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Neville Lawrence has asserted that one of his son's killers should name the other gang members involved in the killing before being considered for early release.

Release Review Approaches for Convicted Killer

Neville Lawrence, 83 years old, is awaiting David Norris's initial hearing before the release committee where he will plead for his freedom.

Norris, now 49 years old, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of over 14 years in January 2012, more than 18 years after Stephen was killed by a racist gang while running to catch a bus home.

Unique Hearing Arrangements

The release review will be conducted in prison with a video feed broadcast to a hearing room at the central London court. Norris will be visible on camera, but only the back of his head will be shown to viewers.

Authorization was granted for his parole hearing to be open to the public after media organizations applied with the support of Stephen's parents, with Neville Lawrence saying: "Increased public visibility, the better."

Admission and Continuing Denial

In official documents outlining the ruling, it was revealed that Norris currently admits he was present at the location of the murder, but asserts that he merely struck Stephen and was not fatally wounded him.

Lawrence emphasized the significance of hearing Stephen's killers being named and held accountable. "It's important for me because of their actions," he stated.

"They destroyed my life. They made me not to be able to live in this country. They've robbed me of the chance of seeing my son marrying, of having his grandchildren."

"This man has taken me of so much that there is no possibility I can even start to think that he should be allowed to walk free."

Case Background

Police investigators believe Stephen was murdered by a gang of as many as six people in southeast London, with only two having been convicted – Norris and Gary Dobson.

The two men were convicted by a court at the Old Bailey based on tiny forensic traces collected using advanced scientific methods.

Other suspects in the case included the Acourt brothers, who have since been convicted of separate narcotics crimes, and Luke Knight. A final individual, Matthew White, passed away in 2021.

Ongoing Review

The police standards body is conducting a review of the latest phase of the investigation into Stephen's death following the convictions of Dobson and Norris.

Father's Frustration

Lawrence expressed being "disappointed" at the speed of the legal process.

He has earlier stated he would be willing to pardon his son's killers if they showed remorse. He stated that naming names would be a indication Norris was sorry and of a possible shift in attitude.

"If I was on that Parole Board, he would have to do that before I even think of him coming out."

He continued: "He should name the rest of the people that were with him. He could name the person that actually stabbed Stephen and make a public apology to my family for murdering my son."

He remarked: "I doubt he'll make a public statement to us," continuing: "I may be biased but I don't believe he should be able to walk the street free – my son can't."

Tragic Events

Stephen was on his way to board public transport with his friend Duwayne Brooks in Eltham in spring 1993 when he was set upon and murdered by a gang who used racist terms before they attacked.

Investigation Challenges

Poor handling and allegations of corruption, focused on Norris's father involved in narcotics, dogged the case into Stephen's death for decades.

There was also outrage when it was revealed that police spies from the London police had spied on activists assisting the family.

In 1999, a public inquiry into Stephen's death found that the police department was institutionally racist.