A new date has been set for a killer’s parole hearing after his previous one was adjourned at the 11th hour.

William Dunlop, known as Billy, was eventually sentenced to life after Ann Ming fought to overturn the archaic 800-year-old 'double jeopardy' law after her daughter’s killer managed to evade justice after two juries failed to reach a verdict.

Mrs Ming, who was supported throughout her campaign by The Northern Echo, spent 15 years persuading the government to change the statute book.

The notorious murderer was due to appear before the Parole Board in June in a bid to be released from prison after serving almost 18 years for the murder of Julie Hogg in 1991.

Ann Ming speaking to the BBC outside the court in JuneAnn Ming speaking to the BBC outside the court in June (Image: Newsquest)

However, the hearing was adjourned before it got underway much to the fury of Julie’s family who had travelled to the Court of Appeal to attend the two-day hearing only to be told that new information, provided by the Ministry of Justice, meant it could not go ahead.

Dunlop twice stood trial for the killing in 1991, but two juries could not reach verdicts, and he walked free because of the 'double-jeopardy' rule.

Julie HoggJulie Hogg

The campaigning mother, who found her daughter’s mutilated body hidden under the bath at her Billingham home, was furious and set out on a fight to bring her daughter's killer to justice.

Mrs Ming’s fight for justice finally came to a conclusion in 2006 when Dunlop was convicted of her daughter’s murder and jailed for life – the very first case to be tried under the new legal guidance.

And Mrs Ming's dogged determination was rewarded after Dunlop's prison confession to the brutal killing was used against him and he was finally brought to justice.

After Julie went missing, officers carried out a fingertip search of her home but turned up nothing.

Three months later, Mrs Ming was handed the keys to her daughter's Billingham home and followed a smell to the bathroom.

Billy DunlopBilly Dunlop (Image: Northern Echo)

That led her to the decomposing body of her beloved daughter - a discovery which was missed by Cleveland Police and led to a compensation pay-out over the handling of the case.

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The mother-of-one lay naked and concealed behind a bath panel, covered by a blanket.

Dunlop had already been convicted of perjury after he admitted the murder while he was serving a prison sentence.

This is the second time that the killer has tried to argue that he is ready for release from custody.

His latest hearing will take place in London on December 16.