A self-confessed killer could become the first person to face a re-trial following changes to the double jeopardy law which prevents people being tried for the same crime twice.

Labourer Billy Dunlop has twice been acquitted of the murder of pizza delivery girl Julie Hogg.

The 42-year-old from Billingham, Teesside, was acquitted of Julie's murder at two separate crown court trials in 1991, but was jailed for six years for perjury in 2000 after confessing to having killed her.

Now, following a change in the law after a campaign led by Julie's mother, Ann Ming, and The Northern Echo, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has passed a file on Julie's murder to Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald.

A CPS spokesman said: "The DPP has to give written consent under section 76 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to the chief crown prosecutor Martin Goldman to apply to the Court of Appeal to quash the acquittal of William Dunlop. This allows him (Dunlop) to be retried for the murder of Julie Hogg and would make him the first retrial following changes to double jeopardy."

The move is a milestone for Julie's parents, Ann and Charlie Ming, who have fought for 14 years for a change in the law.

Julie's disappearance from her home in Billingham in November 1989 was treated by police as a missing person inquiry - until Mrs Ming discovered her daughter's body concealed behind a bath panel at Julie's home.

Her family declined to speak about the CPS's new move, but Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, the Labour peer who has campaigned on their behalf to have the double jeopardy law overturned, is delighted.

He said: "I am delighted if that is what the DPS decides, but it has to be compelling new evidence. I think we all thought there had been a serious miscarriage of justice in the Julie Hogg case and a miscarriage must be corrected whether it is a conviction or acquittal - for justice to be done.

"I only hope the DPP will see his way forward to do this.

"It is unique. Unique in British history and something I have been fighting for since the 1990s. It is a major success if this becomes the first case.''

David Hines of the North-East Victims of Crime Association, said: "Let us hope the prosecutor does go forward with this and it is a successful prosecution. We don't want to see anyone put in prison for the rest of their lives if they did not do something, but we do want to see justice.

"I am not only pleased for the family of Ann Ming, but for all the victims of crime. This is the first bit of light we have seen in two decades of campaigning. It is something they have all been fighting for.'