Youths in Lawrence murder case win legal aid
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.FOUR OF the five white youths suspected of murdering Stephen Lawrence in a racist attack have been granted legal aid to fight attempts to drag them before the public inquiry into the black teenager's death.
The five were scheduled to appear next Monday before the hearing in Elephant and Castle, south London, after a ruling by the inquiry chairman, Sir William Macpherson of Cluny, obliging them to attend.
Lawyers for the youths, who were charged with the murder but never convicted, announced three weeks ago that they intended to apply for judicial review of Sir William's ruling. Four of them - Neil Acourt, his brother Jamie, Gary Dobson and David Norris - were refused emergency legal aid. But yesterday, the Legal Aid Board announced that its decision had been overturned on appeal.
Neil Acourt and the fifth suspect, Luke Knight, were arrested and charged two weeks after Stephen was stabbed to death in Eltham, south-east London, in April 1993. Two months later, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges.
In 1995, Stephen's parents, Neville and Doreen, brought a private prosecution against all five. The case against Mr Dobson, Mr Knight and Neil Acourt was abandoned at the committal proceedings. At the Crown Court trial in April 1996, Jamie Acourt and Mr Norris were acquitted after tkey identification evidence was ruled inadmissible.
Lawyers for the youths intend to fight the summons on the grounds that the inquiry has no legal powers to call them, and its own terms of reference are outside the relevant law. The case is expected to be heard in the immediate future.
The Lawrences declined to comment yesterday.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments