Crown defends Templeton evidence

The jury took just three hours to find Vincent Simpson not guilty

The Crown Office has defended the decision to prosecute Vincent Simpson for the killing of a Dundee woman.

The 61-year-old from Camberley in Surrey was cleared of murdering Elizabeth McCabe in February 1980.

The jury at the High Court in Edinburgh took just three hours to find him not guilty.

The defence had questioned the reliability of DNA evidence put forward at the trial, but the Crown has said there was sufficient evidence.

The body of Ms McCabe was found in Templeton Woods more than 27 years ago.

A cold-case review led to minute traces of DNA being found, which it was claimed was linked to Mr Simpson.

'Tragic death'

However in court, the defence argued that past police techniques meant the evidence could have become contaminated.

The trial judge Lord Kinclaven also warned jurors they must not convict on DNA evidence alone.

However, in a statement issued to BBC Scotland, a Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service spokesman said: "The case was fully prepared and professionally presented to the jury by the Crown. The verdict in this case was one for the jury.

"The passage of time following the commission of any crime is one factor that it taken into account in any decision to prosecute.

"However it in no way mitigates the importance of doing everything that can be done to bring those who are accused of appalling crimes before a court.

"This was the tragic death of a young woman, in which the Crown considered that there was sufficient evidence to put before a jury.

"It was vital in the interests of justice that the case was brought to court."