A single particle of firearm discharge residue lies at the heart of the latest appeal against conviction by the man serving life for the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando, judges heard.
Barry George (47) was at the Court of Appeal in London in his second appeal over a jury's 2001 verdict that he shot the BBC News, Crimewatchand Holidaypresenter (37) outside her home in Fulham, London, in April 1999.
William Clegg, QC for defendent
It is argued that the firearms evidence at trial, relating to the particle found on his coat following arrest, had now been "neutralised" by new evidence.
William Clegg, QC for George, said: "Although there was clearly other important evidence in addition to the FDR [firearm discharge residue], the effect of neutralising the FDR evidence must be to render the conviction unsafe."
The court is being asked to rule that George's conviction has been rendered unsafe because of new information relating to the firearms evidence.
George spoke only to answer to his name as he was brought into court at the start of the estimated three-day hearing.
Today's proceedings follow a decision by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, an independent body which investigates possible miscarriages of justice, to refer George's case back to the Court of Appeal.