A newspaper is scenting victory in its fight to reverse the “double jeopardy” rule, which prevents someone being tried trice for the same crime.

The Northern Echo has been campaigning with relatives of Julie Hogg – murdered in 1989 – for a change in the law to bring Billy Dunlop to trial.

He walked free after two juries failed to reach a verdict and was formally acquitted after the second trial. But he later admitted lying in court and was jailed for six years for perjury after confessing to her killing.

Julie’s mother was travelling to London this week to meet Home Secretary Jack Straw over the Home Affairs Committee’s recommendation for a backdated end to the law – which would leave Dunlop open to a third trial.

Hundreds of Echo readers have supported its Criminal Injustice campaign by putting their names to a petition.

The paper’s leader column declared: “The law must be allowed to move with the times.

“The great leap forward in detection techniques and forensic science has given the police a new strand of evidence to prosecute alleged criminals.

“And it has made the principle of double jeopardy an anachronism.”

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