Double jeopardy killer begins fourth parole hearing bid

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 18:57 · Archive

William Dunlop, imprisoned after an amendment to double jeopardy law, has started his fourth parole application.

William Dunlop, aged 63, has started his fourth application to the Parole Board on Wednesday, seeking either release or transfer to an open prison. He was convicted of the 1989 murder of Julie Hogg, a 22-year-old pizza delivery driver and mother of a three-year-old boy, in Billingham, County Durham.

Dunlop strangled Miss Hogg and subjected her to a violent sexual assault after she rejected his advances at a rugby party. He hid her mutilated body behind a bath panel in her home. Miss Hogg's mother, Ann Ming, discovered the remains more than two months later. Prosecutors described the attack as 'premeditated and truly horrendous'.

Dunlop was initially acquitted in 1991 when two juries failed to reach a verdict. Later, whilst serving a seven-year sentence for grievous bodily harm against another partner in 1998, he confessed to Miss Hogg's murder and received a further six-year sentence. In 2006 he was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 17 years, becoming the first person jailed following the reform to the 800-year-old double jeopardy law.

At Wednesday's hearing, Dunlop stated he believed he would have committed further killings or severe violence had he remained free. The Parole Board has previously recommended his transfer to an open prison on multiple occasions, but three separate justice secretaries have intervened to block the move. Miss Hogg's son Kevin described lasting trauma from discovering his mother's decomposed body as a child.

How it is being reported

• First murderer jailed after changes to double jeopardy law says he would have killed again had victim's mother not spearheaded campaign which became ITV dramaWilliam Dunlop, known as Billy, yesterday started his fourth application with the Parole Board to move him to an open prison and consider his release.Daily Mail · 21 Oct, 18:42
• Double jeopardy killer admits he would have murdered again as he starts fresh parole bidWilliam Dunlop was handed a jail sentence following an amendment to the double jeopardy lawThe Independent · 21 Oct, 14:41

In this story: William Dunlop · Julie Hogg · Ann Ming · Kevin Hogg · Billingham · County Durham · Parole Board

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