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| Body exhumed in 1979 murder probe | Body exhumed in 1979 murder probe |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police investigating the murder of a woman in Southampton 30 years ago have exhumed the body of a suspect. | Police investigating the murder of a woman in Southampton 30 years ago have exhumed the body of a suspect. |
| Specialist officers carried out the exhumation earlier at Kingston Cemetery in Portsmouth in order to obtain "further DNA evidence". | Specialist officers carried out the exhumation earlier at Kingston Cemetery in Portsmouth in order to obtain "further DNA evidence". |
| The body of Teresa De Simone, 22, was found in her car at the pub where she worked part-time in December 1979. She had been raped and strangled. | |
| Hampshire police said officers were "confident" of solving the case. | Hampshire police said officers were "confident" of solving the case. |
| Sean Hodgson, 57, spent 27 years in jail for the murder but his conviction was quashed in March. | Sean Hodgson, 57, spent 27 years in jail for the murder but his conviction was quashed in March. |
| Mr Hodgson, originally from County Durham, was released after DNA found at the scene of the murder was re-examined and proved not to be his. | Mr Hodgson, originally from County Durham, was released after DNA found at the scene of the murder was re-examined and proved not to be his. |
| 'Right track' | 'Right track' |
| Investigators, who confirmed they had a new suspect on Tuesday, said the development was the result of research, coupled with the DNA screening of more than 100 people since March. | Investigators, who confirmed they had a new suspect on Tuesday, said the development was the result of research, coupled with the DNA screening of more than 100 people since March. |
| A police spokesman said: "Whilst further work is currently ongoing in order to maximise the DNA evidence with the FSS (Forensic Science Service), the enquiry team are confident that they are on the right track and may solve this 30-year-old murder case." | A police spokesman said: "Whilst further work is currently ongoing in order to maximise the DNA evidence with the FSS (Forensic Science Service), the enquiry team are confident that they are on the right track and may solve this 30-year-old murder case." |
| Mr Hodgson said he felt "ecstatic" to be a free man again | Mr Hodgson said he felt "ecstatic" to be a free man again |
| 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. She was also employed with the local gas board. | |
| After her murder, officers took 2,500 statements, traced 500 people who were in the area of the murder at the time and had up to 300 suspects. | After her murder, officers took 2,500 statements, traced 500 people who were in the area of the murder at the time and had up to 300 suspects. |
| But police admitted in March they faced a tough task to sift through the original case for fresh leads because of missing paperwork. | But police admitted in March they faced a tough task to sift through the original case for fresh leads because of missing paperwork. |
| Mr Hodgson confessed at the time of the original inquiry to killing Miss De Simone. | Mr Hodgson confessed at the time of the original inquiry to killing Miss De Simone. |
| But he pleaded not guilty at his 1982 trial at Winchester Crown Court, where his defence team said he was a pathological liar. | But he pleaded not guilty at his 1982 trial at Winchester Crown Court, where his defence team said he was a pathological liar. |