One of the men convicted of murdering Stephen Lawrence has been refused parole following a landmark public hearing earlier this year.
Parole Board Rejects Release Bid
David Norris, now 49, will remain behind bars after the Parole Board decided against his release. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2012, with a minimum term of 14 years and three months, which expired in December 2024.
The decision follows an unprecedented public parole hearing in October, where Norris spoke about his involvement in the 1993 racist attack for the very first time. Previously, he had denied being present at the scene in Eltham, southeast London.
A Reluctant Admission and Unanswered Questions
During the hearing, which was streamed from prison to the Royal Courts of Justice, Norris expressed what he called his "genuine remorse". He stated, "I will go to my grave with that guilt in my heart" and acknowledged that "the events of that night 32 years ago should never have happened".
However, he steadfastly refused to name the other four or five attackers involved in the assault, citing fears for his family's safety. He would not even confirm the role of his co-defendant, Gary Dobson, who was also convicted in 2012.
Norris told the panel, "I am not here to discuss other people, I am here to take responsibility for my part in what happened." He later added that while he wished he could give Stephen's family "the whole truth", doing so "would pose a risk to me and my family".
Family's Outrage and Prison Behaviour Concerns
Stephen's mother, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, branded Norris a "coward" after the hearing and called on the Metropolitan Police to intensify efforts to identify the remaining perpetrators. "This man owes me the truth and the Met owe me justice," she said.
The panel heard compelling evidence against his release. None of the prison staff who gave evidence supported his move to the community, instead suggesting a transfer to a lower-category jail might be considered.
This recommendation came despite Norris being moved back to a Category B prison in 2022 after being caught with two mobile phones and a screwdriver in his cell. The hearing was also informed of concerning behaviour, including an incident where he called a female nurse a "horrible c***" and clashes with Muslim prisoners.
Only one witness, an independent psychologist instructed on Norris's behalf, concluded he was ready for release. The Parole Board's final decision ensures Norris remains in custody, a move that will bring some measure of continued accountability for one of the UK's most notorious racist murders.
