TWO MEN – David Norris and Gary Dobson – are to go on trial for the 1993 murder of Stephen Lawrence.


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The murder in Eltham, south east London, became one of the most notorious of its time, as it involved a group of white youths in the apparent racist killing of Lawrence, a black teenager.

Added to the shocking nature of the murder, there was what many regarded as a slipshod investigation by the police and a subsequent campaign for justice by Lawrence’s parents.

A government inquiry into the police’s efforts led to the conclusion that the Met was “institutionally racist”.

One of the pair subject to today’s judgement, Dobson, 35, was among those found not guilty of Lawrence’s murder back in 1996 but, in a dramatic legal development, the Appeal Court ruled today that new forensic evidence found on clothing is enough to order a fresh trial.

“There is sufficient reliable and substantial new evidence to justify the quashing of the acquittal and to order a new trial,” read the ruling from the lord chief justice.

The court stressed that today’s ruling is not designed to imply guilt.

“This decision means – and we emphasise that it means no more than that – the question whether Dobson had any criminal involvement in Stephen Lawrence’s death must be considered afresh by a new jury, which will examine the evidence and decide whether the allegation against him is proved.

“The presumption of innocence continues to apply.”

Norris, 34, has never before been tried for the murder. The new trial is set to start in November at the Old Bailey.