Lessons have been learnt from Teresa De Simone's murder (From Daily Echo)
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Lessons have been learnt from Teresa De Simone's murder
9:59am Thursday 13th August 2009 in News
HAMPSHIRE police say lessons have been learned following the release of Sean Hodgson after DNA proved he could not have raped and killed Teresa De Simone.
It follows questions being raised about why the confessions of several people concerning the rape and murder had never come to light before now.
As reported, police came across the paperwork that detailed that information by chance as they searched for historical case papers from the investigation which have never been found.
Although unable to defend decisions taken by police chiefs at the time because the current officers were not involved, they have pointed to the advances in science that have since changed criminal investigations.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil McTavish said: “Lessons have been and were already being learned. The acquittal of Sean Hodgson was not a miscarriage of justice on police part, as was said in court, but on the basis of his conviction by jury.
Teresa's parents talk about the search to identify their daughter's killer
“We are now 30 years on and do things considerably differently, with the benefit of DNA science that was not available in the 1980s.”
He added that admissions made by people during murder investigations “were not entirely unusual”.
Comments(20)
Derek of Dibden Purlieu
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10:45am Thu 13 Aug 09
Brite Spark
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10:59am Thu 13 Aug 09
After the Birmingham 6 fiasco and similar cases, and even this one involving Sean Hodgson, I have lost a lot faith and trust in them.
Derek of Dibden Purlieu
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11:55am Thu 13 Aug 09
Brite Spark wrote:There is a huge difference between being innocent and not being found guilty. An expert can throw doubt on any piece of evidence and a jury is always directed to find someone not guilty if they have the slightest doubt. Far more guilty people escape conviction than the other way around.
It seems a bit suspicious that after 30 years the police have suddenly found a new suspect (who is dead which is convenient), to pin this horrible crime on?
After the Birmingham 6 fiasco and similar cases, and even this one involving Sean Hodgson, I have lost a lot faith and trust in them.
When was the last time you or anyone you know on their way to buy a paper and scooped of the street by a bunch of coppers before being taken to the local nick and fitted up with an unsolved murder or two?
Mark643
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1:02pm Thu 13 Aug 09
DIS Phil McTavish said conviction of Sean Hodgson was by jury and it wasn't the fault of Hampshire Police? Were the jury not led by evidence from Hampshire Police saying something along the lines of 'he confessed so he must be guilty - job done'.
Don't be fooled. After all these years, Hampshire Police have learnt nothing. They are worse than ever and I want my money back.
Brite Spark
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1:11pm Thu 13 Aug 09
They pick somebody weak Derek, like Mr Hodgson, or they pick somebody who is dead and unable to defend themselves. Why did 7 people make confessions to this crime? I suspect it was because the police were happy to put pressure on weak or mentally unstable men to hold their hands up and say "I did it", in order to get a conviction.
soton1980
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2:00pm Thu 13 Aug 09
It's like saying... we did wrong, but it doesn't matter because we've learnt our lesson...
Derek of Dibden Purlieu
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2:19pm Thu 13 Aug 09
Brite Spark wrote:'7 people made confessions'.....so the Police had a few spares in case the first one was found not guilty. ...mmmmm????
Derek of Dibden "When was the last time you or anyone you know on their way to buy a paper and scooped of the street by a bunch of coppers before being taken to the local nick and fitted up with an unsolved murder or two?"
They pick somebody weak Derek, like Mr Hodgson, or they pick somebody who is dead and unable to defend themselves. Why did 7 people make confessions to this crime? I suspect it was because the police were happy to put pressure on weak or mentally unstable men to hold their hands up and say "I did it", in order to get a conviction.
Why don't we just abandon the notion of any law and let everyone take care of themselves and their own. We aren't far from this already as layers of legislation and bureaucracy have almost stopped them in their tracks anyway.Whatever the Police do is criticised by keyboard warriors whose first move when their car has been nicked is to phone the Old Bill.
Would I be right in assuming that you believe that Princess Diana and Michael Jackson were murdered by unseen government forces?
Mark643
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2:48pm Thu 13 Aug 09
Derek of Dibden Purlieu wrote:You're right, perhaps we should take care of matters ourselves. However as what you call me, a keyboard warrior, I WOULD call the Police if my car was stolen, but only for a crime reference for insurance purposes. Expecting the Police to do anything is like expecting to win the lottery.
