InfoAnda - Briton freed after 27 years as conviction quashed

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Kevin James comedy Zookeeper moved to summer 2011 | | 28 April 2010
China has 'canceled US credit card': lawmaker | 1 May 2009
Bangladesh teacher fired in Mohammed row | 19 July 2011

Iraqi lawmakers set to endorse US pact | 26 November 2008

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Briton freed after 27 years as conviction quashed

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Search Search: Briton freed after 27 years as conviction quashed AFP - Thursday, March 19 LONDON (AFP) - - A Briton who spent 27 years behind bars for murder said he was "ecstatic" to be free after new DNA evidence prompted the appeal court to quash his original conviction. ADVERTISEMENT Frail and unsteady on his feet, Sean Hodgson, one of the longest-serving victims of a miscarriage of justice in Britain, emerged from the Royal Courts of Justice holding the hand of his brother Peter, who gave him a big kiss. "Ecstatic... It's great to be free again," the 57-year-old said when asked how he felt. His brother added: "I've had a dream for 27 years. I know it's a hell of a long time. But it's finally come true." Wearing a dark suit and a colourful tie, Hodgson, who has longstanding mental and physical health problems, smiled and waved as he stood on the steps of the court in central London. Hodgson was jailed for life for the murder in 1979 of Teresa De Simone, a gas board clerk and part-time barmaid who was strangled in Southampton on the southern English coast. At the time of his conviction, DNA tests were not available. "It is unsafe," said Igor Judge, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales who headed the panel of three judges. "The conviction will be quashed for the simple reason that advances in the science of DNA, long after the end of the trial, have proved a fact which, if it had been known at the time would ... have resulted in quite a different investigation and a completely different trial." He said swabs taken from De Simone's body had been examined and there were sufficient remnants of sperm on them for proper DNA analysis, resulting in the conclusion that the sample on the swabs did not come from Hodgson. "Whoever raped her -- on these findings, it can't be the appellant," Judge said. The prosecution's case was that whoever raped De Simone also killed her, "so the new DNA evidence has demolished the case for the prosecution." He said: "This decision leaves some important unanswered questions. Perhaps the most important is that we do not know who raped and killed the dead girl. "We can but hope that, for the sake of the appellant and the family of the murdered girl, that her killer may yet be identified and brought to justice." State prosecutors are not seeking a retrial. De Simone's family said in a statement last week that they were "experiencing tremendously different emotions at this time and are struggling to come to terms with recent events". Hodgson's lawyer Julian Young said his client was being helped by a miscarriage of justice team and would be visited by health professionals, and he would then "make his own decision on where he wants to live". Hodgson was "looking forward one day to going to watch a football match", the lawyer added. "He is very pleased that the nightmare is at long last over." Hodgson originally confessed to the crime but pleaded not guilty at his trial. His defence team at the time argued he was a pathological liar. In another tragic twist, Judge said that lawyers acting for Hodgson had questioned the forensic science service in 1998 to ask if there was any evidence left from the trial -- but was told none remained. That was "plainly wrong", he said, adding there would be an investigation into the error which meant Hodgson stayed in jail for an extra ten years. The court heard Tuesday that DNA evidence found at the murder scene did not match Hodgson's -- and there was no forensic link between him and the scene. The police force which conducted the original investigation said it would reopen the probe to try to find the owner of the new DNA profile which saw Hodgson's conviction overturned. "The original investigation and evidence is now being revisited with the benefit of the DNA evidence," said Detective Chief Inspector Philip McTavish of Hampshire Police. