Dando accused 'left her flowers'

Barry George denies murder

A man accused of murdering BBC television presenter Jill Dando left flowers near the place where she was shot, the Old Bailey has heard.

The evidence came as the jury at the retrial was taken to see Ms Dando's home in west London, and the route Barry George is said to have taken.

Ms Dando, 37, was shot in the head on her doorstep in April 1999 in what the prosecution calls an "irrational" act.

Mr George, 48, who was originally tried for her killing in 2001, denies murder.

'False alibi'

The jury of eight women and four men were driven to Ms Dando's Victorian four-bedroom house after visiting Mr George's flat in Crookham Road, 500yds (457m) from the murder scene.

They were shown the doorstep where she was shot in the head from close-range within 30 seconds of getting out of her car and reaching the front door.

While the jurors were being shown the murder scene, they also heard evidence.

He also visited a number of nearby shops and sought letters of condolence from them Jonathan Laidlaw, QC

The prosecution claimed Mr George tried to create a false alibi by saying he was at a local disability help centre at the time of the killing in Gowan Avenue, Fulham on 26 April 1999.

Prosecutors claim he attended the centre but not until after the killing. He is then said to have made an appointment for the next day - but did not keep it.

Jonathan Laidlaw, QC, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey jury: "The defendant said he had not kept his appointment of the previous day because he had been laying flowers at Jill Dando's house on behalf of his church."

Then on 28 April, he returned to the centre but was "threatening and intimidating in his manner", said Mr Laidlaw.

Ms Dando was shot as she reached her front door, the jury has heard

In the week after Ms Dando's death Mr George is also said to have visited the local housing department.

Mr Laidlaw told the jury: "He said that he thought it was sad Jill Dando had been killed and asked whether they had considered erecting some form of memorial in tribute to her.

"He also visited a number of nearby shops and sought letters of condolence from them."

But when Mr George was arrested a year later, he was said to have denied knowing about Ms Dando until after her death, the jury heard.

'Loner'

Mr Laidlaw asked: "If he had not known anything about Jill Dando before her death, why was he paying so much attention to her memory?"

The BBC TV presenter was killed by a "loner" with an "exaggerated interest" in celebrities, single women and weapons, the court has been told.

Mr George kept photographs of famous personalities and followed women in west London, where both he and Ms Dando lived, the prosecution has said.

Ms Dando became a household name after presenting shows such as Crimewatch, the Holiday programme and the news.

The trial continues.