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| Family 'struggle' with DNA appeal | Family 'struggle' with DNA appeal |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The parents of a woman killed 30 years ago say they are "struggling to come to terms" with the idea the man convicted of her murder could be innocent. | The parents of a woman killed 30 years ago say they are "struggling to come to terms" with the idea the man convicted of her murder could be innocent. |
| Sean Hodgson, 57, has served 27 years of a life term for strangling Teresa De Simone, 22, in Southampton in 1979. | Sean Hodgson, 57, has served 27 years of a life term for strangling Teresa De Simone, 22, in Southampton in 1979. |
| But the BBC understands an appeal based on DNA tests of semen found at the scene will not be contested by the Crown Prosecution Service next week. | But the BBC understands an appeal based on DNA tests of semen found at the scene will not be contested by the Crown Prosecution Service next week. |
| The original investigation was conducted by Hampshire Constabulary. | The original investigation was conducted by Hampshire Constabulary. |
| When the BBC contacted Miss De Simone's family they said the had been asked by the police force not to speak directly to the media. | |
| However, on Friday the family released a statement through Hampshire police. | However, on Friday the family released a statement through Hampshire police. |
| We are experiencing tremendously different emotions at this time Mary and Michael Sedotti | We are experiencing tremendously different emotions at this time Mary and Michael Sedotti |
| Miss De Simone's parents Mary and Michael Sedotti said: "Our loving daughter and step-daughter was cruelly taken from us nearly 30 years ago. | Miss De Simone's parents Mary and Michael Sedotti said: "Our loving daughter and step-daughter was cruelly taken from us nearly 30 years ago. |
| "We are experiencing tremendously different emotions at this time and are struggling to come to terms with recent events. | "We are experiencing tremendously different emotions at this time and are struggling to come to terms with recent events. |
| "One of the things that is causing us additional distress is references in the media to Teresa being a barmaid. | "One of the things that is causing us additional distress is references in the media to Teresa being a barmaid. |
| "This was only a part-time job that she had been doing for a few nights. She did in fact have an administrative role with the local gas board. | "This was only a part-time job that she had been doing for a few nights. She did in fact have an administrative role with the local gas board. |
| "We are currently being comforted by friends and family and Hampshire Constabulary have provided us with the support of a family liaison officer." | "We are currently being comforted by friends and family and Hampshire Constabulary have provided us with the support of a family liaison officer." |
| Miss De Simone's body was found near the pub where she worked | Miss De Simone's body was found near the pub where she worked |
| The hearing will take place at the Court of Appeal on Wednesday when Hodgson, who is also known as Robert Graham Hodgson, is expected to walk free. | The hearing will take place at the Court of Appeal on Wednesday when Hodgson, who is also known as Robert Graham Hodgson, is expected to walk free. |
| He would be one of the longest-serving victims of a miscarriage of justice if released. | He 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. | 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. |
| Hodgson made various confessions to the murder, but his defence team said he was a pathological liar and the confessions were untrue. | Hodgson made various confessions to the murder, but his defence team said he was a pathological liar and the confessions were untrue. |
| At his 1982 trial at Winchester Crown Court he denied the murder charge, but was sentenced to life after being found guilty by the jury. | At his 1982 trial at Winchester Crown Court he denied the murder charge, but was sentenced to life after being found guilty by the jury. |
| DNA tests were not available at the time. | DNA tests were not available at the time. |
| After requests from Hodgson's legal team, Hampshire Constabulary and the Forensic Science Service undertook a comprehensive forensic case review in November 2008. | After requests from Hodgson's legal team, Hampshire Constabulary and the Forensic Science Service undertook a comprehensive forensic case review in November 2008. |
| 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 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. |
| Hampshire Constabulary confirmed it was examining whose DNA was found at the scene. | Hampshire Constabulary confirmed it was examining whose DNA was found at the scene. |