Stephen Lawrence was murdered in 1994 – but even though the murder is one of the most infamous crimes in British legal history, some of his killers still walk free. Now the Met Police has changed the status of the investigation to inactive, citing no new lines of inquiry.
When 18-year-old Stephen Lawrence, a black British boy from South East London, was brutally knifed by a gang of white men in Well Hall, Eltham in 1993, his crime was waiting for a bus with a friend.
His death prompted one of the highest-profile and longest-running murder cases in British history, shining a light on institutionalised racism and corruption in the Metropolitan Police, which failed to convict a single suspect until 2012, and the nation’s insidious racial divides.
Gary Dobson and David Norris were found guilty in early 2012 – but the case has continued as several others are suspected to have been involved in his death.
But despite suspected killers walking free, the Metropolitan Police have now shifted the status of the investigation to inactive.
Mr Lawrence’s surviving family have expressed dismay at the decision, as it is assumed three other men were involved in his murder and have escaped justice.
Neville Lawrence, Stephen’s father, said: “I’m not angry, I’m disappointed. Yet again the Met police have failed my family.
“I’m going to talk to my solicitor and barrister and find out if we can do anything more.
“I’m not going to stop. I’m not satisfied. There are still people out there who were part of the murder.
Met Police chief Cressida Dick said: “The investigation has now moved to an ‘inactive’ phase, but I have given Stephen’s family the assurance that we will continue to deal with any new information that comes to light.
“The investigation into Stephen’s murder will also be periodically reviewed for any further investigative opportunities which may arise; for example, with advances in technology.
She added: “The investigation into Stephen’s murder will also be periodically reviewed for any further investigative opportunities which may arise; for example, with advances in technology.
“We were able to secure two convictions following a determined investigation in 2012, but it is well known that other suspects were also involved in the events which unfolded that night and it is deeply frustrating that we have been unable to bring them to justice.”
Are Stephen Lawrence’s killers behind bars?
In May 2011, Gary Dobson and David Norris finally faced trial for the murder, 17 years after Stephen Lawrence died.
It took place following a review of forensic evidence that found the victim’s DNA on the defendants’ clothes.
The double jeopardy legal principle had also been dropped in 2005 allowing the killers to stand trial for the second time for the same crime.
On January 3, 2012, both received life sentences with Mr Dobson jailed for a minimum of 15 years and two months Mr Norris for 14 years and three months.
A public inquiry into Stephen’s killing, dubbed the Macpherson inquiry after the high court judge Sir William Macpherson who led it, concluded in 1998 that the Met was institutionally racist and made 70 recommendations.
These included scrapping the legal principle preventing a suspect being tried twice for the same crime – known as double jeopardy.
