Billy Dunlop, whose life sentence changed 800-year-old double jeopardy laws, has open prison bid rejected

Billy Dunlop, the man whose murder conviction in 2006 made legal history after centuries-old double jeopardy laws were changed, has had his bid to be moved to an open prison rejected.

Dunlop had applied to be moved to an open prison - a significant step to being released - but had his application rejected on Wednesday morning.

He is now unable to apply again for at least 12 months.

Dunlop is serving life for the murder of 22-year-old Julie Hogg in Billingham in 1989. He strangled the pizza delivery girl and had hid her body behind a bath panel.

He had twice previously been tried at Newcastle Crown Court although the jury could not decide whether he was guilty or not and he was formally cleared.

The double jeopardy law meant he could not be tried again.

But while serving a jail sentence for assault, he boasted to a prison officer about killing Ms Hogg, believing he could not be brought before the courts.

However, after a lengthy campaign by Ms Hogg's mother Ann Ming the 800-year-old laws were finally changed and Dunlop was found guilty of murder.

Durning his time in jail Dunlop has also been tried for child sexual offences. He was found not guilty of five allegations of rape and indecent assault against two girls.

The family of Ms Hogg said on Wednesday they were relieved he "won't be going to open prison anytime soon."

The parole board has not commented on the outcome of the hearing.