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DNA may free man after 27 years DNA may free man after 27 years
(20 minutes later)
A man jailed for murdering a barmaid 27 years ago could be released from prison after DNA evidence was reviewed.A man jailed for murdering a barmaid 27 years ago could be released from prison after DNA evidence was reviewed.
Sean Hodgson is serving a life sentence for killing Teresa De Simone, 22. She was found strangled in her car in Southampton in December 1979.Sean Hodgson is serving a life sentence for killing Teresa De Simone, 22. She was found strangled in her car in Southampton in December 1979.
The case has now been sent to appeal over claims tests on semen found at the scene prove it was not Hodgson's DNA.The case has now been sent to appeal over claims tests on semen found at the scene prove it was not Hodgson's DNA.
The BBC understands the Crown Prosecution Service will not contest the appeal on 18 March.The BBC understands the Crown Prosecution Service will not contest the appeal on 18 March.
If released, Hodgson would be one of the longest-serving victims of a miscarriage of justice. Hodgson, who is also known as Robert Graham Hodgson, would be one of the longest-serving victims of a miscarriage of justice if released.
Miss De Simone's partially clothed body was found in the back seat of her Ford Escort in a car park beneath the Tom Tackle pub where she worked part-time as a barmaid.
Pathological liarPathological liar
Miss De Simone's partially clothed body was found in the back seat of her Ford Escort in a car park beneath the Tom Tackle pub where she worked part-time as a barmaid.Hodgson's legal team asked for the DNA tests to be done
Hodgson made various confessions to the murder but his defence said he was a pathological liar and the confessions were untrue.Hodgson made various confessions to the murder but his defence said he was a pathological liar and the confessions were untrue.
At his trial at Winchester Crown Court he pleaded not guilty to a single charge of murder.At his trial at Winchester Crown Court he pleaded not guilty to a single charge of murder.
The jury found him guilty in 1982 and he was sentenced to life imprisonment.The jury found him guilty in 1982 and he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
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. There is a real possibility that the court will consider the conviction unsafe and quash it Criminal Cases Review Commission 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.Mr Hodgson was in that category along with roughly a third of the male population.
DNA tests were not available at the time, but after requests from Mr Hodgson's legal team Hampshire Constabulary and the Forensic Science Service undertook a comprehensive forensic case review in November 2008.DNA tests were not available at the time, but after requests from Mr Hodgson's legal team Hampshire Constabulary and the Forensic Science Service undertook a comprehensive forensic case review in November 2008.
This included DNA testing on samples collected at the time of the murder. This included DNA testing on samples collected at the time of the murder. There is a real possibility that the court will consider the conviction unsafe and quash it Criminal Cases Review Commission
Following this review the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) decided to refer the case to the Court of Appeal after two days - making it one of the fastest in the commission's history.Following this review the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) decided to refer the case to the Court of Appeal after two days - making it one of the fastest in the commission's history.
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 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 CCRC has also contacted the Director of Public Prosecutions to discuss the possibility of similar murder cases being reviewed in light of DNA evidence.The CCRC has also contacted the Director of Public Prosecutions to discuss the possibility of similar murder cases being reviewed in light of DNA evidence.
In a statement Hampshire police said Mr Hodgson's case has been "comprehensively and extensively reviewed and re-examined".
It added that DNA evidence had arisen which was not available at the time of Mr Hodgson's conviction.