DPP refers Julie Hogg case to Court of Appeal for the first time under double jeopardy law

Sunday 13 November 2005 at 4:42 pm | In News | Post Comment

For the first time the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken Macdonald, QC, has given his consent for a case to be referred to the Court of Appeal under the double jeopardy law. Now it is up to the Court of Appeal to decide whether William Dunlop should be tried again for the murder of Julie Hogg.

The reform of the double jeopardy rule – that a person once acquitted cannot be tried twice for the same offence – came into force on 4th April 2005 under the Criminal Justice Act 2003. The provisions only apply to the retrial of serious offences and follow a recommendation of the Stephen Lawrence Enquiry.  
Under the Act, the Court of Appeal has the power to quash an acquittal and order a re-trial where there is new and compelling evidence relevant to the guilt of the acquitted person and it is in the interests of justice to do so.

William Dunlop faced two trials for the murder of Julie Hogg who was killed in 1989 in Billingham, Cleveland.
Each time the jury failed to reach a verdict and he was formally acquitted in 1991.

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