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MISSED CHANCE

Sixth man ‘could have been charged over Stephen Lawrence’s murder’, cop who nailed killers claims

PROSECUTORS should have charged a sixth man over Stephen Lawrence’s murder, says the cop who nailed two of his killers.

Clive Driscoll’s work led to the convictions of Gary Dobson and David Norris in 2012 for the 1993 racist murder. Three other people were suspected of being involved.

 Retired DCI Clive Driscoll's hard work led to two of Stephen Lawrence's killers being convicted over the racist murder
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Retired DCI Clive Driscoll's hard work led to two of Stephen Lawrence's killers being convicted over the racist murderCredit: PA:Press Association

The retired DCI said a witness named a sixth people but his team was disbanded before he could probe the information.

Clive said: “It was, I thought, a very good line of inquiry — I can’t lie.

“A witness had come forward and had given evidence. Came forward and said ‘this is what happened’.”

The man, never named, was arrested in 2014 but told he’d not be charged.

 Clive Driscoll says he believes the witness who came forward was a 'very good line of inquiry'
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Clive Driscoll says he believes the witness who came forward was a 'very good line of inquiry'Credit: BBC

Clive told of his sorrow that his team was disbanded and said he was “optimistic” he could have secured more convictions if kept on.

He said: “People often ask me am I angry. I’m not angry, I thought it was a privilege to work on that case."

Stephen’s mum Doreen was seen yesterday with London Marathon runners raising cash for the trust set up in his name.

Stephen was just 18 when he was stabbed to death as he waited for a bus in Eltham, south eats London.

The day after the killing a letter naming suspects was left in a phone box.

Doreen Lawrence praise DCI Clive Driscoll for his commitment to the re-investigation into her son Stephen Lawrence's murder

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.

In February 1997 an inquest ruled that Stephen was killed in a "completely unprovoked racist attack by five youths".

Only two men have been convicted of killing Stephen Lawrence - David Norris and Gary Dobson.

The judge at their trial described the attack as a "crime committed for no other reason than racial hatred".


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