SELF-CONFESSED killer Billy Dunlop could be finally brought to justice after a Law Commission report calling for the double jeopardy rule to be scrapped.

The report, published today, will back The Northern Echo's Criminal Injustice campaign to scrap the controversial law which prevents defendants being tried twice for the same crime.

It could open the way for the men acquitted of murdering black teenager Stephen Lawrence - and North-East man Dunlop, who later confessed to killing Julie Hogg - to face new trials.

The Northern Echo has campaigned alongside Julie's family to have the double jeopardy law scrapped in exceptional circumstances.

Under the antiquated law, Dunlop, a 37-year-old labourer from Billingham, Teesside, could not be tried for Julie's murder despite admitting the crime during a perjury hearing, after two juries had earlier failed to reach a verdict.

But today, the Law Commission is to recommend the ruling be scrapped where there is "reliable and compelling new evidence of guilt".

The move was exclusively revealed in The Northern Echo last week.

In an unexpected twist the Law Commission has also called for the change to be made retrospective, so it could apply to Dunlop's case.

If the Home Secretary follows the Law Commission's advice, he will make legal history and Dunlop - who bragged he could never be brought to justice - may stand trial again.

Julie, 22, vanished on November 16, 1989, and her body was found three months later, behind the bath panel of her Billingham home.

The news was welcomed by North-East Victim's Association director Dave Hines, who said: "It is good news, but it's got to be implemented now by the Government."

The Law Commission study, headed by Judge Alan Wilkie, followed the 1999 Stephen Lawrence inquiry, which suggested a review of the double jeopardy rule.

Judge Wilkie said: "We believe these new recommendations recognise the need to enhance public confidence in the criminal justice system by enabling manifestly questionable acquittals in serious cases to be called into question, whilst paying proper regard to the fundamental principle that it is not legitimate for the state to continue to pursue a person who has been found not guilty after due process."

The move will bring fresh hope to Julie's mother, Ann Ming, the parents of Stephen Lawrence, and 33 other families throughout the country waiting for justice.

According to research by the commission, there are 35 cases outstanding where the double jeopardy rule could apply.

The Government has said it will not make a final decision on the future of double jeopardy until Lord Justice Auld completes a separate inquiry into the court system.

Hundreds of Northern Echo readers joined the campaign to change the law, and signatures collected in support of the case were handed to Home Secretary Jack Straw.

But civil rights organisation Liberty has criticised the proposal.

Director John Wadham said: "The protection from double jeopardy is a fundamental part of our justice system and we increase the chances of innocent people being convicted if we remove it."

The Northern Echo campaign has been backed by a home affairs committee of MPs and former senior police chief and Labour peer Lord Brian Mackenzie of Framwellgate.

Lord Mackenzie believes it is unfair that wrongful convictions, such as those of the Birmingham Six, can be overturned, but wrongful acquittals cannot be rectified.

He said: "We should be able to overturn miscarriages of justice whether someone is wrongly convicted or acquitted.