The Investigation Into the Death of Jill Dando Essay Example

The Investigation Into the Death of Jill Dando Essay On 26th of April 1999, TV presenter Jill Dando was shot in the side of her head with a modified gun at close range, on the doorstep in front of her house on Gowen Avenue. A neighbour, Helen Doble, who originally thought Dando had been stabbed, found her body, who subsequently called the emergency services. Jill Dando was taken to Charing Cross Hospital nearby, yet was declared dead on arrival. Operation Oxborough was established, a two year long investigation. Police were initially bombarded with information that bore no evidence or leads for the investigation, for which extra staff and resources were needed. While nobody appeared to have witnessed the crime, many came forward with sightings of men near the scene around the time of the crime. The first suspect was a man who had waited at the bus stop on Fulham Palace road, boarded a bus, yet got off before his supposed destination. Witnesses say that this man was sweating and looked agitated. Police learned that Jill Dando had been shot around 15 minutes previously, and therefore the sweating man became their first suspect. The man was described as 59 to 510, medium build in his late 30s, having a round face, dark complexion and being clean shaven. However, after producing the following E-fit, police began to realise that perhaps this man was not their murderer, but may have been a witness. 1 The E-fit of the sweating man The sweating man never came forward. We will write a custom essay sample on The Investigation Into the Death of Jill Dando specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Investigation Into the Death of Jill Dando specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Investigation Into the Death of Jill Dando specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer After this line of enquiry fell through, the police began to interview anyone associated with Jill Dando. This was an extensive line of enquiry as the police searched through and contacted almost 500 people listed in her filofax, examined around 14,000 emails sent to the BBC and examined all her letters and phone messages. Following this, a Range Rover had been singled out as it failed to stop at a red light shortly after the murder, in Fulham. In the process of tracking this car down, police also investigated the details of 1200 vehicles. The case had barely progressed for 6 months, counting a list of 2000 suspects. Police then contacted profiling experts in the United States, who suggested that the crime was more likely to have been committed by an obsessive stalker. This helped to narrow down the list of suspects from 2000 to 140, those of whom had an unwholesome interest in Jill Dando. They began to concentrate on a man who they had received messages about in the days after the murder, called Barry George, who lived 800 yards away from Jills home, and was described as an oddball. Following a surveillance operation, his flat was searched three times where they found circumstantial evidence such as newspaper clippings, and what may have possibly been gunshot residue, linking him to the murder. By May 2000, Barry George was arrested and charged with the murder of Jill Dando, despite his alibi. The police then began to prepare witnesses for trial, conduct identity parades and continued to gather information to counter his alibi. However, Barry George has always protested his innocence, and many appeals have been turned down. Barry George originally came under suspicion as he was acting agitated during appointments with his housing association and GP, the day of the murder. Two days later, he began asking if people could verify what he was doing the day Jill was shot. The police involved in the investigation had been told hat he was odd and owned air rifles. Much of the evidence obtained during investigation was circumstantial, and in this review the evidence will be looked at critically. * Books and magazines on firearms were found in stacks during searches of Barry Georges flat. The prosecution used this as evidence to base the claim that Barry George was a loner who was obsessed with firearms. This was also supported by the finding of a single particle of gunshot residue in his coat pocket. However, these magazines dated back to the 1980s, during the time which he had joined the TA in 1981, but left after he failed his training. After leaving he attempted to join a firearms club but was turned down. On two separate occasions he had shown a friend a gun, and fired a blank from a gun. However, there is no evidence that this interest had continued into the 90s, especially not over a period of 20 years when Jill Dando was shot. Furthermore, controversy surrounds the sole particle of GSR. The forensic scientist called as an expert witness during the trial said that after using SEM (scanning electron microscope), he was able to compare the particle with particles from a test fire using a similar bullet which was used in the murder, and he concluded that the particle found could have come from the cartridge case which was found at the scene, as they were both made up of barium, aluminium and lead. Particles found in Jill Dandos hair and on her coat were also made up of the same compounds. However, these particles may have been the same type but there was no way of distinguishing whether the particle had come from the murder weapon, as this was never found for comparison. Furthermore, the police said that when they entered the property, they had not gone in with guns. New witnesses have come forward; a retired church minister and an airport worker say that the officers were armed when they went in. They would themselves have had gunshot residue on their hands and could have easily contaminated the coat. Furthermore, these searches did not occur until a year after the murder, and therefore, it may not necessarily be gunshot residue from the murder.

How to Find an Excellent Topic for an English Literature Term Paper

How to Find an Excellent Topic for an English Literature Term Paper How to Find an Excellent Topic for an English Literature Term Paper One of the most rewarding paper types that you will ever write for an English class is a literature term paper. Its main point is to get you to take a hard and analytical look at a piece of literature. When you are developing your term paper, the topic is vital in the overall success of your piece. You will want to utilize the following advice to be ensured that it turns out successfully. Brainstorming One of the easiest ways to make sure that you select a good topic is by brainstorming some of the literary works that you can remember. Something about these pieces stood out to you and that can make writing about them more interesting. Think back to the various books that you have read. You don’t have to recall the exact name and author for this part of the process. Just simply get the general ideas down so that you know which piece you are discussing. The name and title are not important. Enhancing the List After the brainstorming process, you will have a starting list of ideas that you can write your paper on. However, you don’t want to stop there. Use your knowledge from the course to think about pieces that have excessive significance. You can use your notes for this list. Your paper is going to have to talk about themes, plots, motifs, and the like. Therefore, the pieces that have a lot of these characteristics are perfect for your paper. Identify at least three that your instructor has emphasized in the class or that possess these important features and add them to your list. Narrowing down Your Diamond in the Rough Now that you have this extensive list of options, go through each one and jot down some aspects that you can write the paper about. They can deal with any of the literary characteristics. This part is vital. Create a short outline for each and then use the one with the most â€Å"stuff† as your topic. Why is that so? Because if you have already something to say about the potential subject of your English literature term paper, it means that you are interested in the topic and will conduct a great research on it. You now have 3 vital steps you need to take in order to choose a great topic, so get to work and choose a piece that means something to you and one that you enjoy because to write a substantial term paper, you will surely have to read it again. If you are not a reading person by nature, consider short stories that won’t take much time. Anyway, you need to be comfortable with the literary work and its peculiarities if you want to succeed in writing an excellent English term paper.