Jill Dando may have been mistakenly shot by a Russian killer who intended to target another BBC journalist, according to documents submitted to the court in Paris.
Court documents claim that French fashion boss Gerald Marie hired the killer to “deal” with Lisa Brinkworth after she went undercover to reveal his agency Elite Model Management.
They speculate that Ms Dando may have been shot on her doorstep in the event of a misidentification due to similarities in the two women ‘s appearance, profession and addresses.
Lawyers also said Ms. Dando’s fiancé Alan Farting was Ms. Brinkworth’s doctor, according to the Daily Mail.
Mr Marie, 72, is being investigated in France on a number of allegations of alleged sexual assault – which he categorically denies.
Ms Brinkworth claims she was attacked by Mr Marie in 1998 while working undercover in the BBC’s revelation of sexual crimes in the fashion industry.
Lawyers in the documents presented to the court in Paris refer to a conversation witnessed by the former CEO of Elite Omar Harfush, in which it is alleged that Mr. Marie ordered a member of the Russian mafia to “deal with a problem”, reports the Daily Mail.
Former BBC journalist Lisa Brinkworth may have been the target of killer Jill Dando
(Joel Saget / AFP via Getty Images)
Documents from the French law firm Bourdon Associes reportedly say: “Shortly afterwards … BBC journalist Jill Dando was shot dead in April 1999.
“Indeed, these two journalists were in their thirties, they were blond with the same facial features, the same height and similar height.
“They lived close to each other and had people in common, including Jill Dando’s wife.
Ms. Dando, 37, was shot dead in front of her home in Fulham, West London, on April 26, 1999.
Jill Dando, 37, was shot dead in front of her home in Fulham, West London, on April 26, 1999.
(BBC / PA)
The hunt for her killer has become the largest homicide investigation conducted by Sofia police and the largest criminal investigation since the Yorkshire Ripper hunt.
Barry George spent eight years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of the murder of the Crimewatch host. In August 2008, Mr George was acquitted of a new trial.
He was the only person ever tried for Ms. Dando’s murder.
A spokesman for the Sofia police said: “The investigation into Ms Dando’s murder remains open, as in all murder investigations.
“We will always research any new information that may become available.”
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