Lawrence QC leads new corruption investigation

THE BARRISTER who prosecuted two men over the murder of Stephen Lawrence will lead a review of the Scotland Yard investigation into allegations of corruption, the Home Secretary has revealed.

Mark Ellison, QC, will assess whether there is any evidence any officer acted corruptly in the initial investigation and whether there are any further lines of investigation linked to possible corruption, Theresa May said.

The review team will also consider whether the original McPherson Inquiry was provided with all the relevant material connected with any possible corruption and aims to complete its findings by next July.

Mrs May told MPs: “I have asked Mark Ellison, QC, to carry out this review and he has agreed. The review team has agreed terms of reference with the Lawrence family.”

In January this year, Mr Ellison led the successful prosecutions of David Norris and Gary 
Dobson over the 1993 racist murder of the teenager.

Both men were sentenced to life at the Old Bailey, 19 years after the crime.

The review comes after Mr Lawrence’s mother, Doreen, called for a fresh public inquiry after it was claimed the 
Metropolitan Police withheld paperwork from the Macpherson Inquiry.

The Independent Police 
Complaints Commission (IPCC) reviewed its investigation following a television documentary in 2006.