Norris needs to say what happened so others can face justice

STEPHEN Lawrence's father believes one of his son's killers "holds the key" to nailing the rest after he finally confessed to being involved in the murder.

- BY TOM PETTIFOR Crime Editor

Neville Lawrence, 83, is preparing to watch David Norris, 48, give evidence at his public parole hearing next week.

We revealed in March that Norris has admitted for the first time in 32 years to being in the gang of five or six youths that killed Stephen while shouting: "What, what ne*****?"

He had previously always denied having anything to do with the knife attack on the 18-year-old student at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London, on April 22, 1993.

Bungled

Mr Lawrence said: "I just hope that whatever he says can be used as evidence against the rest.

"My message to him would be, 'You have served so many years in prison, you've known what you did was wrong and you refused to give the information in the early days about all the other boys that were involved.

"I need you to say exactly who was there with you that night because we now know that you were there'.

"I want to hear if he is genuinely sorry about what he did and his part in taking my son's life. I want to hear the reason he gives for doing that." The Lawrence family fought for justice after they were repeatedly failed by the Metropolitan Police who bungled the investigation and spied on their campaign.

It took until 2012 for Norris and Gary Dobson, 49, to be convicted of murder. The rest remained free and the investigation was closed in 2020.

Shameful

With Norris' minimum sentence coming to an end he is entitled to be considered for release.

Mr Lawrence said: "If I was part of that parole board he would have to genuinely tell me that he's completely changed his views about seeing people on the street.