Barry George, the man previously acquitted of murdering TV presenter Jill Dando, has appeared at the Old Bailey facing serious allegations of rape and indecent assault. The 65-year-old, currently residing in County Cork, Republic of Ireland, is charged with raping a 14-year-old girl and two counts of indecent assault, all of which are said to have occurred in the Hammersmith and Fulham area of west London between September 6 and 12, 1987.

During a plea and case management hearing held via video link from Dublin, George appeared in a black sweater over a white shirt. He confirmed his name and date of birth but did not make any further comments. Judge Mark Lucraft KC agreed to postpone the plea hearing by 12 weeks, rescheduling it for February 13, 2024. The judge also allowed George to attend the next hearing via video link and granted him continued unconditional bail.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy stated last month, "These charges follow an investigation by a team of Met detectives. Specially trained officers continue to support the woman who has come forward." The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that they had carefully reviewed the evidence before deciding to prosecute George. Lionel Idan from CPS London South remarked, "We remind all concerned that proceedings are active."

George was initially arrested in 2000 on suspicion of murdering Jill Dando, who was shot outside her home in Fulham on April 26, 1999. He was convicted in 2001, but his conviction was quashed in November 2007 by the Court of Appeal. Following a retrial, he was cleared by a jury in August 2008. Dando, a prominent BBC presenter, was 37 years old at the time of her death, and her murder remains unsolved.

In recent developments, a Daily Mirror investigation has uncovered new evidence suggesting a possible link between a Serbian assassin and Dando's murder. Witnesses have claimed to have seen Milorad Ulemek, 57, at the scene of the crime. Ulemek is currently serving a 40-year sentence in Serbia for plotting killings under the regime of the late dictator Slobodan Milosevic. Last year, he was named in connection with the case after a facial comparison expert indicated he resembled a man seen near the murder scene.

At the time of her death, UK forces were engaged in bombing campaigns in Serbia during the Kosovo War, and Dando had been actively involved in appeals for Kosovan refugees. She was also engaged to gynaecologist Alan Farthing, with their wedding planned for September 1999.