Life for murderer of TV star Dando

Dando was one of the BBC's most popular presenters

LONDON, England -- A Londoner is starting a life sentence after he was convicted of the murder of top UK television presenter Jill Dando.

The BBC TV presenter was shot through the head in the doorway of her home in Fulham, south-west London, in 1999.

A jury of six women and five men deliberated for more than 30 hours before returning the verdict by a majority of 10 to one at the High Court in London on Monday.

Barry George was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Gage, who told him: "You have deprived Miss Dando's fiance, family and friends of a much-loved and popular personality."

He added: "You are unpredictable and dangerous ... There can be no doubt that it was premeditated involving some planning ... Why you did it will never be known."

The 41-year-old unemployed man, who also lived in Fulham, had denied murdering Dando on April 26, 1999.

Later it emerged that George fantasised about the SAS, had a history of stalking women -- and once served a prison sentence for attempted rape, the Press Association reported.

The judge said the killing by George had involved some planning

He was even once arrested in combat gear crouched in bushes outside the Kensington Palace home of Diana, Princess of Wales. He had a 15ft rope coiled around his chest and a commando knife strapped in his belt, but he was not charged in the 1983 incident.

But, on April 26 1999, he lay in wait for BBC Crimewatch presenter Dando, 37, and ambushed her as she returned to her home from seeing her fiance Alan Farthing.

Terrified, she screamed for up to five seconds before George fired a single bullet into her head at point-blank range in an attack that shocked Britain.

The Queen said she was "shocked and saddened" at news of Dando's death, while Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was "deeply shocked."

Blair said he found her "totally charming and hugely talented."

Dando was a leading presenter for the BBC, working on flagship programmes, including Breakfast News, Crimewatch and the Six O'Clock News. She also presented the Holiday programme.

"I doubt throughout the United Kingdom there can be many adults -- or even children -- who have not read about her death or this case," the judge said.

Interest in celebrities

The clinical nature of the murder -- one bullet through the head -- led to speculation that the crime may have been a contract killing.

Early in the investigation, police speculated Dando might have been targeted by a hitman because of her role as co-host of "Crimewatch," a true-life crime programme that seeks the public's help to solve cases.

Another theory was that she was murdered on the orders of a Serbian warlord in revenge for the NATO bombing of a Belgrade television station the weekend before her death.

With no obvious motive for the killing, police investigated the case for more than a year before arresting George.

The backgrounds of Dando and her alleged killer were outlined to the jury by Pownall.

George collected guns and was fascinated with the military, he said. He developed "an exaggerated interest" in celebrities and famous criminals, Pownall said.

He even mingled with mourners in the quiet street where hours earlier he had shot dead Dando -- and even brought his own flowers.

Saying he felt "concern and remorse" at her murder, he laid a bouquet at the cordon police had set up around the crime scene.

Neighbours and friends described George as a "harmless oddball" who was a dedicated fan of Freddie Mercury, the late singer of the rock group Queen.

He regularly used the surname Bulsara, which was Mercury's original name.