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Dead on Time
'You killed Jill Dando, but why you did it may never be known ...'
- Mr Justice Gage, sentencing Barry George to life
imprisonment for the murder of Jill Dando
On 26 April 1999, an unknown gunman murdered Jill Dando with a single bullet, fired into the back of her head. Ruthless, clinical and merciless, this was a hit-like execution that shocked and baffled the country.
Even with a massive reward and 42-man squad, the investigation proved a 'sticker' - it was bogged down in more theories than suspects. But after a year Barry George came in the frame. The Dando squad had their ,man but no confession or smoking gun.
They went to trial with just circumstantial evidence and no motive. After a lengthy trial, George was found guilty on a majority verdict. Many who followed the trial questioned the conviction.
John McVicar worked on the murder since the day of the kill. A cult figure, who has worked on both sides of the criminal fence, he scrutinised the investigation and the trial with a uniquely informed eye. What he discovered actually helped convict George.
His insights into George's surreal motives were passed on to senior detectives at a secret meeting in the Old Bailey. McVicar's then uncompleted picture of why George murdered Dando was used by prosecuting council in his closing speech to the jury.
In 'Dead on Time', he completes the picture. Complex, bizarre acts are reflected in their architect's plans. This seemingly senseless murder made perfect sense to its perpetrator. George was motivated by a grotesque mixture of identification with a dead rock star, the cult of Ninjutsu (the ancient Japanese at of assassination), evangelical Baptism and Internet messages. He murdered a celebrity in a bid to become one.
'Dead on Time' is the tale of a Queen number sung by George's alter ego, Freddie Mercury. A much-loved young woman with a dazzling future ahead of her was murdered literally dead on time.
Footnote: There is a strap line on the dust wrapper that reads, 'How and Why Barry George Executed Jill Dando' but this does not appear on the title page with simply states 'Dead On Time' and the latter is how the book is catalogued.
- Mr Justice Gage, sentencing Barry George to life
imprisonment for the murder of Jill Dando
On 26 April 1999, an unknown gunman murdered Jill Dando with a single bullet, fired into the back of her head. Ruthless, clinical and merciless, this was a hit-like execution that shocked and baffled the country.
Even with a massive reward and 42-man squad, the investigation proved a 'sticker' - it was bogged down in more theories than suspects. But after a year Barry George came in the frame. The Dando squad had their ,man but no confession or smoking gun.
They went to trial with just circumstantial evidence and no motive. After a lengthy trial, George was found guilty on a majority verdict. Many who followed the trial questioned the conviction.
John McVicar worked on the murder since the day of the kill. A cult figure, who has worked on both sides of the criminal fence, he scrutinised the investigation and the trial with a uniquely informed eye. What he discovered actually helped convict George.
His insights into George's surreal motives were passed on to senior detectives at a secret meeting in the Old Bailey. McVicar's then uncompleted picture of why George murdered Dando was used by prosecuting council in his closing speech to the jury.
In 'Dead on Time', he completes the picture. Complex, bizarre acts are reflected in their architect's plans. This seemingly senseless murder made perfect sense to its perpetrator. George was motivated by a grotesque mixture of identification with a dead rock star, the cult of Ninjutsu (the ancient Japanese at of assassination), evangelical Baptism and Internet messages. He murdered a celebrity in a bid to become one.
'Dead on Time' is the tale of a Queen number sung by George's alter ego, Freddie Mercury. A much-loved young woman with a dazzling future ahead of her was murdered literally dead on time.
Footnote: There is a strap line on the dust wrapper that reads, 'How and Why Barry George Executed Jill Dando' but this does not appear on the title page with simply states 'Dead On Time' and the latter is how the book is catalogued.
319 pages, Hardcover
First published February 15, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
July 27, 2018
'Dead on Time' is a disturbing book on a number of levels: the style of writing; the author's sometimes extreme views on Jill Dando; the police investigation into the murder; the theories put forward as to who committed the crime prior to George's arrest; the eventual arrest of Barry George; the surprising late discovery of forensic evidence; the trial of the accused and the theories put forward as to how and why George (allegedly) committed the murder.
