Murdered Teresa's parents speak for first time (From Daily Echo)

Teresa de Simone's parents speak after Sean Hodgson's release

8:22am Friday 20th March 2009 in News By Jenny Makin, Assistant News Editor

Mary Sedotti pictured after her daughter Teresa's murder.

THE parents of murdered Teresa de Simone have today spoken of their grief at knowing their daughter’s real killer is still at large.

Thirty years after the 22-year-old gas board clerk was brutally killed, Sean Hodgson, the man who confessed to her murder has been released from prison after DNA proved he was innocent.

Mary and Michael Sedotti told how they still “feel empty” at their loss as they face the prospect of their daughter’s real killer still being at large.

"Teresa was our future. She was our only child and we feel empty.

"There are always times when we come across things that remind us of her. She was a shy girl; we called her “Terri”.

"We don’t have any feelings towards Sean Hodgson and nothing will bring our daughter back.

"Now we know he (Hodgson) wasn’t responsible for Teresa’s death, but at the time he knew things and his confession stopped the police finding the person who was responsible. The worst part for us is not knowing who her killer is.

"The police have DNA and it’s very hard after 30 years, but we have faith that they will work to try and find the answer.

Sean Hodgson, 58, had his conviction quashed by Appeal Court judges earlier this week following a full forensic investigation using advanced DNA techniques.

Now Hampshire police have re-launched the enquiry into Teresa’s murder, just yards from the Tom Tackle pub in Commercial Road, Southampton, where she worked part-time as a barmaid.