Unveiling the Mystery: John George Given a Gun Before Tragic Ending
Murdered John George appears to have been handed a gun shortly before his death, it has emerged.
Video Evidence
In video obtained by BBC Spotlight, the West Belfast man appears to be handed the automatic pistol while at a house he was present in during his time in Spain. The TV investigation, broadcast later this evening, has traced John’s footsteps and spoken to his heartbroken dad as it pieces together his last movements.
Identification of Suspects
A number of videos and images of John’s time in Spain emerged in the days and weeks after he went missing. However, Spotlight has obtained and verified two videos recorded inside the house where John spent time in the days before he went missing. There are two videos with the first appearing to show John looking at photos of weapons on someone else’s phone. In the second video, that is believed to have been filmed minutes after the first, John appears to have been handed a gun.
Investigation Details
News of the videos emerged after earlier today it was reported that the BBC Spotlight documentary will name those suspected in the case. While no one has yet been convicted of the murder, 32-year-old Czech national Michal Maly has appeared in court in Spain in connection with the case. He was granted bail under strict conditions. The documentary is also set to name 26-year-old Jonny Smyth, who is originally from Belfast but had been living in Spain and whom John George had been staying with prior to being killed, as a fugitive who has been named in international arrest warrants.
After travelling to Spain for a holiday in December, Twinbrook man John George was reported missing after failing to catch his flight home. Three weeks later, John’s body was discovered in a lemon grove in Rojales, near Alicante where he had been stabbed and beaten before being shot in the face and chest. The Spotlight documentary will reveal that The Guardia Civil believes that they know who was involved in the murder and that Jonny Smyth fled Spain in the weeks after. The documentary also uncovered that the murder may have been captured on CCTV but that the recording was wiped after two weeks and before police knew the location of the killing.
According to BBC News, Col Antonio Darder of the Guardia Civil told the documentary: “I want the family to understand that the work done from day one was intense and in the end, we managed to find the body of the deceased. We now have a clear suspect and are hoping that he will soon be arrested. The international arrest warrants have already been issued. “Wherever he is hiding, we will use all international mechanisms available - Interpol and any other means necessary. I believe he will soon be arrested.” Spotlight: Who Killed John George? will be available on BBC iPlayer and BBC One Northern Ireland at 22:40 on March 11.