Dando verdict: Lines of investigation ranged from Serb hitmen to jealous lovers

The Theories

Internal links

'Why you did it will never be known'

The Defendant

The Crime

The Theories

The Investigation

The Policeman

The QC

The Victim

The Fiance

Deborah Orr: Why was this unstable and messed-up man left largely to fend for himself?

The Defence

The Lawyer

A number of theories were examined by the detectives investigating the murder.

1 Grudge killing by 'Crimewatch' hitman

Theory

A criminal was so incensed at the BBC television programme, Crimewatch UK, and its best-known presenter, Jill Dando, for either having him or one of his associates arrested that he ordered a contract killing.

From1995 to1999, Ms Dando was on 42 programmes and made 117 appeals. Of those cases, the police made 85 arrests and 44 convictions, although it was said in court that virtually none of these was as a result of the television appeals.

Did the police take it seriously?

Yes, this was one of the key motives examined during the first few months. The background to all the criminals featured by Ms Dando and by other presenters was investigated. Up to 30 people with clear links to the programme were investigated and eliminated from inquiries. Convicted contract killers were also visited in jail and questioned about likely suspects. Information passed on by the National Criminal Intelligence Service suggested that the Adams family, the notorious north London crime gang, was responsible. However this has been discounted.

Plausibility

On the face of it, it seems an obvious link, but why would a criminal kill a television presenter? Surely the person who "grassed" to the police, or the officer involved in the conviction would make a more likely target.

Also, professional killers do not shoot people only once – the victim might survive – and they rarely use home-made guns.

2 The fiancé did it

Theory

Most murders are carried out by people who are known to the victim, particularly partners. Alan Farthing, above, discovered some dark secret about Ms Dando, such as an affair, and had her murdered.

Did the police take it seriously?

Mr Farthing, a consultant gynaecologist, was immediately considered a key suspect. But intensive inquiries found that he had an alibi and there was no rift between the couple. He was quickly eliminated from the inquiries.

Plausibility

In most cases the husband/wife/boyfriend/ girlfriend usually did do it, but Mr Farthing was quickly ruled out.

3 Obsessed stalker

Theory

A man became so obsessed with the television celebrity that he followed and murdered her, either to stop her marrying, to gain notoriety or for another irrational reason. The police found 140 people who had an obsession or unhealthy interest in Ms Dando. Her appearance just before her death on the front cover of the Radio Times, clad in a tight-fitting leather jumpsuit to promote a new series, could have inflamed the killer's desire.

Did the police take it seriously?

This became the murder squad's Number One theory. As the investigation dragged on the police concentrated on this scenario as more evidence emerged of obsessive behaviour surrounding Ms Dando.

Plausibility

On the negative side there have been no cases of famous people being killed in this country by stalkers and the killing appeared to be very efficient. There is also no evidence that Ms Dando had been stalked. However, this theory makes the most sense for what appears to be a senseless killing. A stalker, rather than a hitman, would use a single shot from a makeshift weapon and fail to disguise themselves.

4 The jealous rage of former lover or patient

Theory

That ex-partners of either Ms Dando or her fiancé, Alan Farthing, carried out the murder, or ordered it, to prevent their marriage. Alternatively, patients of Mr Farthing became irrationally jealous of his love and committed the shooting.

Did the police take it seriously?

The police went to great lengths to trace and interview Ms Dando's ex-lovers, going back as far as the 1970s. Equally, the consultant's patients, some of whom had developed a strong attachment to Mr Farthing, were investigated. But one by one they were eliminated from inquiries.

Plausibility

A very likely scenario, but there was no evidence that either couple were being harassed by ex-partners or patients. Also, in a crime of passion you would expect the murder to be less clinical – unless a hitman was hired.

5 Revenge attack ordered by Serbs

Theory

A Serb hitman working on the orders of the notorious war criminal Arkan carried out the assassination. Ms Dando become a target after she presented a television appeal for aid for Kosovan refugees and then days later Nato fired a cruise missile at a television station owned by a relative of Slobodan Milosevic, then the Serbian leader, killing 17 people.

Did the police take it seriously?

It became more plausible after a series of phone calls were made to the BBC in the days after the murder claiming the shooting was in revenge for the Nato bombing. A report passed on by the National Criminal Intelligence Service suggested Arkan, below, was responsible. The crimping on the bullet is similar to that seen on ammunition from the former Yugoslavia. But the police eventually rejected the theory. Their inquiries found that Serbian gangs who had killed journalists often used knives, wore masks and inflicted a large number of wounds to act as a deterrent.

Plausibility

If it was not for the anonymous telephone calls this suggestion would be ridiculous. It still seems far-fetched – what would a paramilitary leader from Serbia hope to achieve by killing a popular television presenter? In addition no one claimed responsibility, so it could not act as a deterrent. The NCIS report was one of hundreds collected by the inquiry and the reliability of the information is unknown. Seen more as a vehicle for George's barrister, Michael Mansfield QC, to muddy the water during the trial.

6 The botched robbery or random killing

Theory

There is always the possibility that Ms Dando's celebrity was not such a prominent factor. She may have confronted someone trying to burgle her home, or it may have been a botched mugging or kidnap.

Did the police take it seriously?

This was investigated and 191 CCTV cameras in the Hammersmith and Fulham area were scrutinised to discover whether the presenter was followed, but nothing was found.

Plausibility

The mundane, or "cock-up", theory often proves the most accurate. However, the surveillance cameras revealed nothing and Ms Dando's money and possessions were left untouched. Burglars rarely carry firearms and she was shot by someone creeping up behind her.