Jury visits Dando crime scene

Barry George denies murdering Jill Dando

The jury in the Jill Dando trial has been taken to the west London street where she was killed.

Gowan Avenue in Fulham was closed to traffic as jurors, lawyers and court staff viewed the doorstep where the television presenter was shot dead.

Barry George, who denies murder, was taken separately in a white van and saw jury members walk around the leafy street.

The jury received a police escort

Local residents watched the visitors from number one court of the Old Bailey from behind police cordons.

Mr Justice Gage, wearing a pinstriped suit but no wig, was first out on to the pavement, followed by Orlando Pownall, prosecuting. Michael Mansfield QC, defending, arrived by bicycle wearing a tracksuit.

The judge spoke to the jury and indicated the white-painted brick house which belonged to Miss Dando.

The visit was timed to coincide with the time of the shooting - at 11.30am on 26 April 1999.

Several jurors, holding plans and graphics of the street, walked up the short path to see the doorway where Miss Dando had slumped after being shot through the head with a single bullet.

The house's present owners were away and builders were working inside renovating the property. They had been warned of the visit beforehand.

More evidence

The jury was also taken to other local places of relevance, including the outside of Mr George's former flat in nearby Crookham Road.

Miss Dando was found dead on her doorstep

After about 30 minutes the seven women and five men returned to the Old Bailey to hear from further witnesses.

A postman told the jury he had seen a man standing in the middle of Miss Dando's road on the day she was killed.

Terry Griffin said: "He was looking quite strange, anxious looking. I thought he was going to nick work out of my barrow at first."

Mr Griffin said when the man had seen him "he quickly walked behind a van."

The jury looked at the exterior of Miss Dando's former house

He described him as about 5ft 10ins tall, aged between 38 and 40 with black hair, medium to large build.

"He looked Mediterranean with a tanned skin," said Mr Griffin.

Mr Griffin failed to identify the man at a later identification parade, but he said that six weeks after the killing he was approached in the street by a man he identified as Mr George.

He told the jury the man said: "I've just seen a bloke who looks like the bloke who killed Jill Dando."

Mr Griffin said he had not taken Mr George's claim seriously, but had told him to ring police and point him out.

The trial continues.