GARY DOBSON and David Norris have both been handed life sentences with minimum terms of 15 years two months and 14 years three months respectively in prison for the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in 1993, a crime that came to symbolise racism both on London’s streets and within its police force.


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Speaking during sentencing today at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Treacy, called the murder a “terrible and evil crime” that “scarred the nation”.

Had the pair been adults at the time of the murder, they would probably have been sent down for at least 25 years, but as they were under 18 at the time, Dobson and Norris have been sentenced under the more lenient juvenile punishments system.

Though new DNA evidence has helped convict Dobson and Norris, the rest of the racist murder-gang of which they were members remains free, a point made by Stephen’s father, Neville Lawrence.

“I’m conscious of the fact that there were five or six attackers that night. I do not think I’ll be able to rest until they are all brought to justice,” he said.

Police think the only way the other gang members will be brought to justice is if either Dobson or Norris decide to spill the beans on their fellow murderers, but that appears unlikely

Doreen Lawrence, Stephen’s mother, led the campaign to bring her son’s killers to justice, but was not about to celebrate yesterday’s verdict given how long the whole process has taken.

“Despite these verdicts, today is not a cause for celebration,” she said.

“How can I celebrate when my son lies buried, when I cannot see him or speak to him? When I will not see him grow up or go to university, or get married or have children. These verdicts will not bring my son back.

“How can I celebrate when I know that this day could have come 18 years ago if the police, who were meant to find my son’s killers, [had not] failed so miserably to do so?”