THE family of a student murdered over two decades ago have met with prosecutors, sparking hope a retrial of the man accused of the killing.

Joe Duffy said a new prosecution of Francis Auld for the murder of his daughter Amanda in 1992 would be a "massive step forward".

The Crown is reported to be examining if it can bring a new case against Auld since the abolition of the double jeopardy rule.

Auld stood trial for the murder of Ms Duffy, who was found battered to death on wasteground in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, but the jury returned a not-proven verdict.

But in 1995 Ms Duffy's parents won a civil action against Auld, then an unemployed mechanic, and were awarded £50,000. Now 43, he lives in Sussex but was re-interviewed by police in the months following 2011's landmark legal move to pave the way for second prosecutions.

A retrial can now be ordered in some circumstances, including if there is "new and compelling evidence". Amanda's parents have met senior Crown Office officials in recent weeks.

Mr Duffy, who along with his wife Kate set up the support group Petal for those affected by murder and suicide following their daughter's death, said: "All we have ever wanted is justice for Amanda and over the years we have had to consider that this might never happen.

"If a new trial does proceed, it will be a massive step forward for our family and it is something we will welcome.

"But we will not pre-empt anything and we will await to hear of any developments through the official channels."

At the time of her death, Ms Duffy was an aspiring actress and student at Motherwell College. She had been called to audition at the then Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and was returning from a night out celebrating with friends when she was attacked.

She had been so badly beaten pathologists were unable to determine whether she had been injured by a weapon or with bare fists. She had had twigs thrust into her mouth and nose during the attack.

Auld went on trial that November. He admitted to police that a bite mark on Amanda's breast came from him but claimed was a love bite.

He told officers that he had left her afterwards and that she had walked off with a stranger, who was never traced.

The Double Jeopardy (Scotland) Act 2011 set out five new conditions where an accused could be retried for a crime of which they were previously acquitted, including instances where "compelling new evidence" emerges.

A second prosecution can also be launched if evidence later emerges that an acquitted person has admitted to committing the offence, or where the original acquittal was "tainted" possibly by witness or juror intimidation.

In November, World's End murderer Angus Sinclair became the first person to be retried and convicted under the new rules.

Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland successfully used the retrial of serial killer Sinclair for the 37-year-old rape and murders of Christine Eadie and Helen Scott, both 17, as a flagship case for the new legal principle.

A source close to the Amanda Duffy inquiry is reported to have said there will be further face to face meeting with representatives of the Crown and the family this month clarify the legal position.

The source said: "It is crucial that the Crown are seen to produce evidence that is new and compelling, rather than just running the old evidence again.

"There have been important issues over the traceability and reliability of evidence and how new evidence regarding DNA might be applied.

"All the issues have been examined in minute detail and the Crown are confident that a very strong case would be presented."