Having said that, and without considering the later developments in the case, it becomes the sort of book that one would consider abandoning at various points throughout the narrative. But it became so bizarre that one just had to keep reading to the end but at its conclusion it certainly left a nasty taste in the mouth. 'Beyond reasonable doubt' was a phrase that continually sprang to mind.
The scene is set with the prologue in which the reader is left in no doubt as to John McVicar's view of Dando. 'Yes, I have written a book about her murder and, in it, often refer to her off-handedly as if she were merely the token victim necessary to create a fictional whodunnit,' is one of his statements.
And the way the authorities went about the investigations, with a 52-man squad, does at times read like (bad) fiction. Mistakes were made and before George was in the frame (he was interviewed early in the investigations but eliminated at that time) various theories, plus one definite suspect, were put forward as to why the murder took place - they all proved to be untenable.
Eventually Barry George was arrested and charged, mainly on circumstantial evidence and some dubious forensic evidence that emerged very late on. At his Old Bailey trial, for the defence, Michael Mansfield appeared to tear every prosecution witness apart and the consensus of opinion amongst press, public and even members of the prosecuting team was that George would be acquitted. Amazingly to almost everyone involved he wasn't as a split decision by the jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
McVicar then proceeds to explore how lyrics from various songs by Queen influenced George's supposed actions as he was besotted by Freddie Mercury, even changing his name to Bulsara, Freddie's given name. In addition he tells how the Japanese cult of Ninjutsu, the ancient Japanese art of assassination, (George was briefly married to a Japanese lady), supernaturalism, magic and the film 'Highlander', which had 'murderous music [by Queen] all the way through the film' played a significant part in his supposed actions.
It is a difficult tale to take in and accept convincingly and one is left wondering what really happened. And this last remark comes without considering that after a retrial George was acquitted of the crime on 1 August 2008 - a fact that I did not consider when reading the book.
Having said that, and without considering the later developments in the case, it becomes the sort of book that one would consider abandoning at various points throughout the narrative. But it became so bizarre that one just had to keep reading to the end but at its conclusion it certainly left a nasty taste in the mouth. 'Beyond reasonable doubt' was a phrase that continually sprang to mind.
The scene is set with the prologue in which the reader is left in no doubt as to John McVicar's view of Dando. 'Yes, I have written a book about her murder and, in it, often refer to her off-handedly as if she were merely the token victim necessary to create a fictional whodunnit,' is one of his statements.
And the way the authorities went about the investigations, with a 52-man squad, does at times read like (bad) fiction. Mistakes were made and before George was in the frame (he was interviewed early in the investigations but eliminated at that time) various theories, plus one definite suspect, were put forward as to why the murder took place - they all proved to be untenable.
Eventually Barry George was arrested and charged, mainly on circumstantial evidence and some dubious forensic evidence that emerged very late on. At his Old Bailey trial, for the defence, Michael Mansfield appeared to tear every prosecution witness apart and the consensus of opinion amongst press, public and even members of the prosecuting team was that George would be acquitted. Amazingly to almost everyone involved he wasn't as a split decision by the jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
McVicar then proceeds to explore how lyrics from various songs by Queen influenced George's supposed actions as he was besotted by Freddie Mercury, even changing his name to Bulsara, Freddie's given name. In addition he tells how the Japanese cult of Ninjutsu, the ancient Japanese art of assassination, (George was briefly married to a Japanese lady), supernaturalism, magic and the film 'Highlander', which had 'murderous music [by Queen] all the way through the film' played a significant part in his supposed actions.
It is a difficult tale to take in and accept convincingly and one is left wondering what really happened. And this last remark comes without considering that after a retrial George was acquitted of the crime on 1 August 2008 - a fact that I did not consider when reading the book.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review