Barry George asks for new lawyer

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The man convicted of murdering TV presenter Jill Dando has asked to change his legal team three weeks before his appeal is due to begin.

Barry George, serving life for the murder of Ms Dando in 1999, has requested that William Clegg QC and a new solicitor represent him instead.

George's current solicitor, Jeremy Moore, said he was trying to arrange a meeting to clarify the situation.

The appeal hearing is due to take place on 5 November.

BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said this latest development has cast doubt on whether George's appeal will go ahead as scheduled.

A source close to Mr Clegg, who has been a barrister for 35 years, said it was George's "wish and desire" to be represented by him.

The source also said there was nothing in Mr Clegg's current work commitments to preclude him from taking on the case.

However, he has not been officially instructed, as that could be done only with the Court of Appeal's permission.