Barry George, Cleared in Jill Dando Case, Faces Historic Rape Charges

Barry George Charged Decades After Acquittal in Jill Dando Case

Barry George, once at the center of one of Britain’s most notorious unsolved murders, has again entered the spotlight. Nearly four decades after the events in question, Metropolitan Police have charged George, now 65 and living in County Cork, Ireland, with the rape and indecent assault of a teenager in west London. The alleged victim, who was 14 at the time, is now in her fifties.

The charges, announced on September 26, 2025, stem from incidents said to have occurred between September 6 and September 12, 1987. According to police statements, George is accused of one count of rape and two counts of indecent assault against the same teenager. The formal charge and requisition were delivered to George by post, signaling the start of a new legal chapter for a man whose name is already familiar to many.

The Jill Dando Murder: A Case That Shook Britain

Barry George’s notoriety traces back to 1999, when BBC journalist and Crimewatch presenter Jill Dando was shot dead on her doorstep in Fulham, west London. The killing of Dando, a beloved public figure, stunned the nation. George was arrested in May 2000, a year after the murder, and subsequently convicted by an Old Bailey jury in 2001. He spent eight years behind bars for Dando’s death.

However, the conviction did not stand the test of time. In November 2007, the Court of Appeal quashed the verdict, citing new evidence and concluding the conviction was unsafe. At his retrial in 2008, George was acquitted by a second jury and released from prison. The true killer of Jill Dando has never been found, and George has consistently maintained his innocence.

Even after his release, the shadow of the Dando case followed George. The public, the media, and the justice system have all grappled with the complexities and uncertainties that the case left behind. No one has been convicted for Dando’s murder since.

New Allegations Surface: The 1987 Case

Now, Barry George faces a different set of allegations—ones that reach back to 1987, years before Dando’s death. The Metropolitan Police describe the allegations as “non-recent,” emphasizing the historical nature of the case. The alleged victim, a woman now in her fifties, claims she was sexually assaulted twice over a six-day period in September 1987 in west London.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, speaking to The Guardian, BBC, and Sky News, explained: “These charges follow an investigation by a team of Met detectives. Specially trained officers continue to support the woman who has come forward.” The investigation, handled with sensitivity due to the time elapsed and the nature of the alleged offences, is now moving to the next stage: a court appearance scheduled for October 29, 2025, at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Legal Process and Safeguards

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has emphasized the importance of due process and fair trial rights. Lionel Idan, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London South, stated: “Having carefully reviewed a file of evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service has taken the decision to prosecute Barry George on charges of rape and two counts of indecent assault. These relate to non-recent allegations that took place in 1987 against a woman who was a teenager at the time.”

Idan also urged restraint in public discussion of the case: “We remind all concerned that proceedings against the suspect are active and he has a right to a fair trial. We recognize there is likely to be considerable interest in this case, however it is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

The police and CPS have both called for respectful reporting and caution, mindful of the potential impact on the victim, the accused, and the judicial process itself.

Community Reaction and the Weight of History

For many, the news of charges against Barry George evokes memories of both the Dando case and the broader issues of justice and wrongful conviction. George’s life was irrevocably altered by his arrest, conviction, and eventual acquittal for a crime that remains unsolved. Now, as he faces new allegations from his past, the legal system must balance the rights of the accused with the needs and dignity of the alleged victim.

The reopening of historical cases—sometimes decades after the fact—has become more common in recent years. Advances in investigative techniques, changing social attitudes, and a growing willingness of survivors to come forward have all played a role. Yet, every such case carries its own burden: for the accused, for the survivor, and for the public trying to make sense of justice in the shadow of history.

As the case moves toward a hearing, the focus remains on facts, due process, and support for those affected. The Metropolitan Police have stated that specially trained officers continue to assist the woman at the center of these allegations. George’s appearance in court will mark the beginning of a new phase in a long and complicated story.

The Road Ahead

Barry George is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 29, 2025. The outcome of the proceedings will be closely watched—not only by those directly involved but by a public still haunted by the unresolved questions of the past. For George, the charges represent another test of his life in the legal system; for the alleged victim, they mark a moment of reckoning, decades after the events in question.

As the legal process unfolds, the principles of justice—fair trial, presumption of innocence, and the dignity of survivors—are all in sharp focus. The case stands as a reminder of the enduring complexity of historical allegations and the persistent need for careful, compassionate scrutiny.

Barry George’s story is a stark illustration of how the British justice system can both convict and clear a man, leaving legacies that shape lives for decades. Now, with new charges brought from the distant past, the courts will once again face the delicate challenge of balancing truth, fairness, and the passage of time.