This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19352974#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Stephen Lawrence: Killers refused leave to appeal Stephen Lawrence: Killers refused leave to appeal
(40 minutes later)
Two men found guilty of the 1993 racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in south-east London have lost the first round of their attempt to challenge their convictions.Two men found guilty of the 1993 racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in south-east London have lost the first round of their attempt to challenge their convictions.
Gary Dobson and David Norris were jailed for life in January for murdering the black teenager.Gary Dobson and David Norris were jailed for life in January for murdering the black teenager.
A Court of Appeal judge has refused to grant leave to appeal.A Court of Appeal judge has refused to grant leave to appeal.
Dobson is serving a minimum of 15 years and two months and David Norris 14 years and three months.Dobson is serving a minimum of 15 years and two months and David Norris 14 years and three months.
Their applications for permission to appeal were rejected by a single judge who considered the papers from the case.Their applications for permission to appeal were rejected by a single judge who considered the papers from the case.
But Dobson, 36, and Norris, 35, still have the right to renew their applications before a panel of judges sitting at the Court of Appeal.But Dobson, 36, and Norris, 35, still have the right to renew their applications before a panel of judges sitting at the Court of Appeal.
Sentencing them, the judge, Mr Justice Treacy, had described the crime as a "murder which scarred the conscience of the nation".Sentencing them, the judge, Mr Justice Treacy, had described the crime as a "murder which scarred the conscience of the nation".
The pair were the first people convicted over the fatal attack on Mr Lawrence by a group of white youths near a bus stop in Eltham on 22 April 1993 but police inquiries into the killing are continuing. The judge said the murder was committed "for no other reason than racial hatred".
During their trial, Dobson and Norris denied murdering Mr Lawrence and said their clothing had been contaminated as police mixed up evidence over the years. Detectives spent months establishing the movements and handling of the exhibits since 1993, and the jury was told that contamination was implausible. "A totally innocent 18-year-old youth on the threshold of a promising life was brutally cut down in the street in front of eyewitnesses by a racist, thuggish gang," he told the pair.
The breakthrough in the investigation followed the introduction of a cold case team of forensic scientists.
The men were the first people convicted over the fatal attack on Mr Lawrence by a group of white youths near a bus stop in Eltham on 22 April 1993 but police inquiries into the killing are continuing.
During their trial, Dobson and Norris denied murdering Mr Lawrence and said their clothing had been contaminated as police mixed up evidence over the years.
Detectives spent months establishing the movements and handling of the exhibits since 1993, and the jury was told that contamination was implausible.
In January it was reported that Norris was to appeal on the basis that the use in evidence of a surveillance video was unfair.In January it was reported that Norris was to appeal on the basis that the use in evidence of a surveillance video was unfair.
It was not clear what Dobson's grounds for appeal were.It was not clear what Dobson's grounds for appeal were.