Help change the law Ann,

Visiting the region yesterday, Ms Widdecombe repeated her desire to see a change in the law so that, in exceptional cases, suspects could be tried more than once for the same crime.

The Northern Echo has been campaigning with Julie's mother, Ann Ming, from Billingham, and her husband, Charlie, for the double jeopardy law to be changed since labourer Billy Dunlop, 37, admitted killing Julie in 1989.

Dunlop had already been tried twice for the murder but the juries had failed to reach a verdict.

Since his confession, Dunlop has been jailed for six years for perjury in the original trials.

Speaking in Darlington, Ms Widdecombe said the Conservatives had a clear policy on the future of double jeopardy.

She said: "We have said we believe the law should be amended and that the protection given by double jeopardy should be removed in cases where the crime is extremely serious like rape, murder or kidnap, and also where the evidence is new and could not reasonably have been available at the time.

"We said this a few months ago, and at the time we challenged the Government, and I repeat that challenge to Jack Straw because I feel victims do not always get justice."

The Northern Echo took Ann and Charlie Ming to London to meet Jack Straw earlier in the year to campaign directly for a change in the law.

The couple were told a decision would not be made until next year when the Law Commission delivers its findings on the issue.

Yesterday, Mrs Ming welcomed Ms Widdecombe's comments and called for the opportunity to face the Law Commission herself before they issue their report.

She said: "We would like to meet Ms Widdecombe. We welcome anything that keeps our case in the public eye.

"I would like to go down to the Law Commission to talk to them before they make their report.

"They have got to take into account real-life cases, and there is no more deserving cause than ours."