Shot dead: Jill Dando TV weatherman Bill Giles -- who was hounded by a stalker for more than seven years -- has told of his devastation at the brutal murder of fellow presenter Jill Dando.

BBC presenter Jill was killed by a single bullet to the back of her head on the doorstep of her Fulham home on Monday lunchtime.

Mr Giles, who suffered years of terror at the hands of a stalker, said of Jill's murder: "I couldn't believe it. We came from the same part of the country, Plymouth, which is where Jill started out. I was completely overwhelmed when I heard the news."

Police are currently working on a number of theories as to who would have reason to murder Jill. One theory is that a stalker could be responsible for the shooting.

Mr Giles, who lives in Chinnor, was stalked by his niece Joanna Toner.

He said: "I don't know what can be done about stalkers. It's hard to stop them, although things have got better with the introduction of harassment laws. My niece got caught on the harassment law. Now if she does anything, she faces up to five years in prison.

"It's a problem that will always be there. I don't know what can be done."

Toner, 38, of King's Crescent, Tiverton, Devon, was charged with making a bomb hoax call and sending a phone message to the BBC which caused annoyance and needless anxiety on December 17, 1997. She was jailed for six months in July 1998 and a restraining order, banning her from contacting Mr Giles, the BBC and Meteorological Office, was issued by magistrates in Exeter.

Police investigating Jill's murder are also exploring the possibility that she may have been killed as a result of her work on BBC's Crimewatch. However, detectives were said to be keeping an open mind on the motive.

Jill Dando lived in Cookham for more than three years and her former flat is currently up for sale.

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