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article Average (0 votes) Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: World Prison releases photo of elderly Charles MansonAP - 1 hour 43 minutes ago Pope seeks to defuse backlash on condom commentsAFP - 2 hours 10 minutes ago Suspect in NC slaying of family of 4 dead in UtahAP - Thursday, March 19 Mich. man shoots self after killing 1, wounding 2AP - Thursday, March 19 Metro areas with largest population jumps in 2008AP - Thursday, March 19 Enlarge Photo Sean Hodgson, 57, speaks to the media outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Hodgson, who spent 27 years behind bars for murder, said Wednesday he was "ecstatic" to be free after the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction saying the original verdict was unsafe. Most Popular – World Viewed AIG boss, and Obama, in firing line in Congress Actress Natasha Richardson dies after ski accident Injured actress Richardson flown to US: hospital Miniature carnivore dinosaurs roamed North America Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Thursday, 19 March 2009
U.S. and Asia should match European welfare net: EU | International |
Sudan ready to talk to U.S. envoy, wants normalcy | International |
Israel's Netanyahu courts center-left Labor | International |
UK to reveal secret agents' interrogation methods | International |
Nokia to shutter its Mosh success story | Technology |
Consumers want unrestricted Internet access: survey | Technology |
NBC boss: Jon Stewart's criticism absurd, unfair | Entertainment |
Kelly Clarkson tops U.S. album chart | Entertainment |
Cable industry hopes downturn keeps people at home | Entertainment |
Clash guitarist reveals his Rock & Roll library | Entertainment |
Sotheby's withdraws star lot from Versace auction | Entertainment |
Japan's Kuniyoshi inspired Monet as well as manga | Entertainment |
NATO recommits troops for Afghan polls
Israel mulls tougher terms for Palestinian inmates
Israeli dad blames Olmert over failure to free son
Austria's Fritzl faces verdict in murder trial | International |
Global warming leaving its mark on polar bears
Lebanese president rules out direct Israel talks
U.S. mulls counter-insurgency push in Afghanistan | International |
French President faces new strike test
Arab child's sickbed is part of the battleground
North Korea guards detain U.S. journalists: TV report | International |
Actress Natasha Richardson dies after ski accident
China to send more ships to South China Sea | International |
Warming to speed icesheet collapse
Israelis round up Hamas politicians in West Bank | International |
Madoff auditor surrenders on fraud charge
U.S. plans soon to ease ban on contacts with Iran | International |
Fed adds $1.15 tln to economic fight
Madagascar's Rajoelina takes office
Homemade bomb explodes outside Greek MP's office | International |
Fed to add trillion dollars to economic fight
Azerbaijan votes to lift Aliyev term limit | International |
Italy's Unicredit seeks state aid
Global warming leaving its mark on polar bears
Mexican tariffs on 89 US products take effect
China says US could hold up climate deal
New Mexico governor bans death penalty
Warming to speed icesheet collapse
Obama cautious on gay rule in US military
Democrats split on fast-track budget for Obama
Colombian ex-army major sent to US on drug charges
New government brochure explains climate science
Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 8 | Technology |
Officials: US prepares civilian 'surge' in Afghan
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,259
Sony Reader taps Google's public domain books | Technology |
US-TECH Summary
Sony Reader taps Google's public domain books
Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 8
IBM in talks to buy Sun Microsystems: sources | Technology |
Mexico to raise tariffs on US goods
Sun rises on IBM purchase reports
Privacy group urges probe of Google cloud services
Woman among two favourites for Slovak presidency
Nokia to shutter its "Mosh" success story
Briton freed after 27 years as conviction quashed
Consumers want unrestricted Internet access: survey
Barroso well placed for second term as EC chief
Fujitsu cutting 1,750 Philippines jobs
Ontario to help emerging tech firms raise capital
France attacks pope condom comments
Sony Reader taps Google's public domain books
Space tourism to take flight in 2012
Nokia to shutter its "Mosh" success story
Pope sparks condom backlash on Africa visit
Natasha Richardson dies after ski fall | Entertainment |
Elimination gives American Idol its final 10 | Entertainment |
Kanye West charged in airport scuffle | Entertainment |
