David Lace is a 'one-in-a-billion' match in Teresa De Simon investigation

DNA evidence has confirmed that David Lace played a part in the rape and murder of the gas board clerk in 1979, at the rear of a pub in Commercial Road, Southampton.

Hampshire Constabulary are not looking for anyone else in connection with the rape and murder of Miss Simone.

Nor are they linking Lace with any other outstanding investigations.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil McTavish, said: ""There is no indication forensically or evidentially of any third party additional to David Lace is connected to the rape and murder of Teresa Di Simone, additionally his confession, which must now be considered reliable, made no reference to anyone other than himself being present and responsible.

"The evidence overwhelmingly bears out his involvement in the rape and murder of Teresa De Simone and we are not seeking anyone else in relation to this matter."

He added: ""We are fully satisfied that the person exhumed was David Lace and identification was indeed proven, it is therefore confirmed that the DNA profile of the suspect, David Lace, is a complete match to the DNA profile from the original crime scene.

"A match probability of one in one billion has been confirmed which basically means the chances of obtaining a similar match from the person selected at random is of the order of one in one billion.

"The DNA test result together with a full file of evidence has been submitted to Mr Alan Nesbitt of the Crown Prosecution Service for review and it has been determined that had David Lace been alive today there is a realistic prospect that a jury would properly conclude that he had raped and murdered Teresa De Simone."

"Accordingly if he was alive, Mr Nesbitt would authorise that David Lace be charged and prosecution commenced. As a consequence of this decision and taken together with the outcome of extensive investigations we have undertaken we are satisfied that we have identified the man responsible for the murder and rape of Teresa De Simone and we are not seeking any other person in relation to this case."

"Detailed research has been undertaken and continues, given the scale of the task, to identify any further potential serious crimes that David Lace may also have committed.

"This research has included searching across the DNA Database against all outstanding crime scene profiles, including comparisons to cases where there is only partial DNA evidence.

"Research has also been undertaken in relation to historical unsolved rape and murder cases in Hampshire and surrounding areas including Devon, this work continues.

"To date, no link has been established between David Lace and any unsolved serious crime."

He added: “The primary objective for Hampshire Constabulary has been to provide some form of outcome and some answers for Teresa’s parents.

“Their support and understanding through what must clearly have been the most traumatic of events has been of huge value to this investigation and I thank them personally.

“Additionally, we sought from the outset to respond as promptly and effectively as we could to the requests of Mr Julian Young on behalf of Robert Hodgson to undertake, with the FSS, a DNA-based review of the case.

“This process, which was very much our sole focus prior to the commencement of the reinvestigation of the murder, led to the development of the new DNA profile which we were then able to refer to the criminal case review commission and the court of appeal.

“Finally, I would also like to express my gratitude to the family of the suspect, for whom this matter has been a complete shock.

“They too have provided their support, co-operation and understanding to us throughout this process. They are very much victims in this matter too and I would ask that consideration is given to them and their privacy."

Watch videos of:

• David Lace's Confession Statement
• The 1983 Investigation
• Who was David Lace?
• The 2009 Investigation