Stephen Lawrence murder: Major new suspect revealed in notorious racist killing – as cops admit bungling probe
A NEW major suspect has been revealed in the Stephen Lawrence murder case.
Stephen, 18, was killed by a racist gang in Eltham, London in 1993.
David Norris and Gary Dobson were given life sentences for the murder in 2012 while three other suspects were not convicted.
The Met Police believe six men attacked Stephen when he was killed - and the man thought to be the sixth has now been named by cops, the first reported.
Matthew White died in 2021 aged 50. The Met Police now say they bungled the probe into him.
Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward said: “The impact of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence and subsequent inquiries continues to be felt throughout policing.
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"Unfortunately, too many mistakes were made in the initial investigation and the impact of them continues to be seen.
“On the 30th anniversary of Stephen’s murder, Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley apologised for our failings and I repeat that apology today.”
Mum Doreen Lawrence has again slammed the force and says it should face "serious sanctions".
In a statement issued through her solicitor, she said: "The fact that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) were incompetent in the investigation of my son's murder is so well-known and established that it doesn't bear repeating.
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"I knew this at the time of the murder but few listened to my concerns. In the 30 or so years since Stephen's killing, revelations continue to keep coming as to the extent of the failings by the MPS in the investigation.
"The latest revelation that a key suspect in the murder could have, and should have, been properly and thoroughly investigated is shocking but unsurprising."
Doreen added: "It is too late for me and my family but at least I hope that victims in the future will not go through what we did."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak weighed in on today's news, too.
He said: "The first thing to say is my thoughts are with all of Stephen Lawrence's loved ones, especially his parents who have worked so tirelessly to ensure that his legacy lives on.
"It's an operational police matter so I can't comment in detail, other than to say that I know the Metropolitan Police themselves this morning have said that they will of course review any new information that comes to light."
The Met stopped investigating Stephen's murder case in 2020.
An investigation by the BBC reportedly found that a relative of White tried to speak to cops after the murder but due to a mistake the lead was not pursued.
The BBC also reportedly discovered that a witness told cops in 2000 that White had admitted being involved.
White also strongly resembled a description of an attacker by Stephen's friend Duwayne Brooks who was with him when he was killed.
White was reportedly arrested by Clive Driscoll, the cop who convicted two of Stephen's killers, but he was made to retire before his investigation could be properly carried out.
"The latest revelation that a key suspect in the murder could have, and should have, been properly and thoroughly investigated is shocking but unsurprising.
Doreen Lawrence
Former Det Ch Insp Driscoll also claimed that former Met Police boss Cressida Dick allegedly said he shouldn't bother going after any other suspects.
In a statement released after the BBC investigation, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ward said: "Stephen was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack and the case rocked the country.
What followed was a years-long battle for justice led by Stephen's family and judicial reviews that led to intense scrutiny of the Met Police.
The day after the killing a letter naming suspects was left in a phone box.
In May and June 1993 police arrested five suspects and charged two, but the charges were dropped a month later with cops saying Duwayne's ID evidence was unreliable.
The following year the CPS again refused to prosecute suspects, despite new evidence being brought forward.
Stephen's angry parents launched a private prosecution against Gary Dobson, Luke Knight and Neil Acourt, but it failed in 1996 when Duwayne's ID evidence was declared inadmissible.
In February 1997 an inquest ruled that Stephen was killed in a "completely unprovoked racist attack by five youths".
The following day the Daily Mail named suspects as Stephen's killers on its front page and invited them to sue the paper.
In May 2011 Gary Dobson and David Norris finally faced trial for Stephen's murder following a review of forensic evidence that found the victim's DNA on the defendants' clothes.
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Both received life sentences with Dobson jailed for a minimum of 15 years and two months and Norris for 14 years and three months.
Stephen's mum Doreen and dad Neville campaigned tirelessly for justice and policing reforms following his murder and his mum is now a Baroness sitting in the House of Lords.
Timeline of Stephen's murder
April 1993 - Stephen Lawrence is stabbed to death in an unprovoked racist attack by a gang of white youths as he waits at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London, with his friend Duwayne Brooks. Brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt, Gary Dobson, and David Norris are identified as suspects through police tip-offs.
May 1993 - Stephen's family hold a press conference saying not enough has been done to catch his killers.
June 1993 - The Acourt brothers, Dobson, Norris, and another suspect, Luke Knight, are arrested. Neil Acourt and Knight are picked from an ID parade by Duwayne and charged with murder - which they deny.
July 1993 - Charges are dropped against the pair as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says the evidence is unreliable. A Detective Sergeant says Duwayne told him he was unsure of those he picked - which he denies saying.
April 1994 - CPS says new evidence is still insufficient to support murder charges.
September 1994 -Stephen's parents begin a private prosecution.
April 1996 - The prosecution of Neil Acourt, Knight and Dobson is held at the Old Bailey but the trial collapses as the judge rules the identification evidence is inadmissible. The three are acquitted meaning they can't be tried again.
February 1997 - The Lawrences slam the cops handling of the investigation and go to the Police Complaints Authority. The Daily Mail publishes a front page headlined 'Murderers' and pictured two Acourt brothers, Norris, Knight, and Dobson.
December 1997 - A Police Complaints Authority report on the original police investigation of Lawrence’s murder identifies “significant weaknesses, omissions and lost opportunities”. It says there is no evidence of racist conduct by police.
July 1998 - Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Condon makes an apology, saying: “I am truly sorry that we let you down.”
February 1999 - The Macpherson report finds the police guilty of mistakes and “institutional racism” and makes 70 recommendations on changes to policing and wider public policy.
September 2002 - Norris and Neil Acourt are jailed for 18 months for a racist attack on off-duty black policeman Gareth Reid the year prior.
April 2005 - The double jeopardy legal principle, preventing suspects being tried twice for the same crime, is scrapped for certain offences when there is new evidence.
May 2011 - The court of appeal agrees that Dobson’s 1996 acquittal for the murder can be quashed in the face of new forensic evidence.
November 2011 - The trial of Dobson and Norris for Lawrence’s murder begins at the Old Bailey.
January 2012 - Dobson and Norris are found guilty of murder, 18 years after the event. The new evidence includes a blood spot on Dobson’s jacket.
October 2015 - The National Crime Agency announces the Metropolitan police are being investigated for alleged corruption in the initial 1993 murder investigation.
April 2018 - Scotland Yard admits it has no new lines of inquiry in the investigation into Stephen Lawrence’s murder.