Japan PM: NKorea sanctions warning over rockets
VH1 resuscitates Behind the Music | Entertainment |
Tiger Woods' fee queried in Australia
Nicolas Cage journeys deeper into sci-fi | Entertainment |
Beijing human rights law firm shut down
China may up patrols amid South China Sea disputes
Stacy Keach had mild stroke: spokesman | Entertainment |
Militants to free Red Cross hostage in Philippines
Shows honored for television with conscience | Entertainment |
Thai PM faces no confidence motion
Salma Hayek back acting in Adam Sandler comedy
NKorean military detains US journalists: report
Aid group says worker killed in Sri Lanka war zone
China firm shares tumble after failed Coke bid
Vietnam reports another human bird flu case
GRAPHIC-S.Korea's 'March crisis' not showing up in markets
Filipino troops to pull back, hostages threatened
Experts say Asia needs to rely less on exports
New York Dolls reunite with Rundgren for new album | Entertainment |
S.Korea govt to buy $2.8 bln in local bonds-report
Springsteen leads Seeger 90th birthday tribute | Entertainment |
Lights on for some Kabul residents
Toyota to halve recruitment in 2009: report
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
SKorea to spend US$3.5bln to create jobs
VH1 resuscitates "Behind the Music"
AIG boss, Obama in the hot-seats as Congress fumes
Elimination gives "American Idol" its final 10
Taiwan dollar at 1-mth high on Fed bond purchase
Albania businessmen hope to outflank crisis
China's US$65mln Costa Rica investment
Natasha Richardson dies after fall on ski slope
S.Korea to spend $3.5 bln for more jobs
Richardson was a true daughter of the theater
Filmmaker depicts ugly underbelly of corporations
Contents of Versace's home sell for 7m pounds
AP NewsAlert
Maxis commits $10 billion to India mobile unit
Austria's Fritzl gets life in psychiatric ward for incest-murder | International |
Israel seizes Hamas political leaders
Arab League chief presses for Iraqi reconciliation
Bomb attack kills Afghan MP, four bodyguards | International |
Hundreds of thousands march in French protests | International |
Israel to probe reported abuse by soldiers in Gaza
Israeli soldiers break ranks over Gaza war | International |
Operator BAA 'must sell three UK airports'
Military to check reports of ethical abuse in Gaza
Yemen offers reward to help track down militants | International |
Bomb kills anti-Taliban Afghan MP
EU leaders under pressure to boost economies
Israel seizes 10 Hamas members in West Bank
Outside forces ravaging Africa: Vatican | International |
Bin Laden urges Somalis to topple new president | International |
Israeli ex-president Katsav indicted for rape | International |
Zimbabwe says in talks with West on sanctions | International |
Sony Ericsson puts U.S. focus on camera phones in '09 | Technology |
Sony Ericsson puts U.S. focus on camera phones in '09
Cisco flips for Flip | Technology |
Sony Ericsson puts U.S. focus on camera phones in '09
Sotheby's Versace villa sale beats estimates | Entertainment |
Cannes in first as animated film opens festival | Entertainment |
Violence at Indonesian Greenpeace protest
Broadway thriving despite recession | Entertainment |
North Korean guards detain U.S. journalists
Kyrgyz court rules for early presidential vote
Cambodian court sentences American to 13 years
Aid group says worker killed in Sri Lanka war zone
SKorea arrests Japanese near border with NKorea
Militants agree to free Red Cross hostage: official
S.Korea c.bank may buy T-bonds for extra budget-paper
CIA director meets with Indian security officials
Goldman offers bid for Universal Studios Japan
Parents say Sichuan quake school not built to code
China shares up for 4th day on revival hopes
Japan mulling more sanctions against North Korea
Reports: China East Star airline chief detained
Nationalistion of China's first private airline
'Late Late Show' host Ferguson has comedy special
China Mobile reports 2008 net profit up 30 percent
HSBC Taiwan sees profits in '09 vs record profit yr ago
Sotheby's Versace villa sale beats estimates
Cannes in first as animated film opens festival
Japanese stocks get hit by jump in yen
Pixar 3D animation 'Up' to open Cannes filmfest
Report: 1st medics turned away in Richardson fall
'American Idol' contestants head to Motown
Broadway thriving despite recession
Chow Yun-fat to play Confucius in new film: media
Greenpeace activists roughed up in Indonesia
'Kosmos': the singing, swimming mayor of Kiev
Cisco buys Flip Video maker for $590 million
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01