Who is Billy Dunlop? Former boyfriend of Julie Hogg whose story is explored in Catching Britain’s Killers
BILLY Dunlop is the murderer and former boyfriend of Julie Hogg.
Dunlop, now 56 made legal history when he was jailed for life for confessing to the murder of Julie, ten years after her death in 1989 – despite the double jeopardy law. But who was the killer, and how did he come to eventually serve a life sentence for his crimes?
Who was Billy Dunlop?
Dunlop was a labourer from Stockton on Tees born in 1963.
After a 15 year battle from his victim’s family, he was eventually jailed for the murder of Julie Hogg in 2006, following two trials which failed to convict the killer.
In 1999, while serving a sentence for a separate crime, Dunlop Bragged to a prison guard that he had murdered Julie – but wouldn’t go to prison for it under UK’s double jeopardy laws.
He then served six years for perjury, before eventually being jailed in 2006 for Julie’s murder following a landmark overturning of the law.
What happened with the murder case against Billy Dunlop?
The murder of Julie Hogg, against Billy Dunlop made history when he was jailed for life in October 2006.
Dunlop was caged for 17 years for the 1989 killing of 22-year-old pizza delivery woman, Julie Hogg.
He pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to Julie’s murder, having admitted it to a prison guard some seven years earlier.
It was the final victory in Julie’s mum, Anne’s campaign to overturn the 800-year-old double jeopardy law – which was also backed by The Sun on Sunday.
Dunlop became the first person charged twice with the same offence after the 800-year-old double jeopardy laws were changed.
Dunlop had previously been formally cleared of the murder after two juries failed to reach verdicts.
He was then jailed for a separate crime, assault, and during this prison stretch “bragged” to a prison guard that he had indeed murdered Julie.
Due to double jeopardy laws – which mean you cannot be charged twice for the same crime – Dunlop knew that he wouldn’t face a murder sentence as he had already been cleared of murder after a jury failed to make a decision.
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However, double jeopardy laws in the UK were scrapped in 2005 following a number of campaigns, including that of Julie’s mum – and also the family of murdered black teenager, Stephen Lawrence.
Dunlop was jailed for life the following year, after already serving a six year stretch for perjury.
In 2019 Dunlop had a plea rejected to move to an open prison.
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