Stephen Lawrence: new trial after 18 years

THE parents of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered 18 years ago in a racist stabbing, have said they hope to "finally get justice", after it was announced two men will stand trial for his killing.

Gary Dobson, 35, and David Norris, 34, will face an Old Bailey jury in November after new scientific evidence came to light.

Senior judges ruled the trial could go ahead – even though Dobson had been acquitted in a 1996 private prosecution brought by the Lawrence family.

Stephen's parents Neville and Doreen Lawrence were at the Court of Appeal yesterday to hear the decision.

Mrs Lawrence said as she left court: "I am really pleased by the judgment, which has been a long time in coming, but we still have a long way to go."

Fighting back tears, she added: "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."

With Stephen's brother Stuart standing beside her, she said: "It has been a long time to get into this position."

Stephen Lawrence, a promising 18-year-old A-level student, was stabbed in Eltham, south east London, in April 1993.

Despite suffering a partially collapsed lung he ran 130 yards trying to escape before collapsing.

The pathologist said the fact he got so far with such substantial injuries was testimony to his fitness.

Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge 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."

The CPS and the Metropolitan Police Service yesterday issued a statement, saying: "Stephen Lawrence was murdered on 22 April, 1993, in an unprovoked attack.

"Two men have recently been charged with his murder: David Norris and Gary Dobson. They are both in custody and will stand trial later this year at the Central Criminal Court."

It added: "A full forensic review was commenced in June 2006. New scientific evidence was found and on that basis the prosecution applied for a retrial.

"Our thoughts at this stage go to Stephen's family, who have never given up their quest to see justice for Stephen."

Dobson had been cleared of murder along with Luke Knight and Neil Acourt. However, that acquittal has now been quashed.

Dobson and Norris were charged in September, although it could not be reported at the time for legal reasons.

Lifting the reporting restrictions on the case, Lord Judge said: "There is to be a new trial."

The judges said the prosecution application to quash Dobson's acquittal was based on new scientific evidence relating to a grey bomber jacket and a multi-coloured cardigan which it was said "closely links" Dobson to the attack.

"If reliable, the new scientific evidence would place Dobson in a very close proximity indeed to Stephen Lawrence at the moment of and in the immediate aftermath of the attack, proximity moreover for which no innocent explanation can be discerned," they said.

Timothy Roberts QC, for Dobson, had argued that the evidence was "unreliable and of no sufficient probative value".

But Lord Judge said: "After conducting a detailed examination of a large body of evidence we have come to the conclusion that there is sufficient reliable and substantial new evidence to justify the quashing of the acquittal and to order a new trial."

He added that the decision meant Dobson's alleged involvement "must be considered afresh by a new jury which will examine the evidence and decide whether the allegation against him is proved".

The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust? said: "The Lawrence family – who have done so much to improve the lives of others in Stephen's name – have never given up their struggle for social justice."

An inquiry into the Metropolitan Police's murder investigation, by Sir William Macpherson, found the force was "institutionally racist", a damning verdict which changed policing across the UK.