Double jeopardy murder: Public parole hearing for Billy Dunlop

Julie Hogg, 22, had a three-year-old son at the time she was killed by William Dunlop

A murderer whose conviction made legal history will face a public parole hearing.

William Dunlop killed Julie Hogg in Billingham, County Durham, in 1989, boasting of the crime after jurors twice failed to reach a verdict.

A 15-year fight to overturn double jeopardy laws saw him eventually convicted and jailed for life.

The unique legal background to the case influenced the decision to have the parole hearing in public.

'Horrendous attack'

Now 60, the murderer strangled pizza delivery woman Julie before hiding her body behind a bath panel, where it lay undiscovered for more than two months.

After she rejected him, Dunlop - known as Billy - sexually assaulted the 22-year-old before killing the young mother in what prosecutors called a "premeditated and truly horrendous" attack.

William 'Billy' Dunlop bragged of his crimes while jailed for another offence

He was tried twice for the murder but was acquitted after juries in both cases failed to reach a verdict, inspiring him to boast about getting away with the crime while jailed for another offence.

Dunlop believed he could not be convicted because double jeopardy rules in place at the time meant he could not be charged with the same crime twice.

Miss Hogg's mother, Ann Ming, campaigned for years to get the 800-year-old law changed, resulting in Dunlop being sentenced to life in 2006.

Chairwoman of the Parole Board for England and Wales Caroline Corby ruled that Dunlop's next parole hearing, on a date yet to be fixed, can be held in public.

Ms Corby also considered the victims' request for a public hearing, saying: "The victims feel that they have been let down in the past by the criminal justice system and they believe that a public hearing would be beneficial to them."

Dunlop has claimed to be stressed and fearing for his safety at the prospect of a public hearing.