SWEEPING changes to the British legal system could be in place by January, leaving the way clear for Billy Dunlop to be retried for the murder of Julie Hogg.

The Home Office has revealed that the White Paper, announced on Wednesday by Home Secretary David Blunkett, could become law as soon as the New Year.

Among the proposals is an end to the double jeopardy rule which has, until now, prevented people being tried twice for the same crime.

The White Paper also proposed making the changes to the double jeopardy rule, retrospective, which would mean cases like that of Dunlop could be revisited.

Dunlop twice walked free from court after the jury failed to reach a verdict over the 1989 murder of Billingham pizza delivery girl Julie Hogg, but years later, when in prison for another offence, he confessed to the crime.

Since then Julie's parents, Ann and Charlie Ming, have campaigned for a change in the law to allow people to be retried for serious crimes when new evidence is found.

This week, David Blunkett's White Paper backed the Mings' campaign and called for a retrospective change in the law.

The White Paper will be discussed when Parliament reconvenes in September and if it is passed by the House of Commons and then the Lords, it could be law early in 2003.

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "In theory the new law could be in place by the new year but this would be the system working at its quickest with no delays."

But opposition among MPs to the proposals, which include reducing the right to trial by jury, could mean the bill being delayed.

Yesterday, Ann Ming spoke to The Northern Echo and described her delight at the news that the man who confessed to killing her daughter could be retried in a matter of months.

She said: "That would be an amazing New Year present.

"I am hoping to visit the Crown Prosecution Service to ask them to reopen the file on Julie's case as soon as they can.

"Once the law is in place I hope they look at the new evidence and bring a case against Dunlop."