Sheridan Smith’s New Show “I Fought the Law” Looks Brilliant

Sheridan Smith has been depicted in a transformative role for ITV’s upcoming show “I Fought the Law,” and it promises to be captivating. Known for her versatile acting in series such as “Castaways” and “Cleaning Up,” Sheridan is set to portray Ann Ming, a double jeopardy campaigner who fought tirelessly to change the law and bring justice to her daughter’s murderer.

On-set photos reveal the 43-year-old actress in a blonde, curly wig, embodying the character of Ann Ming, while filming in Shiremoor, North Tyneside. The show is based on Ann Ming’s book “For the Love of Julie.”

Speaking about her inspirational role, Sheridan told the BBC, “I am so honored to have been asked to play the role of Ann Ming, a mother so determined to fight for justice for her murdered daughter that she spent 15 years campaigning for the double jeopardy law to be changed. She is a truly courageous and remarkable woman to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude.”

Ann Ming’s real-life story is one of unimaginable sorrow and relentless perseverance. In 1989, Ann’s daughter, Julie, was strangled and her body concealed for months. After two murder trials ended with hung juries, William Dunlop, the man who admitted to the crime, boasted that he would never be tried again because of the double jeopardy law that had been in place for 800 years.

With the double jeopardy law preventing suspects from being tried twice for the same crime, Ann campaigned for over 15 years to have it changed. Her persistence paid off when the law was eventually reformed in the early 2000s. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, the Criminal Justice Act 2003 “reforms the law relating to double jeopardy, by permitting retrials in respect of a number of very serious offences, where new and compelling evidence has come to light.”

As a result of this legal reform, Dunlop was convicted of murder in 2006 and handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years. Following his conviction, Ann told the press, “We just hope after 17 years, when he’s eligible for parole, if I’m dead, someone carries on the good work and keeps him behind bars so he can never kill anyone else again.”

Dunlop is now eligible for parole, with a public parole hearing planned for June 2024. However, this hearing was adjourned on the scheduled day after new information emerged, necessitating further examination before the hearing could be rescheduled.

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