Stephen Lawrence killer David Norris ‘admits role in attack’, says Parole Board
Reports suggest one of Stephen Lawrence’s killers has accepted he was at the scene of the murder but claims he did not wield the knife, the Parole Board has said.
The board made the disclosure as it agreed a hearing on freeing David Norris should take place in public.
The racist murder of Mr Lawrence, 18, is one of the most notorious cases of modern times.
He was killed in an unprovoked attack by a gang of five or six white youths as he waited to catch a bus in Eltham, southeast London, in April 1993.
Norris, now 48, was one of only two people, alongside Gary Dobson, to be jailed for the murder in 2012.
His minimum jail term expired in December and he’s now set to be considered for release on licence.
David Norris Pic: PA
As part of the background to the case, the Parole Board said Norris had continued to deny the offence after his trial.
However, it said he appeared to have changed his story.
“Recent reports now suggest he has accepted he was present at the scene and punched the victim but claims that he did not wield the knife,” said the board’s vice chair Peter Rook KC.
“He does not accept he holds racist views.”
The nature of the reports is not detailed by the Parole Board.
The board said Norris had been diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) after several assaults on him in prison.
Norris’s solicitors argued that holding his hearing in public would increase the risk he faces and said he would “suffer additional emotional distress”, the board added.
Among other objections, his lawyers said there was “no good reason” to depart from the usual protocol of private hearings – and that Norris wouldn’t be able to give his “best evidence” in public.
The board disagreed and approved the media request – supported by Stephen’s parents – to hold it in the open.
Mr Rook said Norris’s psychological reports had been considered, but were trumped by factors such as the ongoing public interest in the case.
He said this interest remained high due to the failings and racism that marred the case – detailed in the 1999 Macpherson report.
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“I have concluded that it is in the interests of justice for there to be a public hearing in this case,” he wrote.
“The compelling factors in favour of a public hearing outweigh the points raised on Mr Norris’ behalf. I am satisfied that the Parole Board’s ability to carry out its core functions will not be compromised by this hearing being in public.”
A date for the hearing has still to be set.
Two pro-Palestinian demonstrators have thrown red powder on Tower Bridge – just moments before leading runners in the London Marathon went past.
The protesters were arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and remain in custody, said the Metropolitan Police.
A video shared by Youth Demand, which is calling for a trade embargo on Israel, shows two people jumping over a barrier that separates spectators from the race course.
The pair, wearing t-shirts that say “Youth Demand: Stop Arming Israel”, are then seen standing in the middle of the road on the bridge.
Pic: LNP
They throw red powder in the air as an official marathon car goes past displaying the race time.
A motorbike with a cameraman on board continues along the route, while a second motorbike stops and one of the riders gets off and pushes the pair out of the way, just before the men’s elite runners pass.
Several police officers then jump over the barrier and detain the pair, the footage shows.
There appeared to be no impact on the marathon.
More than 56,000 participants were expected to take part in the 26.2-mile race through the capital.
Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the men’s elite race in a time of two hours, two minutes and 27 seconds, while Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa shattered the women’s-only world record in two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds.
Assefa beat the previous best of two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds set last year in London by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir.
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Pic: LNP
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “At around 10.38am, two protesters from Youth Demand jumped over barriers at Tower Bridge and threw red paint on to the road.
“Marathon event staff intervened to remove the protesters from the path of the men’s elite race which was able to pass unobstructed.”
The force added that they were “quickly supported by police officers who arrested the protesters on suspicion of causing a public nuisance”.
The Met said the paint “appeared to be chalk-based” and was not expected to “present a hazard to runners yet to pass this point”.
Counter-terrorism police are investigating after an incident involving a crossbow and a firearm left two women injured in Leeds.
Police were called to Otley Road at 2.47pm on Saturday to reports of a “serious incident involving a man seen with weapons”, West Yorkshire Police said.
Officers arrived at the scene to find two women injured – and a 38-year-old man with a self-inflicted injury. All three were taken to hospital, with the man held under arrest, but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
“Two weapons have been recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm,” Counter Terrorism Policing North East said in a statement.
The incident happened on the ‘Otley Run’ pub crawl, with one venue saying it was closed for the evening due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
Officers guard one of the crime scenes
Officers inside the cordon in Leeds
Counter Terrorism Policing’s statement added: “Due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing North East have taken responsibility for leading the investigation with the support of West Yorkshire Police.
“Extensive enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances and explore any potential motivation.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a “serious violent incident” and said she was being kept updated by police.
“Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response,” she said. “My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by this attack.”
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