Fight to Clear Barry George: Of The Jill Dando Murder - Softcover

Burke, Mike

Softcover

ISBN 10: 146858586X ISBN 13: 9781468585865

Publisher: AuthorHouseUK, 2012

Synopsis

When I first heard that Barry George was arrested for the murder of Jill Dando, I was shocked, but did not think that he was guilty. I decided that I would offer Barry and his mother my unconditional support, which was accepted. I helped him to get a good defence team and followed the case with close interest. I thought the Crown might produce hard evidence at the committal hearing and was horrified when he was sent for trial on the little evidence which they had. When, seven months after his arrest, the Home Office bowed to pressure and finally allowed me to visit him, I became a regular visitor. I was there when he was convicted, and the following day, I told the UK that he was innocent. A rift in his supporters then opened, but we all had the same aim, justice for Barry. One day, a respected reporter asked me: "If Barry did not kill Jill Dando, then who did" I had never given that any thought, but I would, in the future. What I discovered was disturbing, and I came to believe that the real killer may have slipped under the radar while potentially vital evidence was ignored, the crime scene destroyed, red herrings chased, as the trail went cold. Following Barry's failed appeal, I set up website and later formed a small but well supported campaign group. We took every opportunity to highlight doubts and discrepancies. After a few bleak years, with our help, the BBC Panorama exposed serious flaws in the Crown's case. We were on the road to victory, and two years later, we arrived. Barry and I then went our separate ways but reconciled eventually. But this story will not end until the murder of Jill Dando is properly solved or explained. I have not given up hope on that, and I would like to think that this book might inspire the powers that be to have a more in-depth review of all the evidence, old and new. Not to do so would be remiss of them and an affront to justice. Mike Burke, June 2012

About this title

About the Author

Mike Burke is a working man, a trade union activist and an uncle of Barry George, the man convicted and eventually cleared of the murder of the BBC TV presenter Jill Dando. Mike lived in London for some years in the 1970s and throughout the '80s, working in a variety of jobs including security, public transport, and the BBC. He took a casual interest in some of the high-profile criminal justice cases of the times, such as the Bridgewater Three, the murder of political activist Hilda Murrell, and the many Irish cases. He left London in 1990 and returned to rural Limerick, Ireland. He is a keen reader and enjoys walking with his dogs in rain, hail, or shine. In the year 2000, Mike was still trusting of the criminal justice system, thinking if one had nothing to hide, one had nothing to fear. But he was so much younger then; he's older, wiser now.

Edition details

• Publisher: AuthorHouseUK
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 146858586X
• ISBN 13: 9781468585865
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 304