The Assassination of Gianni Versace under microscope in new BBC crime show starring Ricky Martin
GIANNI Versace was gunned down on the steps of his Miami apartment on July 15, 1997 - yet his death remains shrouded in mystery.
The designer's bloody assassination rocked the fashion world and made headlines around the globe.
Serial killer Andrew Cunanan, 27, had already killed four men in the US when he blasted 50-year-old Versace.
Nine days later the evil gunman - who reportedly had the IQ of a genius - blew his own brains out on a house boat, taking with him any clues as to why he did what he did.
There was at outpouring of grief for the designer among his celeb pals including Princess Diana, Elton John, Cher, George Michael and Naomi Campbell.
Now a new BBC drama, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, examines the brutal murder and the fall-out.
It starts tonight on BBC2 and stars The Bourne Ultimatum actor Edgar Ramirez as Versace and pop star Ricky Martin as his longtime lover Antonio D’Amico.
Penelope Cruz plays his sister Donatella, who gained the keys to his fashion empire after his death.
The drama is based on a 1997 book by journalist Maureen Orth, who spoke to witnesses claiming Versace met his killer Cunanan in San Francisco nightspot Colossus in 1990.
Versace’s family insist this is not true.
But Maureen told Vanity Fair magazine last week: “There is no doubt in my mind that those two met.”
That is why the first episode, The Man Who Would Be Vogue, examines two proposed meetings between the pair.
Former FBI criminal profiler Candice DeLong told : “The world would know two things after the murder. One, they would know who Versace was. And two, they would know his killer was Andrew Cunanan.
“That’s what Andrew wanted, ‘Look at me. I can get to anyone’.”
Cunanan was one of four kids from California - and according to his brother had a superior intellect.
He said: "He was very smart. When he was about 10, he’d read the whole set of encyclopedias... and memorised it."
Cunanan’s first victims were Jeffrey Trail, 28, and David Madson, 33.
“I think this killing spree started as a love story,” said Donna Brant, managing editor of America’s Most Wanted show - alluding to Cunanan’s taste in wealthy, older men.
“But David Madson came to symbolise all the rejection Cunanan had those last few years,"
“He was dumped by his sugar daddy.
"This was a guy who tasted blood, loved it, and was empowered by it.”
Cunanan then travelled to Chicago, where he killed 72-year-old Lee Miglin before fleeing with his car. He drove to Pennsville, New Jersey, where he killed William Reese, 45.
Despite being on the FBI Most Wanted list, he evaded capture for two months.
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During this time he shot Versace.
Sgt George Navarro, of Miami Beach police, said at the time: “As he’s walking up the stairs, Andrew Cunanan comes up behind him and shoots him twice in the head at point-blank range.”
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story is on BBC2 at 9pm tomorrow.
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