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| Stephen Lawrence: new images of potential witness released | Stephen Lawrence: new images of potential witness released |
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| Detectives investigating the racially motivated murder of the black teenager Stephen Lawrence more than 23 years ago have issued new CCTV images of a potential witness they want to trace. | Detectives investigating the racially motivated murder of the black teenager Stephen Lawrence more than 23 years ago have issued new CCTV images of a potential witness they want to trace. |
| Stephen, 18, a would-be architect, was stabbed to death by a group of up to six white youths in an unprovoked racist attack as he waited at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London with a friend on 22 April 1993. | |
| New footage, which officers have digitally enhanced, shows a man who has never been identified wearing a distinctive “V” emblem jacket in an off-licence on Well Hall Road in Eltham at 8pm on the night Lawrence was murdered. The off-licence was 330 yards from the bus stop where he was attacked later that night. | New footage, which officers have digitally enhanced, shows a man who has never been identified wearing a distinctive “V” emblem jacket in an off-licence on Well Hall Road in Eltham at 8pm on the night Lawrence was murdered. The off-licence was 330 yards from the bus stop where he was attacked later that night. |
| It took more than 18 years before two of Lawrence’s killers – Gary Dobson and David Norris – were brought to justice. The pair were jailed for life in January 2012 for their role in the attack. Metropolitan police detectives said they would continue to pursue others involved. | It took more than 18 years before two of Lawrence’s killers – Gary Dobson and David Norris – were brought to justice. The pair were jailed for life in January 2012 for their role in the attack. Metropolitan police detectives said they would continue to pursue others involved. |
| Releasing the new images of the potential witness, DCI Chris Le Pere, who is in charge of the investigation, said: “We are appealing for this man to come forward so we can speak to him to establish if he can assist with our enquiries, or if we can eliminate this strand of the investigation. | Releasing the new images of the potential witness, DCI Chris Le Pere, who is in charge of the investigation, said: “We are appealing for this man to come forward so we can speak to him to establish if he can assist with our enquiries, or if we can eliminate this strand of the investigation. |
| “He was seen in the off-licence at 8pm and then again later that night not far from where Stephen was attacked. It is important that we speak with him. | “He was seen in the off-licence at 8pm and then again later that night not far from where Stephen was attacked. It is important that we speak with him. |
| “The image of the distinctive jumper was previously circulated to media in 1993 and again in 2013. The CCTV was recently identified as part of a regular internal review of the case. Officers digitally enhanced it to give us the clearest possible image, and having carried out enquiries to trace him, now release it again to make a public appeal. | “The image of the distinctive jumper was previously circulated to media in 1993 and again in 2013. The CCTV was recently identified as part of a regular internal review of the case. Officers digitally enhanced it to give us the clearest possible image, and having carried out enquiries to trace him, now release it again to make a public appeal. |
| “The investigation remains open. Two individuals were found guilty of murder, but officers continue to follow lines of enquiry. We are hoping that over the passage of time allegiances may have changed, people may have moved away and feel more confident coming forward.” | “The investigation remains open. Two individuals were found guilty of murder, but officers continue to follow lines of enquiry. We are hoping that over the passage of time allegiances may have changed, people may have moved away and feel more confident coming forward.” |
| Following an initial confrontation with a group of men, Lawrence was stabbed on Dickson Road. He escaped from the group and ran about 130 yards before collapsing. The suspects ran down Dickson Road. Stephen was taken to Brook hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. | Following an initial confrontation with a group of men, Lawrence was stabbed on Dickson Road. He escaped from the group and ran about 130 yards before collapsing. The suspects ran down Dickson Road. Stephen was taken to Brook hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. |
| Witnesses have previously reported seeing a man in a distinctive green jacket with the “V” emblem in the vicinity of Well Hall Road at about the same time Stephen was attacked. | Witnesses have previously reported seeing a man in a distinctive green jacket with the “V” emblem in the vicinity of Well Hall Road at about the same time Stephen was attacked. |
| The 1998 Macpherson inquiry into the police handling of the original murder investigation found evidence of “institutional racism” within the Met. | The 1998 Macpherson inquiry into the police handling of the original murder investigation found evidence of “institutional racism” within the Met. |
| An independent review, led by Mark Ellison, who led the prosecution that saw Dobson and Norris convicted, was published in March 2014 and prompted the then home secretary Theresa May to appoint a senior judge to lead another public inquiry, this time to examine a wide range of allegations surrounding the conduct of undercover police officers since 1968. | An independent review, led by Mark Ellison, who led the prosecution that saw Dobson and Norris convicted, was published in March 2014 and prompted the then home secretary Theresa May to appoint a senior judge to lead another public inquiry, this time to examine a wide range of allegations surrounding the conduct of undercover police officers since 1968. |
| The latest inquiry, led by Lord Justice Pitchford, is to hold public hearings into the police’s covert infiltration of hundreds of political groups. | The latest inquiry, led by Lord Justice Pitchford, is to hold public hearings into the police’s covert infiltration of hundreds of political groups. |
| Pitchford will be scrutinising issues such as the long-term relationships formed by undercover officers with women, the theft of dead children’s identities and the monitoring of politicians. | Pitchford will be scrutinising issues such as the long-term relationships formed by undercover officers with women, the theft of dead children’s identities and the monitoring of politicians. |
| However, the Met is attempting to have large parts of the inquiry held in secret – a move criticised by the Lawrence family. | However, the Met is attempting to have large parts of the inquiry held in secret – a move criticised by the Lawrence family. |
| On the 20th anniversary of Stephen’s death, in 2013, the Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, vowed to catch the remaining at-large suspects. | |
| He made the promise to Stephen’s mother, Doreen Lawrence, now Lady Lawrence at a memorial service. | |
| ”After taking too long, we did get convictions in two cases last year, and what we’re going to do is catch the other people involved,” Hogan-Howe said. “The Met won’t forget Stephen Lawrence.” |