Stephen Lawrence’s father, Neville Lawrence, 83, has stated that one of his son’s convicted killers, David Norris, should name the other members of the racist gang responsible for Stephen’s murder before being considered for parole. Mr. Lawrence is preparing for Norris’s first appearance before a Parole Board, where Norris, now 49, will plead for his freedom. Norris was jailed for life in January 2012 with a minimum term of 14 years and three months, more than 18 years after Stephen, then 18, was brutally murdered by a racist gang as he ran for a bus home in south-east London in April 1993.

The parole hearing is set to take place in prison, with a video feed livestreamed to a courtroom in the Royal Courts of Justice. While Norris will be on camera, only the back of his head will be visible to the public. Permission for a public hearing was granted following a media application, which was supported by Stephen’s parents. Neville Lawrence emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “the more people that can see, the better.”

A document outlining the decision revealed that Norris now accepts he was present at the scene of the murder. However, he claims he only punched Stephen and was not the person who inflicted the fatal stab wound. For Neville Lawrence, it is crucial to hear Stephen’s killers named and for them to be brought to justice. He conveyed the profound impact of the crime, saying, “They ruined my life. They’ve caused me not to be able to live in this country. They’ve robbed me of the chance of seeing my son getting married, of having grandchildren. This man has robbed me of so much that there is no way I can even start to think that he should be allowed to walk free.”

Police believe Stephen was killed by a gang of up to six people in Eltham, south-east London. To date, only two individuals, David Norris and Gary Dobson, have been brought to justice. The pair were found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey in 2012, based on tiny forensic traces gathered using cutting-edge techniques. Other suspects identified in the case include Jamie and Neil Acourt, who have since been convicted of unrelated drug offenses, and Luke Knight. A sixth suspect, Matthew White, died in 2021.

Neville Lawrence expressed his deep frustration at the slow pace of the justice system. He has previously indicated a willingness to forgive his son’s killers if they demonstrate genuine remorse. He believes that Norris naming the other gang members would serve as a significant sign of being sorry and a potential change in attitude. Mr. Lawrence stated, “If I was on that Parole Board, he would have to do that before I even think of him coming out.” He further urged Norris to “name the rest of the people that were with him. He could name the person that actually stabbed Stephen and make a public apology to my family for killing my son.”

The investigation into Stephen’s death was plagued for years by allegations of incompetence and corruption, particularly centered around Norris’s drug dealer father, Clifford Norris. Further outrage erupted when it was revealed that undercover Metropolitan Police officers had spied on justice campaigners supporting the Lawrence family. A public inquiry into Stephen’s death in 1999 concluded that the force was institutionally racist, a finding that underscored systemic failures in the pursuit of justice.

Despite his hopes for cooperation, Mr. Lawrence remarked, “I don’t think he’ll make a public apology to us,” adding, “I may be biased but I don’t think he should be able to walk the street free – my son can’t.” The College of Policing is currently leading a review of the most recent stage of the investigation following the convictions of Dobson and Norris, highlighting the ongoing efforts to address the complex legacy of Stephen Lawrence’s murder.