Murder of Stephen Lawrence — the full case file

The Macpherson Inquiry into Stephen Lawrence's murder found police institutionally racist. Stephen Lawrence, an 18-year-old Black British student, was fatally stabbed by a group of white youths in a racially motivated attack in Eltham, southeast London, on 22 April 1993. After nearly two decades of failed prosecutions and a landmark public inquiry into police racism, two of the attackers, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were convicted of his murder in January 2012 following new forensic evidence. On September 13, 1974, Stephen Adrian Lawrence is born in Greenwich, London. On April 22, 1993, Lawrence is fatally stabbed in a racially motivated attack at a bus stop on Well Hall Road, Eltham. On May 7, 1993, the Acourt brothers and Gary Dobson are arrested. On July 29, 1993, Murder charges against two suspects are dropped for insufficient evidence. The Lawrence family initiates a private prosecution against five suspects (approximate date, September 1994). On April 23, 1996, three remaining suspects are acquitted of murder at the Central Criminal Court after the judge rules identification evidence unreliable. On February 13, 1997, an inquest returns a verdict of unlawful killing in an unprovoked racist attack. On July 31, 1997, Home Secretary Jack Straw orders a public inquiry, led by Sir William Macpherson. The Macpherson Report is published, finding the Metropolitan Police institutionally racist (approximate month, February 1999). A secret cold case review of forensic evidence begins (approximate month, June 2006). On September 8, 2010, Gary Dobson and David Norris are arrested and charged without publicity. On May 18, 2011, Court of Appeal quashes Dobson's original acquittal; CPS announces both will stand trial for murder. On January 3, 2012, Dobson and Norris are found guilty of Lawrence's murder. On January 4, 2012, Dobson and Norris are sentenced to detention at Her Majesty's pleasure. On June 23, 2013, the Guardian publishes an interview with former undercover officer Peter Francis alleging police pressure to smear the Lawrence family. On March 6, 2014, the Stephen Lawrence Independent Review by Mark Ellison QC is presented to Parliament. David Norris admits for the first time his involvement in the murder (approximate month, March 2025). The Parole Board denies Norris's release or transfer to a lower-category prison (approximate month, December 2025). The case is recorded as solved. This case file is kept in memory of Stephen Lawrence. The full sourced case file, with every fact cited, is at casepin dot org.

Transcript from the video’s narration track. For every source, open the case file.