Millions may be paid to man wrongly imprisoned over murder
A TOW Law man jailed for 27 years for a murder he did not commit could receive millions of pounds in compensation it was revealed this week.
Sean Hodgson, pictured, was released from jail last year after new DNA evidence was used to quash his conviction for murdering bar maid Teresa De Simone, 22, in Southampton in 1979.
Miss De Simone’s body was found in her Ford Escort in a pub car park. Mr Hodgson, originally from Tow Law, confessed to her murder but pleaded not guilty at his trial in 1982 where his defence team said he was a pathological liar.
New DNA evidence in 2008 revealed Mr Hodgson to be innocent and another man, David Lace, was the suspected killer. Mr Lace killed himself in 1988 five years after admitting to the crime.
This week, it was reported that Mr Hodgson, who has returned to his native North East after his release from prison, could get more than £1m in compensation from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Forensic Science service and Hampshire Police.
An MoJ spokesperson said it could not comment on individual claims but told the BBC: "Ministers need to approve an application for compensation.
"If they do then it is for the independent assessor to decide how much they should be awarded based on the application made by the individual or their solicitors."
Mr Hodgson’s solicitor, Julian Young, said doctor's reports were currently being completed which would be sent to the MoJ as part of the compensation process.
Mr Young told the BBC: "Sean does not want this issue to be dragged out, we want it sorted quickly.
“I am in the process of contacting Hampshire police and the FSS.
“I would hope they would get together and provide us with a figure we are all happy with, Sean doesn't want this dragged through the courts.”