Baroness Doreen Lawrence has issued a powerful and emotional plea for witnesses to finally break their silence, following a devastating independent review that exposes a litany of failures in the investigation into her son’s racist murder.
The review, led by former prosecutor Mark Ellison KC, delivers a scathing indictment of the Metropolitan Police's handling of the case. It concludes that there were likely several more people involved in the 1993 attack in Eltham, south-east London, who have never been brought to justice.
'The truth is still out there,' Baroness Lawrence stated, addressing those who have harboured secrets for over three decades. 'If you have any information, no matter how small or insignificant you think it might be, please come forward now. It is never too late to do the right thing.'
The report identifies a 'decades-long failure' by the force to properly investigate specific lines of enquiry and pursue all those complicit in the murder of the 18-year-old A-level student. It suggests that opportunities to gather crucial evidence were missed, potentially allowing accomplices to evade justice.
This new analysis is a direct result of the landmark 2012 Ellison Review, which first uncovered evidence of police corruption and espionage designed to smear the Lawrence family. That review led to the eventual convictions of two of Stephen’s killers, David Norris and Gary Dobson, in 2012.
The latest findings have been met with profound disappointment and resolve from the Lawrence family. They underscore the enduring pain of a case that has become synonymous with institutional racism within British policing and a relentless fight for justice.
The Metropolitan Police has stated it is assessing the new report's findings. A spokesperson said: 'We recognise the huge impact the murder of Stephen Lawrence has had, and our thoughts remain with his family and friends. We are considering the review's content carefully.'
