ITV has announced a new drama series, I Fought the Law, with actress Sheridan Smith in the leading role. The four-part series will tell the story of Ann Ming, a mother who fought to change the Double Jeopardy Law and bring her daughter Julie Hogg’s murderer to justice.
The series recounts how Ann Ming, a mother of three, fought for 15 years to change the 800-year-old Double Jeopardy Law. This law prevented a person from being tried twice for the same crime. Ming’s daughter, Julie Hogg, was murdered by her ex-partner, Billy Dunlop, in 1989. Dunlop was tried twice for the crime but was formally acquitted after the jury failed to reach a verdict.
Ann Ming’s determination to see her daughter’s killer brought to justice led her to challenge senior officers and apply pressure on the police to discover the truth. Her efforts resulted in Dunlop’s confession to the murder years later. However, due to the Double Jeopardy Law, he could only be prosecuted for perjury. Ming’s campaign to change the law gained momentum, and in 2005, the Double Jeopardy Law was amended. This paved the way for Dunlop to be retried and convicted of murder, becoming the first person to be convicted under the new legislation.
I Fought the Law is written by screenwriter Jamie Crichton and based on Ann Ming’s book, For the Love of Julie. The series will feature Smith in the leading role of Ann Ming, who will also act as a consultant throughout the production process. ITV’s Senior Drama Commissioner, Helen Ziegler, expressed her privilege in working with Smith, Crichton, and Hera Pictures to bring Ming’s “extraordinary and unwavering fight for justice” to the screen.
Smith, an acclaimed actress known for her roles in TV dramas and West End musicals, shared her honour in portraying Ming, stating, “She is a truly courageous and remarkable woman to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude.” Ming also expressed her delight in having Smith portray her, calling her an “iconic and talented actress.”
