Sheridan Smith's latest TV role in ITV's I Fought The Law is an incredible, devastating, empowering story. It sees her play the mother of a murder victim who sets about changing the law when her murderer is not brought to justice. And it's a real-life story.
William “Billy” Dunlop murdered Julie Hogg in 1989, but managed to evade justice for over two decades after that. In the series, he is played by Jack James Ryan, while Sheridan plays Julie's mother Ann Ming.
The series consists of four episodes, and are also based on Ming's 2008 book, For the Love of Julie, details Ming's hard work to change the law in memory of her daughter.
Here's what we know about I Fought The Law, including where the real killer, William “Billy” Dunlop is now.
What is I Fought The Law about?
It's an ITV series retelling the story of Ann Ming (played to perfection by Sheridan Smith), whose daughter Julie Hogg was brutally murdered in 1989. Julie vanished after finishing her shift at the local pizza shop where she worked. After an 80-day search, Julie's body was discovered behind the bath panel in her own home.
The series shows Ann's quest for justice when the man who murdered her daughter, William “Billy” Dunlop was acquitted of her murder after two trials, even after his fingerprints were found on her keys, because two juries were not able to reach a verdict and he was released.
Eventually, he confessed to Julie's murder while imprisoned for another crime (assaulting his ex-girlfriend and her partner). He recounted to a prison officer – who was wearing a wire – how he concealed her body. but could not be tried again due to an old double jeopardy law and was imprisoned for six years for perjury alone.
Ann then set about to overturn the law after 17 years of campaigning and appealing to MPs. The law was changed in 2003 to allow retrials in serious cases such as this, if new compelling evidence is discovered.
Who is William 'Billy' Dunlop?
William ‘Billy’ Dunlop was a local labourer who lived in the same area as Julie. He was known in their community as a heavy drinker and had already been arrested for petty crime, dishonesty and assault throughout the 1970s and 80s. Billy Dunlop was known for violent behaviour though many were too afraid to report him to the police.
Where is William 'Billy' Dunlop now?
Following the overturning of the double jeopardy law, William Dunlop became the first person in the country to be convicted of murder after previously being acquitted. He pleaded guilty and was given a minimum sentence of 17 years.
He has since applied for parole, and described himself at a hearing in December 2024 as "a violent, hideous, uncaring person" and "a car crash waiting to happen." He also added that Julie’s murder was driven by "rejection-fuelled anger".
He was then recommended by the Parole Board to be transferred to an open prison earlier this year, but the move was blocked by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
“Julie Hogg’s murder was a horrific crime and our thoughts remain with her friends and family,” she said at the time. "Public protection is our number one priority, which is why we have blocked William Dunlop’s transfer to open prison."
Julie's family said in a statement to BBC that Mahmood had "truly put victims at the heart of the system", and that they were "elated" by the decision.
"The decision to refuse the parole board’s recommendation is the right decision for public safety," they said.
Therefore, Dunlop will remain in custody under closed conditions.
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