Witness: Killer looked like comic

A crucial part of the case against Barry George was a witness's claim that the fleeing killer resembled quiz show host Bob Mills.

Jill Dando's next-door neighbour, Richard Hughes, told the jury that from his fleeting glimpse of the assassin he resembled Mills, the TV comedy writer and presenter.

The jury was shown two large photographs of him. Mr Hughes told the jury that he heard Miss Dando lock her car, swing open her gate and then scream.

As he looked out of his bedroom window he watched a man briskly walk away from the scene. Asked by Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, whether the man he saw reminded him of anyone, Mr Hughes replied: "Yes, it was the comedian and TV character called Bob Mills."

Mr Laidlaw pointed out that Bob Mills might not be well known to many people. "I was familiar with him just from watching a TV quiz show at the time," said Mr Hughes.

Mr Hughes described the man as white, aged between 30 and 40, around 5ft 8in tall, "chunky or full built", his hair was straight, dark brown or black, over the ears and collar-length and brushed over.

His face was "jowly" and cleanshaven and in his right hand he held what Mr Hughes took to be a mobile phone. He wore "a jacket or wax Barbour" either dark blue or black.

In May 2000 Mr Hughes attended an ID parade after George was arrested but was unable to make an identification.