Gary Dobson and David Norris will stand trial over the murder of Stephen Lawrence Two men are to stand trial over the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Gary Dobson, 35, and David Norris, 34, are accused of killing the black teenager at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London, on 22 April, 1993. Nobody has been convicted of the crime, but a small team of Scotland Yard detectives has continued to investigate the 18-year-old's death.
Mr Dobson stood trial in 1996 over the murder - which he denied - and he was acquitted.
Forensic review
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He was born on 13 September, 1974 - the first of three children to Doreen and Neville who emigrated from Jamaica in the 1960s.
Neville was a carpenter, upholsterer, tailor and plasterer. Doreen took a university course and became a special needs teacher.
At the time of his death, Stephen was studying A-levels in English, craft, design and technology and physics at Blackheath Bluecoat School.
He was keen on becoming an architect, and a local firm had already offered him a job.
He loved athletics and once ran for Greenwich. As a Cub, then Scout, he won an armful of badges for everything from cooking to sailing.
But like many teenagers, he liked going out, girls and music. His favourites were soul and r and b. He had never been involved in crime.
Stephen Lawrence profile
Brought up in Plumstead, south-east London, the 18-year-old's family life was based on education and religious faith. Friends say he had a good and trusting nature.He was born on 13 September, 1974 - the first of three children to Doreen and Neville who emigrated from Jamaica in the 1960s.
Neville was a carpenter, upholsterer, tailor and plasterer. Doreen took a university course and became a special needs teacher.
At the time of his death, Stephen was studying A-levels in English, craft, design and technology and physics at Blackheath Bluecoat School.
He was keen on becoming an architect, and a local firm had already offered him a job.
He loved athletics and once ran for Greenwich. As a Cub, then Scout, he won an armful of badges for everything from cooking to sailing.
But like many teenagers, he liked going out, girls and music. His favourites were soul and r and b. He had never been involved in crime.
The inquiry into the failure of the original police investigation to find and convict Mr Lawrence's killers, which reported in 1999, became a key moment in the modern history of criminal justice in Britain.
Concluding that the force was "institutionally racist", it made 70 recommendations and had an enormous impact on the race relations debate, from criminal justice through to all public authorities. The latest judgment was set out by the Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, Mrs Justice Rafferty and Mr Justice Holroyde.
They said: "The murder of Stephen Lawrence, a young black man of great promise, targeted and killed by a group of white youths just because of the colour of his skin, was indeed a calamitous crime."
Mr Dobson and Mr Norris were arrested last September over the murder and are in custody. The allegations could not previously be reported for legal reasons.
Their trial is due to take place in November at the Old Bailey and their next court appearance is due for 1 July.
A statement from the Crown Prosecution Service said that both men had been charged on 8 September 2010 with Mr Lawrence's murder.
"The Metropolitan Police Service and the Crown Prosecution Service have worked tirelessly with forensic scientists to review the evidence in this case," it said.
"A full forensic review was commenced in June 2006. New scientific evidence was found and on that basis the prosecution applied for a retrial.
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Doreen Lawrence: "At this moment in time ... all I can think about is Stephen"
The BBC's Daniel Boettcher, at the Court of Appeal, said that Mr Dobson's trial could not have previously taken place under the double jeopardy rule, which prevented a suspect being tried a second time for a crime.
"Up to a new piece of legislation in 2003 it was not possible to face a fresh trial on the same allegations," our correspondent said.
"That so-called double jeopardy rule was changed. The new law was actually introduced in 2005. But there is this level that has to be reached, that judges have to be convinced that there is new and compelling evidence to allow that fresh trial."
The judges said: "After conducting a detailed examination of a large body of evidence, we have come to the conclusion there is sufficient, reliable and substantial evidence to justify the quashing of the acquittal and to order a new trial.
"This decision means, and we emphasise, that it means no more than that, the question whether Dobson had any criminal involvement in Stephen Lawrence's death must be considered afresh by a new jury, which will examine the evidence and decide whether the allegation against him is proved. The presumption of innocence continues to apply."
Mr Dobson had argued that the scientific evidence brought against him, which relates to clothing, was unreliable.
Mr Lawrence's father, Neville, said he was "relieved and delighted at the court's decision".
His mother, Doreen, said: "It's been a long time in coming but we still have a long way to go, and so at this moment in time, all I can think about is Stephen.
"And that perhaps somewhere down the line we will finally get justice for him, because everything has just been a long time for us to get to this position."
1 comment:
My heart goes out to Mr&Mrs Lawrence because I know what it is like to have to wait such a long time for justice. My Wife's clinical negligence case took Thirteen years involving 22 firms of solicitors before the matter was settled out of court by the defendants. Lets hope that the killers of this lovely lad are locked up for a very long time.
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