Twelve years to the day since she went missing, the parents of murder victim Julie Hogg are still waiting for justice.

Julie, a pizza delivery girl and mother of one, was reported missing from her Billingham home on November 16 1989.

Despite police searching her house, it was Julie's mother, Ann Ming who found her badly decomposing body behind a bath panel ten weeks after she disappeared.

Local labourer Billy Dunlop was charged with Julie's murder but two juries failed to reach a verdict on the case and he was set free.

But later, while in prison for another offence, Dunlop confessed to Julie's murder and was found guilty of perjury from the original trials.

Ironically, Dunlop can not now be charged with the murder because he has already been tried for the crime.

The Northern Echo has joined forces with Mrs Ming and her husband, Charlie, to try to get the double jeopardy law overturned so Dunlop can finally stand trial for Julie's murder.

The campaign is calling for retrials to be allowed for serious crimes where there is compelling new evidence, such as a confession or DNA, that proves the original verdict was wrong.

The Law Commission has backed the call for an end to double jeopardy and the Mings are now waiting to see if Home Secretary David Blunkett will change the law under a new Criminal Justice Bill.

Speaking about the anniversary of Julie's disappearance, Mrs Ming said: "We are still waiting to get justice for Julie.

"It is starting to get to us now because it has been dragging on so long. "I thought we would definitely hear something before Christmas but that looks unlikely now.

"I think everything that has happened in America has taken over Parliament so we just have to wait."

The Mings are hoping any changes in law will be made retrospectively so Dunlop can be tried again for Julie's murder.

Hundreds of readers of The Northern Echo have signed a petition supporting the Mings' call for justice and we travelled to London with the couple to hand over the names to then Home Secretary Jack Straw.

The Mings have gained support from Home Office advisor Lord Brian MacKenzie of Framwellgate, who believes double jeopardy fails to put victims before criminals.