A murderer who was only jailed for killing a woman after a change in the double jeopardy law will not be moved to an open prison, despite a recommendation by the Parole Board.
William Dunlop strangled Julie Hogg, 22, and hid her beneath a bath at her home in Billingham, County Durham, in 1989 but juries twice failed to find him guilty.
Dunlop was eventually jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years in 2006 following a successful campaign to change the law by Ms Hogg’s family.
Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood made the decision to “block” Dunlop’s move to open conditions despite the board saying he was “assessed as presenting a low risk of absconding”.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Julie Hogg’s murder was a horrific crime and our thoughts remain with her friends and family.
“Public protection is our number one priority which is why we have blocked William Dunlop’s transfer to open prison.”
