Police are to re-examine the murder of a 22-year-old woman when changes to the double jeopardy law are introduced, it was announced today.

Julie Hogg was the victim of a frenzied sex attack at her home in Billingham, Teesside, in November 1989.

Her naked and mutilated body was found hidden behind her bath by her mother Ann Ming three months later.

Boyfriend Billy Dunlop was tried for the murder of the pizza delivery girl, but acquitted after the jury failed to reach a verdict on two separate occasions.

Police and the victim's family always believed in Dunlop's guilt, although he could never be tried for murder again.

Under measures in the Criminal Justice Act, which come into force on Monday, the double jeopardy law - which dates back to the middle ages - will be amended so suspects who were acquitted at trial can be brought to court again.

While serving a seven-year prison sentence for a serious assault on another woman, Dunlop confessed to a prison officer that he had killed Julie.

Cleveland Police charged him with two counts of perjury in connection with the false evidence he had given under oath at the two trials.

In 2000 he was jailed for six years, consecutive to the jail term he was already serving.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said today: "We will re-examine the case in line with new legislation."

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service added: "The law will change from April 4 to allow, in special circumstances, the retrial of defendants who have previously been acquitted of an offence after trial.

"Any case which fits within those circumstances, requires the consent of the chief crown prosecutor, the director of public prosecutions and the Court of Appeal before any retrial can take place.

"Any such cases will be reviewed extremely carefully so that a proper decision can be made as to whether the new law applies to that case.

"It is too early at this stage to comment on any individual case."