Defendant 'talked to adviser on day Jill Dando died'
Jill Dando’s alleged killer talked to an advice centre worker about his mental and physical health problems on the day the TV presenter died, the Old Bailey heard today.
Barry George was agitated when he called at the offices of Hammersmith and Fulham Action for Disability, Mrs Susan Bicknell told the court.
‘‘He was certainly agitated and wanted to speak to someone even though I said I could not see him that day,’’ she said.
He went into considerable detail about his medical problems were.
‘‘He said they all got it wrong and did not know what was wrong with him.
‘‘Barry was obviously very concerned they did not diagnose him correctly. I have had the same problem. He was talking to me about his problems and I was very concerned,’’ said Mrs Bicknell.
The prosecution alleges that George had used the centre to try to establish an alibi on the day Miss Dando was shot dead on the front doorstep of her home in Gowan Avenue, Fulham, west London.
George, 41, unemployed from Crookham Road, Fulham, denies murdering the TV presenter on 26 April, 1999.
Mrs Bicknell said George detailed his problems ‘‘mental and physical’’.
She had assessed he had a mental health problem because he had a carrier bag ‘‘full of mixed up papers from various hospitals round London,’’ she said, adding: ‘‘There was a letter from a psychiatric consultant. He said he had a back problem and no-one believed him.’’
Mrs Bicknell agreed that George carried on talking even when she said they could not see him that day.
She had made an appointment for him to return the following day and recorded: ‘‘Client called into office with a number of problems including wish to apply for taxi card.’’
Mrs Bicknell said that learning of Miss Dando’s death later had been distressing.
‘‘It was a shock to me that someone I had met in the past had been shot in the head. I do not remember when I met her. I have been involved in many public events for charity.’’
