different character to George.

Rules to jurors

The BBC would not comment on reports in the Mail on Sunday that the documentary would include interviews with two members of the jury that convicted George.

Dando on the Crimewatch UK set

There are strict laws preventing jurors talking about a case they have been involved in.

But the newspaper said it was understood the jurors would not comment on the jury's deliberations, which would put themselves and the BBC in contempt of court.

A BBC spokesman said: "The Criminal Cases Review Commission is expected to announce its findings later this year, which naturally would be of interest to any current affairs team.

"Everybody involved has been liaising with BBC lawyers to ensure that the process has been legalled throughout."

He added that no broadcast date had been set yet.