A MOTHER who campaigned to scrap the historic double jeopardy law wept yesterday as her daughter’s killer became the first person to be convicted after being cleared previously by the courts.

Ann Ming appealed for 15 years for a change in the law so that suspects can be retried for a crime after they have been cleared. Her pressure led the Government to reform the 800-year-old law on double jeopardy, and yesterday Mrs Ming saw legal history when William Dunlop admitted murdering Julie Hogg.

Dunlop was told that he would remain in custody until he is sentenced on October 6.

The legal reform paves the way for an estimated ten killers, sex offenders, terrorists and drug traffickers to be retried each year if new evidence points to their guilt.

Dunlop, 44, had been charged with the murder of Mrs Hogg but two juries failed to reach a verdict and he was formally acquitted in 1991. At his trials the juries were told that he had killed her in a frenzy after she refused to have sex.

Nine years later the labourer was jailed for perjury after confessing in prison and in a number of letters that he had killed Mrs Hogg, 22, who had been his lover. Her naked, mutilated body was found by Mrs Ming at her daughter’s home in Billingham, Teesside, in 1989.

Yesterday Mrs Ming, 64, a retired nurse, travelled to London with her husband Charlie, 81, and Mrs Hogg’s son, Kevin, 20, to see Dunlop admit murder at the Old Bailey. “I have waited 17 years to hear him say guilty. I am just relieved,” she said.

“We knew Dunlop was responsible and my husband Charlie and I were determined not to rest until he had been brought to justice. We made a promise to ourselves that Julie’s killer would be punished and everyone we approached over the years has helped me in some way to reach that goal.”

Mrs Ming added: “Through our love for Julie we have helped to leave a legacy that we hope paves the way for other families to get justice.”

Mrs Ming discovered her daughter’s body hidden behind the bath panel after a police team had spent five days searching the house.

After the court case, Mrs Ming was played a recording of Dunlop confessing to the killing. Police believe that he confessed because he thought he could not be prosecuted even if the law changed, as he had already been jailed for perjury.

The Home Office’s National Crime Faculty has calculated that there are 35 murder cases in which acquitted defendants could be reinvestigated and charges brought. These are thought to include Ronnie Knight, the former husband of Barbara Windsor, the EastEnders actress, and the former associate of the Kray twins, Freddie Foreman, who have both written books confessing involvement in murders.

However, a spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said that no other cases were being considered. Ken Macdonald, QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, has refused permission for other cases to be brought under the new rules.

Police and prosecutors praised Mrs Ming and her husband for their determination. Detective Superintendent Dave Duffy said: “There is no doubt that Billy Dunlop is an evil and extremely dangerous man who, for 17 years, literally got away with murder.”

Lord Goldsmith, QC, the Attorney-General, who met Mrs Ming during her campaign, said: “At last there is justice for Julie and for her family, especially Ann, who fought so hard for this day.”

Civil liberties campaigners and some lawyers had opposed scrapping the double jeopardy law, fearing that it could be used to persecute people and lead to miscarriages of justice.

David Blunkett, who as Home Secretary oversaw the change in the law, said: “People argued about the medieval right not to be tried twice, as though fraudulently getting off was some sort of game.”

HOW THE LAW STANDS

• Double jeopardy was enshrined in English law in 1176
  
  
• Under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the Court of Appeal can order a retrial where there is compelling new evidence
  
  
• Only the most serious cases can be reviewed, chiefly murder, manslaughter and rape. Several have been investigated but none referred to the Court of Appeal
  
  
• Sir David Calvert-Smith, the former DPP, estimated that more than ten cases a year would come up for review
  
  
• Possible future cases include Neil Acourt, Gary Dobson and Luke Knight, for the murder of Stephen Lawrence

Explore Law

• Columnists

• Law Panel

• Law Reports

• Student Law

Times Recommends

• BGC 'set aside £40m to lure Tullett brokers'
• Legal aid review to ensure value
• Fears as 21 magistrates' courts face closure