When Billy Dunlop admitted he did in fact murder Julie Hogg at The Old Bailey in London, cheers rang out around The Northern Echo newsroom in Darlington.
It was the day of judgement for Julie’s mother Ann Ming, who had spent 17 years tirelessly campaigning to overturn the double jeopardy law and have her daughter’s killer jailed.
Her fight means people can now be tried twice for the same offence - creating a legacy for her daughter, who she found dead in her own home 80 days after her disappearance.
Ann was backed ferociously by The Northern Echo, which drew hundreds of signatures on a petition supporting the mother as part of its Criminal Injustice campaign.
Now, as ITV drama I Fought The Law prepares to air Ann’s story to the nation, we look back at how the tireless campaigner took on the legal system - and won.
READ MORE: I Fought The Law: Sheridan Smith talks Ann Ming bond and being 'in awe' of mum
When pizza delivery girl Julie Hogg, 22, disappeared from her Billingham home in 1989, she was initially treated as a missing person.
Crime scene investigators carried out a fingertip search of her house, but discovered nothing; and three months on from her last sighting, she had still not been found.
Once Ann, now 79, had been allowed back into her home, she made a discovery that no mother should ever have to make - her daughter’s body, stuffed behind a bath panel.
Dunlop went on to face two trials in 1991 for her murder, but each time a jury failed to reach a verdict and he was formally acquitted.
He even appeared to be laughing at the law when he boasted to a prison officer that he did in fact kill the 22-year-old - and this was what prompted The Northern Echo’s determination to help Ann in her battle.
It was even supported by the parents of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence and Maureen Harvey - whose son was stabbed to death by his girlfriend - as well as by a committee of MPs.
And, in 2003, justice finally arrived as the double jeopardy rule was officially changed under the Criminal Justice Act.
Former editor Peter Barron, who was at the helm of the Echo between 1999 and 2016, said: “The Echo gave her the voice and support she needed but it was her that made it happen. It was the fact a mother lost her daughter and was determined to change the law.
“Billy Dunlop was literally getting away with murder. I remember when he boasted that he got away with it. I remember this picture of him being led away and he was laughing.
“And it was like he was laughing at the law.”
Peter remembers the readers of the North East coming out in force to support the Echo and Ann.
“We wrote a dossier of articles that was published to support the campaign," he recalls.
“It was the readers of the North East who played their part as well. People could see that this was a terrible injustice and he should not have been allowed to get away with it.
“I remember being in the newsroom when the news came through when he pleaded guilty and there was a cheer.
"This meant the horrible bloke had no longer got away with murder.”
It was October 6, 2006, 17 years after her daughter was killed, that Dunlop pleaded guilty to murdering Julie at the Old Bailey in London.
There was a lengthy discussion about how the Echo would print the story - but there was only one way Peter wanted to address the self-confessed killer finally admitting his crime.
“When we got to the point where the law was changed, I was able to draw up the front page and there was only one word that I was ever going to use”, Peter said.
“That was ‘murderer’.
“I wrote an editorial comment saying: ‘Who’s laughing now Billy?”
He said it was “such an enormous relief”: “In the midst of what must have been terrible grief she rose to the challenge of doing something really quite incredible.
“The double jeopardy law was a cornerstone of British justice and to overturn that was really significant.”
Now, her inspirational story is set to be aired as part of a four-part drama on ITV, with Gavin and Stacey star Sheridan taking on the role of Ann.
Read more on I Fought The Law here:
- I Fought The Law: Sheridan Smith films in Shiremoor
- I Fought The Law new ITV drama release date revealed
The show, based on Ann's book For The Love of Julie and filmed across the North East, will explore the events after the disappearance and murder of her daughter.
Sheridan and Ann both appeared at a special North East screening of the first episode on Thursday (August 28) where they discussed filming the series, the impact of Ann's work, and the close bond they have come to form.
I Fought The Law airs on ITV on Sunday, August 31, at 9pm.
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