Menu
12/03/2009
Man 'May Be Released' After Case Referred To CCRC
A man who was jailed 27 years ago for the murder of a barmaid, may be released after DNA evidence was reviewed.
Sean Hodgson – also known as Robert Graham Hodgson – was accused of murdering Miss Teresa De Simone in Southampton on December 5, 1979.
Miss De Simone's partially clothed body was found in the back seat of her Ford Escort shortly after 10am in the car park beneath the Tom Tackle pub where she worked part time as a barmaid. She had been strangled.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has referred the murder conviction of Sean Hodgson to the Court of Appeal - 27 years after the trial took place.
Hodgson made various confessions to the murder before the trial at Winchester Crown Court. At trial he pleaded not guilty to a single charge of murder.
His defence said he was a pathological liar and the confessions were untrue.
The jury found him guilty on February 5th, 1982, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment - he has been in prison ever since.
The prosecution was also supported by the fact that blood type analysis available at the time showed that material recovered at the scene belonged to a man with blood of either group A or AB.
Mr Hodgson was in that category along with roughly a third of the male population.
DNA tests were not available at the time - the world's first use of DNA evidence in court did not take place until 1986 in Leicester. But, after requests from Mr Hodgson's legal representatives at Julian Young & Co, Hampshire Constabulary and the Forensic Science Service undertook a comprehensive forensic case review and examination of material from the original case in November 2008. This included DNA testing on samples collected at the time of the murder.
The CCRC said: "In light of new evidence available, the Commission has decided to refer Mr Hodgson's conviction to the Court of Appeal because it believes there is a real possibility that the court will consider the conviction unsafe and quash it."
The Court of Appeal is due to hear the appeal on March 18.
(JM/BMcC)
Sean Hodgson – also known as Robert Graham Hodgson – was accused of murdering Miss Teresa De Simone in Southampton on December 5, 1979.
Miss De Simone's partially clothed body was found in the back seat of her Ford Escort shortly after 10am in the car park beneath the Tom Tackle pub where she worked part time as a barmaid. She had been strangled.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has referred the murder conviction of Sean Hodgson to the Court of Appeal - 27 years after the trial took place.
Hodgson made various confessions to the murder before the trial at Winchester Crown Court. At trial he pleaded not guilty to a single charge of murder.
His defence said he was a pathological liar and the confessions were untrue.
The jury found him guilty on February 5th, 1982, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment - he has been in prison ever since.
The prosecution was also supported by the fact that blood type analysis available at the time showed that material recovered at the scene belonged to a man with blood of either group A or AB.
Mr Hodgson was in that category along with roughly a third of the male population.
DNA tests were not available at the time - the world's first use of DNA evidence in court did not take place until 1986 in Leicester. But, after requests from Mr Hodgson's legal representatives at Julian Young & Co, Hampshire Constabulary and the Forensic Science Service undertook a comprehensive forensic case review and examination of material from the original case in November 2008. This included DNA testing on samples collected at the time of the murder.
The CCRC said: "In light of new evidence available, the Commission has decided to refer Mr Hodgson's conviction to the Court of Appeal because it believes there is a real possibility that the court will consider the conviction unsafe and quash it."
The Court of Appeal is due to hear the appeal on March 18.
(JM/BMcC)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
18 March 2009
Hodgson Conviction Quashed After 27 Years
A man who has spent 27 years in prison has had his conviction quashed at the Court of Appeal. Sean Hodgson, now 57, was sentenced to life imprisonment for strangling 22-year-old gas board clerk and part-time barmaid Teresa De Simone in Southampton.
Hodgson Conviction Quashed After 27 Years
A man who has spent 27 years in prison has had his conviction quashed at the Court of Appeal. Sean Hodgson, now 57, was sentenced to life imprisonment for strangling 22-year-old gas board clerk and part-time barmaid Teresa De Simone in Southampton.
12 August 2009
Body Exhumed In 30-Year Murder Probe
The body of a suspect in the murder of Teresa De Simone 30 years ago has been exhumed from a graveyard in Portsmouth. The body was exhumed from Kingston Cemetery in the early hours of this morning. Hampshire Police said that they were hoping to obtain further DNA evidence to finally establish who was the killer.
Body Exhumed In 30-Year Murder Probe
The body of a suspect in the murder of Teresa De Simone 30 years ago has been exhumed from a graveyard in Portsmouth. The body was exhumed from Kingston Cemetery in the early hours of this morning. Hampshire Police said that they were hoping to obtain further DNA evidence to finally establish who was the killer.
27 July 2012
Teen Who Attacked 10-Year-Old Girl May 'Never Be Released'
A teenager who throttled, punched and kicked a 10-year-old Teesside girl might never be released back into the community, a judge has said. 16-year-old Conner Hodgson attacked the girl in Stockton, Teeside. The court heard that Hodgson had alcohol and drug problems and had been smoking cannabis the day of the attack.
Teen Who Attacked 10-Year-Old Girl May 'Never Be Released'
A teenager who throttled, punched and kicked a 10-year-old Teesside girl might never be released back into the community, a judge has said. 16-year-old Conner Hodgson attacked the girl in Stockton, Teeside. The court heard that Hodgson had alcohol and drug problems and had been smoking cannabis the day of the attack.
30 April 2012
Hodgson Expected To Be New England Manager
Roy Hodgson is expected to be the new England manager. West Bromich Albion granted permission for The FA to speak with Roy regarding the position. This follows an approach from FA Chairman David Bernstein to West Bromwich Albion Chairman Jeremy Peace.
Hodgson Expected To Be New England Manager
Roy Hodgson is expected to be the new England manager. West Bromich Albion granted permission for The FA to speak with Roy regarding the position. This follows an approach from FA Chairman David Bernstein to West Bromwich Albion Chairman Jeremy Peace.
23 October 2009
Crackdown On Fine Dodgers
Six hundred of the Scotland's 'worst fine dodgers' are being targeted in a crackdown by the Scottish Court Service on those who attempt to 'avoid the ends of justice'.
Crackdown On Fine Dodgers
Six hundred of the Scotland's 'worst fine dodgers' are being targeted in a crackdown by the Scottish Court Service on those who attempt to 'avoid the ends of justice'.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A fine dry days weather with sunshine quite widespread, particularly from mid-morning. Temperatures best across southern districts. North to northwesy breezes occasionally freshening around the coasts. Maximum temperature 15 °C.Tonight:Most dry with good clear spells bringing a rural frost in the south for some. Cloudier around northern coasts where the odd light shower may develop. Northerly breezes persisting. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
