The father of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence has said he will never give up hope of getting justice for his son as the investigation into his death was shelved by the Met Police. Mr Lawrence broke down in tears as he appeared on BBC Radio 4 almost three decades years after the death of his son. Asked what his reaction was to Scotland Yard’s decision, he tearfully said: “Well, I kind of thought it would happen but I was praying that it didn’t and after 27 years of fighting for justice I only had some justice.
“I thought they would pull out all the stops to make sure they caught all the other people who were involved in Stephen’s murder.
“And I said it yesterday and I say it again: I will…
“I will never stop fighting for justice for my son who is lying underground in Jamaica.”
Doreen and Neville Lawrence have campaigned tirelessly since the 18-year-old was murdered by racists in Eltham, south-east London in April 1993.
Gary Dobson and David Norris, were jailed for murder in 2012, but three previous suspects remain at large.
READ MORE: ‘Stephen Lawrence killer’ beaten by inmate days after being jailed
Two of the three remaining suspects, brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt, have since served jail time for drug dealing, while Luke Knight remains free.
His mother Baroness Doreen Lawrence said: “I am truly disappointed that those others who were equally responsible for my son’s racist killing may not be brought to justice.
“I am very sad that a line has now been drawn into the investigation and that it is now in an ‘inactive’ phase.
“Despite this, I would still urge anyone who has any information that could help me get all of Stephen’s killers convicted, to come forward.
“It is never too late to give a mother justice for the murder of her son. While the Metropolitan Police have given up, I never will.”
The original investigation into his death was hampered by incompetence, racism and claims of police corruption surrounding Norris’s father Clifford and his links to the criminal underworld.
In April 1994 the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to bring a prosecution, and in September that year Mr Lawrence’s parents unsuccessfully attempted their own private prosecution against Dobson, Knight and Neil Acourt.
Five years later the Macpherson report, produced after a public inquiry into the case, found the Metropolitan Police guilty of institutional racism and made a series of recommendations on changes to policing and wider public policy.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said it was “deeply frustrating” to know that some of Stephen’s killers will never face prosecution.
DON’T MISS:
Wake up to violence in leafy suburbs, says Lawrence dad [INSIGHT]
ITV Loose Women: Doreen Lawrence speaks out on knife crime [VIDEO]
Stephen Lawrence murder: Documentary viewers praise inspector [ANALYSIS]
She 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.
“Mr (Duwayne) Brooks, who was with Stephen on the night he died, has also been advised of the decision.
“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.”
There are separate ongoing inquiries linked to the case, including an investigation by the National Crime Agency and the Independent Office for Police Conduct into alleged corruption.
The case will also inform part of the public inquiry into undercover policing that is due to start next year, after it was revealed in 2013 that a police mole infiltrated a campaign group supporting the Lawrence family’s fight for justice.
