Scotland Yard has launched a fresh investigation into the unsolved murder of BBC presenter Jill Dando, more than a quarter of a century after she was shot dead on her London doorstep.
The much-loved Crimewatch host, often described as 'the nation's sweetheart', was killed by a single gunshot wound outside her home in Gowan Avenue, Fulham, on 26 April 1999. She was 37 years old.
New Suspect Emerges in Decades-Old Case
The Metropolitan Police confirmed it is assessing potential evidence suggesting the gunman was Milorad Ulemek, a convicted double murderer and Serbia's most infamous paramilitary soldier. This new line of enquiry follows an investigation by The Mirror.
Ulemek, known by his nickname 'Legija', is currently serving a 40-year prison sentence in Serbia for other crimes. He is alleged to have been responsible for some of the most harrowing acts during the Yugoslav wars.
The Tie That Binds: Crucial New Evidence
Central to the new investigation is a photograph of Ulemek, taken before the killing, in which he is wearing a distinctive navy blue striped tie. This tie matches the one worn by the suspected shooter, known as 'Man X', who was captured on CCTV near the scene.
The gunman was filmed making his escape from Putney Bridge Tube station, approximately one mile from the murder scene, around 20 minutes after the shooting. The original CCTV footage is believed to be stored among 223 boxes in a Met Police storage unit.
Certified forensic video analyst Emi Polito has compiled a report comparing the two ties, providing a potential breakthrough. Furthermore, a facial comparison expert previously stated Ulemek was identical to the man in the footage, a claim supported by two key witnesses who saw a man running near the scene.
One witness stated they saw him 'running for his life'.
A Case That Remains Open
A spokesperson for the Met Police stated: 'No unsolved murder is ever closed and detectives are assessing this information to understand whether it’s a new and realistic line of enquiry.'
The force hopes that advances in technology will help establish whether Ulemek, now 57, is a credible suspect in a case that has haunted the UK for 26 years.
