THE murder of popular TV presenter Jill Dando provoked a wave of revulsion and despair across Britain and an understandable desire for the killer to be caught.

A jury subsequently decided Barry George was the killer, but I have to say I had my reservations at the time and these have been heightened by a recent documentary on the case and a completely unscientific straw poll I've carried out.

Discussing the case with members of the public, the general consensus is that Barry George may not have killed Jill Dando but he was a wierdo so it's just as well he is behind bars.

It was a similar story with the recent 'Millionaire trial'.

Most people I have spoken to feel the Ingrams seemed a bit dodgy and the other guy had a strange name and manner so they were probably guilty of something.

Now the whole episode is to be broadcast on TV and perhaps there'll be a chance for viewers to vote on whether they thought they really were guilty. Is this where our justice system is going? Literally trial by media? Lester Piggott was jailed for tax evasion while Ken Dodd was cleared. Many commentators suggested that had Lester been able to crack jokes as well as he could ride a horse he might also have walked free.

I wonder whether we really do have the best justice system in the world, or is it just that we've had it so long we don't want to risk change. Are juries swayed by personality and a lawyer's innuendo rather than hard and fast evidence? An outsider looking in would surely question why we have people in wigs and gowns using the language and routines of centuries ago to persuade a dozen people of someone's guilt or innocence.

Margaret Thatcher's reputation was forged on her decision to take on the miners and Tony Blair has shown he isn't afraid to tackle sacred cows by refusing to back down in the firemen's dispute.

Yet no government seems to be prepared to take on the legal system which is such a massive drain on public funds and throws up outcomes that leave a sour taste in the mouth with alarming regularity.

It's time for a massive overhaul of the whole criminal justice process and the Government should grasp the nettle. It might make them unpopular amongst certain self-serving MPs but I don't think it will lose them any support in the country.

SPEAKING of criminal behaviour, I'm sure many of you have felt anger as you drive along and see a fellow motorist failing to indicate because they have a mobile phone in their hand.

Or perhaps they fail to check a mirror because they are hunched at an angle with the mobile wedged between ear and shoulder.

In truth, many of us have taken a hand or eye off the wheel to use a mobile phone and, from next week, police will be clamping down hard on such activity.

So this weekend, instead of buying a loved one an Easter egg, why not book their car in to get a hands-free kit fitted.

It's a far healthier gift that could save them from a conviction for careless driving or even a serious smash.

Published: 18/04/2003