Brite Spark wrote: Derek of Dibden "When was the last time you or anyone you know on their way to buy a paper and scooped of the street by a bunch of coppers before being taken to the local nick and fitted up with an unsolved murder or two?" They pick somebody weak Derek, like Mr Hodgson, or they pick somebody who is dead and unable to defend themselves. Why did 7 people make confessions to this crime? I suspect it was because the police were happy to put pressure on weak or mentally unstable men to hold their hands up and say "I did it", in order to get a conviction.'7 people made confessions'.....so the Police had a few spares in case the first one was found not guilty. ...mmmmm???? Why don't we just abandon the notion of any law and let everyone take care of themselves and their own. We aren't far from this already as layers of legislation and bureaucracy have almost stopped them in their tracks anyway.Whatever the Police do is criticised by keyboard warriors whose first move when their car has been nicked is to phone the Old Bill. Would I be right in assuming that you believe that Princess Diana and Michael Jackson were murdered by unseen government forces?
I speak from bitter experience of my own and others - what do you speak from?
Conrad Mac Cleary
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2:49pm Thu 13 Aug 09
Ex-GasBag
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3:05pm Thu 13 Aug 09
Brite Spark
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3:26pm Thu 13 Aug 09
My point is that the police appear to have gone for an easy conviction when they should have done their jobs more professionally.
As for what Dippy Derek of Dibden is going on about Diana for I havent got a Scooby Doo.
cori yer dias
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5:04pm Thu 13 Aug 09
i can see where you get your user name now, as the other posters on here are a bit slooooow!
now in the north
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5:08pm Thu 13 Aug 09
In the case above realating to 1982, Sean Hodgson was jailed in for the murder of Teresa De Simone after he made a confession. His solicitors told the police that he was a pathelogical liar but "Prosecutors relied on the confessions and match of blood type with samples found at the scene."
Those same crimes samples are the very same ones that upon testing have proved the mans innocence after spending 27 years in Jail. So that means the evidence was falsified to convict him in the first place!
I find it hard to feel anything for this girls parents as they openly stated they did not care that Sean Hodgeson spent 27 years in Jail as he bought it on himself by claiming he did it in the first place.
How can they expect compassion when they have none for a man who was quite obviously not right (Id like to know if he gave himself up or confessed after being arrested), who went through the ordeal of being held and questioned by the police while probably being a little unintelligent, and then was convicted and spending his whole life separated from his family in prison while the guy who committed the crime enjoyed his life after taking both that of Theresa and Sean.
And they dont care!
side-deny
cori yer dias
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5:36pm Thu 13 Aug 09
weepee
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6:09pm Thu 13 Aug 09
cori yer dias
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7:25pm Thu 13 Aug 09
my aunty god rest her soul worked in knowle hospital for over 17 years and was stabbed several times, but at the end of the day she went home knowing that the lunatics as they were called then, were safely locked up for the night. not once did she ever blame one of them for what they had done, as she used to say they dont know any better they learn from other people, ussually the sane!. now we have what they call care in the community where the lunatics are put in amongst so called normal people, unfortunately what they have to learn from, are a load of self obsessed greedy and at times murderous individuals who are classed as normal!!!
Adrian-Smith
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8:02pm Thu 13 Aug 09
"Those same crimes samples are the very same ones that upon testing have proved the mans innocence after spending 27 years in Jail. So that means the evidence was falsified to convict him in the first place!"
No it doesn't. Many people share the same blood type - but very, very few share the same DNA. I assume you don't know when DNA profiling became mainstream - clue, it wasn't in 1979.
Adrian-Smith
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8:12pm Thu 13 Aug 09
soton1980 wrote:I am not entirely clear what the Police did wrong. They investigated, found a person who could have been at the scene, he then claimed he committed the murder, they presented that evidence and a jury convicted.
I'm absolutely fed up of the expression 'lessons have been learnt'!!! It's like saying... we did wrong, but it doesn't matter because we've learnt our lesson...
Until it is known the identity of the real killer and his whereabouts and circumstances when he made his confession the Police need not apologise.
I feel for the parents - having to re-live this awlful event when Hodgson was released and again when the new suspect was exhumed.
Condor Man
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9:26pm Thu 13 Aug 09
chapelsaint says...
10:29am Thu 13 Aug 09