Barry George charged with assault and indecent assault over 1987 case

Barry George, the 65 year old man who was convicted and later acquitted of the 1999 murder of television presenter Jill Dando, has been charged with one count of assault and two counts of indecent assault relating to alleged attacks on a teenage girl in 1987, prosecutors and police said. The alleged victim, who was 14 at the time and is now in her 50s, has come forward to police, and George is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 29 October.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it had authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge George following an investigation. The offences are alleged to have occurred in London on two occasions between September 6 and September 12, 1987, officials said. The woman cannot be identified for legal reasons. Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police said the charges "follow an investigation by a team of Met detectives" and that "specially trained officers continue to support the woman who has come forward."

Lionel Idan, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London South, said prosecutors had "carefully reviewed a file of evidence" before deciding to bring the historic charges. The CPS urged caution in reporting, noting...