Neville Lawrence Insists Convicted Murderer Identify Accomplices Before Parole Consideration
Stephen Lawrence's father has declared that one of his son's killers should reveal the remaining accomplices participating in the murder before being considered for parole.
Release Review Approaches for Convicted Killer
Neville Lawrence, 83 years old, is awaiting David Norris's first appearance before the Parole Board where he will request his freedom.
Norris, currently 49, was given to a life sentence with a minimum term of 14 years and three months in January 2012, over 18 years after Stephen was murdered by a racist gang while waiting for a bus home.
Unique Hearing Arrangements
The parole hearing will take place in prison with a live stream broadcast to a courtroom at the central London court. Norris will be visible on camera, but just the rear view will be visible to observers.
Authorization was given for his release proceeding to be public after news outlets petitioned with the support of Stephen's family, with Neville Lawrence saying: "Increased public visibility, the better."
Admission and Continuing Denial
In official documents detailing the decision, it was disclosed that Norris currently admits he was there at the location of the murder, but asserts that he merely struck Stephen and was not the one who stabbed him.
Lawrence stressed the significance of hearing Stephen's killers being named and held accountable. "It matters for me because of what these people have done," he said.
"They ruined my life. They made me not to be able to live in this country. They've deprived me of the opportunity of seeing my son getting married, of having his grandchildren."
"This man has taken me of so much that there is no possibility I can even start to think that he should be allowed to be released."
Case Background
Police investigators believe Stephen was killed by a gang of as many as six people in Eltham, with only two having been brought to justice – Norris and Gary Dobson.
The pair were found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey based on tiny forensic traces collected using advanced scientific methods.
Other suspects in the case included the Acourt brothers, who have since been found guilty of separate narcotics crimes, and Luke Knight. A final individual, Matthew White, died in 2021.
Current Investigation
The College of Policing is conducting a examination of the most recent stage of the inquiry into Stephen's death following the convictions of Dobson and Norris.
Family's Anguish
Lawrence voiced being "frustrated" at the speed of the justice system.
He has earlier stated he would be willing to pardon his son's killers if they showed remorse. He indicated that naming names would be a indication Norris was sorry and of a potential change in outlook.
"Were I on that release committee, he would have to cooperate before I even think of him coming out."
He added: "He could name the other individuals that were with him. He could name the person that fatally wounded Stephen and make a formal apology to my family for killing my son."
He remarked: "I doubt he'll make a public statement to us," continuing: "While I'm partial but I don't believe he should be able to roam freely – my son can't."
Original Incident
Stephen was on his way to board public transport with his friend Duwayne Brooks in Eltham in April 1993 when he was set upon and murdered by a gang who used racist terms before they attacked.
Police Failures
Incompetence and claims of misconduct, centred around Norris's drug dealer father, plagued the investigation into Stephen's death for years.
There was also public anger when it was revealed that undercover officers from the London police had spied on justice campaigners supporting the family.
In 1999, a public inquiry into Stephen's death concluded that the police department was systematically discriminatory.