Two men have been convicted of the racist murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence, 18 years after he was stabbed to death near a south London bus stop. Gary Dobson and David Norris were found guilty by an Old Bailey jury after a trial based on forensic evidence. Scientists found a tiny bloodstain on Dobson's jacket that could only have come from Mr Lawrence. They also found a single hair belonging to the teenager on Norris's jeans. Sentencing will be on Wednesday.

Doreen Lawrence Stephens mother stated that:

"They took away Stephen's life and there is nothing in their behaviour or anything to show they regret what their actions have done and the pain it has caused us as a family."

Stephen Lawrence lived for 18 years, 7 months and 9 days. It has taken 18 years, 8 months and 12 days to find 'some' justice for him and his family. Will Justice finally be served and the two convicted killers receive life sentences and will the remaining 3 murderers get their day in court. No one can take credit for this outcome other than Doreen and Neville Lawrence, this case remains a stain on the British Justice system.

Today's verdict must come as a huge relief to the Met. A large part of the defence case rested on the possibility of the bloodstain having got onto Dobson and Norris's clothes because the evidence hadn't been handled properly. If they had been acquitted due to the possibility of further blunders by the Met, some officers would have been facing some very awkward questions.

Some sort of partial justice for sure, I don't know much about the history of the case (given it's been going on most of my life) but it does seem shocking now looking back at how institutionally racist the Met Police were back in 1993 - within 24 hours to get over a dozen independent sources giving the identities of the killers to the police and nothing done, no warrants for searches at their houses until several weeks later, giving them time to destroy all the evidence.

 

It's the end of a sad chapter in the so-called British justice system.

Edited January 4, 201213 yr by Doctor Blind

BBC Breaking News banner on their website:

 

"Detectives investigating the murder of Stephen Lawrence say new information has been received"

 

Has someone coughed already then? Maybe!

I hope the end is nigh and they catch and arrest the rest of those killers it is a disgrace that they have been free for such a long time.