Gary Dobson and David Norris are the two identified members of the gang responsible for the racially motivated Murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993.
Murder edit
On 22 April 1993, black youths Stephen Lawrence and Duwayne Brooks were walking in the London suburb Rochester Way when Brooks saw a gang of five or six white youths approaching from the other side of the street. One of the white youths reportedly shouted "What, what, n*gger?" before the group swarmed Lawrence and stabbed him twice. After the gang retreated Lawrence and Brooks ran to Shooter's Hill, where Lawrence collapsed and died.
Initial Investigation edit
Dobson, Norris and three other white youths were arrested after an anonymous tip identified them as a local racist gang. All five suspects had previously been involved in racist attacks in the area of the murder. Dobson and two others were privately prosecuted by the Lawrence family, but were acquitted due to lack of evidence (Brooks's identification of them was deemed to be unreliable). The failure to convict anyone for the crime lead to allegations of racism and incompetence against the Metropolitan Police, a full-scale government investigation into the handling of the case and the partial repeal of laws against double jeopardy in case more evidence against the suspects was ever found.
Cold Case Investigation and Conviction edit
In 2006, 13 years after the murder, a cold case review was opened. Examination of the evidence with modern DNA technology lead to the discovery of Lawrence's blood on Dobson's jacket and fibres from Lawrence's clothing and hairs with a 99% chance of coming from Lawrence on Dobson and Norris's clothes and the evidence bags that held them at the time.
The review concluded in 2010 with the arrest of Dobson and Norris. Under the new double jeopardy laws, Dobson's acquittal was revoked so his trial could go ahead. On 3 January 2012 Dobson and Norris were convicted of murder. Both were sentenced to detention at her majesty's pleasure, the juvenile equivalent of life in prison.
In 2022, two fellow prisoners attacked Norris in Dartmoor Prison and slashed his face with razor blades, leaving him disfigured. The Daily Express reported that the attack was due to an argument earlier that day and was not connected to Lawrence's murder.