Stephen Lawrence’s dad Neville has told how he will accept the release of one of his son’s killers if he finally admits to the crime and apologises.
But he said David Norris should not be freed from jail until he shows true remorse for the 1993 racist murder of the 18-year-old student. Norris pleaded not guilty to killing Stephen and has never owned up to his part in the knife attack. He was finally jailed for a minimum of 14 years and three months in September 2012 following an Old Bailey trial.
Because of time spent on remand it means that his minimum term ends in the coming months. He is now due to have a parole hearing that could pave the way for the killer to rebuild his life aged just 48.
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Neville Lawrence said David Norris must apologise for killing his son
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Humphrey Nemar.)
Speaking to the Daily Mail from his home in Jamaica, Neville, 82, said: “He would have to say he was sorry for killing Stephen and that he had changed his ways and apologise to our family [for me to accept his release]. I am not satisfied with him getting parole but what I am saying is if he can show remorse and show he’s changed then I will accept that. It’s not that I’m okay with it but if someone shows they know they did something wrong and have changed, then I can accept that.”
Neville has given a victim impact statement to the Parole Board but said he is yet to decide if he will attend the hearing. A decision is yet to be made on whether the hearing will be public but relatives can attend. Stephen was stabbed to death by up to six thugs shouting “what, n*****?” as he waited for a bus with pal Duwayne Brooks at a bus stop in Eltham, South East London.
But Duwayne revealed last year that he had not told about Norris’s parole hearing despite being classified as an attack victim by Sir William Macpherson in his 1999 report on the murder. He said at the time: “The Ministry of Justice does not see me as a victim of the murderous attack. I think it shows the continuing failures highlighted by Macpherson, operating today.
David Norris who is making a bid for freedom
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Jamie Acourt was accused of being part of the gang the killed Stephen
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“The Parole Board are supposed to tell me there is a hearing but they did not. I was treated as a witness until Macpherson said, ‘He is a victim.’ I would like to know why they still don’t count me as a victim. My life could have been taken on that day. I would like to make a statement at the hearing. I want to read it in front of the press who should be allowed access to the hearing.”
The rules have been changed to allow the press and public into parole hearings though this has only been granted in a handful of cases. Norris, who was 16 at the time of Stephen’s murder, was moved to a tougher jail two years ago after being caught with a mobile phone. He and Gary Dobson, 48, are the only members of the gang that killed Stephen to be convicted. They were arrested in 2010 after a cold case review. Dobson got a minimum term of 15 years and two months.
Duwayne Brooks who was attacked with Stephen
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Adam Gerrard / Sunday Mirror)
Brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt were accused of being part of the gang that attacked Stephen. They have served time for drug dealing. Another, Luke Knight remained free. All deny involvement in the murder. Matthew White, who died aged 50 in 2021, was named as a sixth suspect. The Parole Board said: “We can confirm the review of David Norris has been referred to the Board.” And the Prison Service added: “Family members of murder victims are informed when an offender is being considered for release.”
Neville, awarded an OBE and honorary doctorate in law for his campaigning, spends much of the year in Jamaica, where his son was buried. The CPS ruled in June that four police officers involved in the botched investigation into Stephen’s murder would not face any charges. Stephen’s mum Baroness Doreen Lawrence branded the decision a “new low” in her family’s treatment.