Killer of Billingham pizza delivery woman Julie Hogg to face Parole Board again
William Dunlop's move to open prison was blocked in April 2025
A killer who murdered a pizza delivery woman in Billingham, County Durham, is to face the Parole Board again, a year and a half after the Government blocked his move to open prison.
William Dunlop, now in his 60s, strangled 22-year-old Julie Hogg in 1989.
Parole hearings for Dunlop are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
The murder of Julie Hogg
Dunlop hid Miss Hogg's body behind a bath panel, where it lay undiscovered for more than two months.
Miss Hogg, who had a three-year-old son, was subjected to a violent sexual assault after she rejected him.
Prosecutors described the attack as premeditated and truly horrendous.
Open prison move blocked
The Parole Board recommended that Dunlop be transferred to open prison.
Then-justice secretary Shabana Mahmood blocked the move in April 2025.
Miss Hogg's family told the BBC they were elated at the decision.
They said: "The decision to refuse the parole board's recommendation is the right decision for public safety."
Dunlop, known as Billy, had initially hoped to be released into the community.
He withdrew that application in 2024 and said he would be better suited to open prison conditions.
The double jeopardy law change
Dunlop was tried twice for the murder, but both juries failed to reach a verdict.
Three years later, while in jail for another crime, he confessed and admitted lying in court.
He said there was nothing anyone could do about it because of the double jeopardy rule in place at the time.
Miss Hogg's mother, Ann Ming, campaigned for 15 years to change the 800-year-old law so he could be charged with the same crime twice.
In 2006, Dunlop became the first person to be tried under the new rules.
He was convicted of murder and jailed for life.